COP30: “Sweden Has Solutions – But Effective Policy Instruments Are Missing”

According to the World Economic Forum, climate-related risks represent the greatest economic threats to financial stability and growth. For an export-dependent country like Sweden, the climate crisis threatens competitiveness, jobs, and welfare.

The science is clear: Solutions exist, and reality shows that climate and trade policy are interconnected. Climate action strengthens resilience, well-being, the economy, and international competitiveness. Both the public and private sectors have already invested billions in the green transition and remain committed to contributing to cleaner, safer, and more resilient societies.

Swedish industry holds world-leading solutions and sustainable business models that can support the global transition. We are traveling to COP30 to demonstrate that the solutions exist and to present the conditions required to scale them up at the pace needed. If successful, this will accelerate the transition — while strengthening Sweden’s exports, growth, and job creation.

Each year, Business Sweden gathers Sweden’s official non-negotiation delegation – comprising companies, organizations, and government agencies – to the COP. This year’s delegation includes 27 participants. Our message is clear: The barrier to the transition is not a lack of research, technology, or financing – but global political will and effective policy instruments.

With world-leading research, innovation, capacity-building, and climate finance, Swedish industry has a strong opportunity to contribute to global climate efforts and to Sweden’s own long-term growth. With the ambition to act as a global “climate matchmaker” – connecting countries’ climate challenges with Swedish solutions, and linking Sweden’s climate commitments to global implementation – the goal is to further strengthen Sweden’s competitiveness and contribution to the Paris Agreement.

We, the business delegation to COP30, recently released the report “Sweden – The Climate Matchmaker for Global Action,” which outlines Sweden’s broad catalogue of solutions to meet countries’ transition needs and provides concrete policy recommendations for implementation, sector by sector.

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We urge the world’s decision-makers to act across five key areas:

1. Clear, predictable, and long-term goals
Sweden and the world need ambitious NDCs and long-term goals anchored in science. Predictability is crucial to mobilize capital and innovation.

2. Policies that enable investment
Beyond long-term goals, political instruments are needed to promote green business and sustainable investment. This includes sector-specific climate plans, the phase-out of fossil subsidies, tripling renewable energy, doubling energy efficiency, and implementing effective carbon pricing mechanisms and emissions trading. Governance that unlocks capital through green finance tools and tax incentives is also essential. Together, these measures move us toward a circular economy where growth does not necessarily mean increased resource use.

3. Global standards and procurement criteria
By introducing harmonized global standards, clear sustainability criteria, and incentives linked to social and environmental aspects, circular economy, and life-cycle analysis, procurement can become a powerful driver of transformation and create demand for sustainable and circular solutions – both in Sweden and globally.

4. Capacity building and knowledge transfer
By strengthening institutional capacity and governance that connects goals across national, regional, and local levels, Sweden can contribute with experience and effective collaboration between authorities, academia, business, and civil society. Our capacity support helps remove barriers such as corruption and institutional instability, enhancing countries’ attractiveness for investment. Investment in research to scale innovative solutions is also essential.

5. An inclusive and just transition
All actors must be included in decision-making to ensure legitimacy and feasibility. This also applies to the business sector, to ensure policies are effective, practical, and free from unnecessary bureaucracy.

COP30 and the climate transition are not about what is possible, but about creating the conditions to make solutions happen – for competitiveness, growth, and prosperity.

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Sweden’s official non-negotiating business delegation to COP30:

Jan Larsson, CEO, Business Sweden 

Jakob Granit, Director General, Sida 

Marie Sandin, CEO, Tetra Pak Sverige

Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Sustainability, Scania

Emma Modéer Wiking, Head of International Sustainable Business, Business Sweden 

Anna Celsing, Chief Sustainability Officer, Alfa Laval

Lena Julle, Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA 

Henrik Tegner, Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial & Communications, AFRY 

Tobias Hansson, CEO, Hitachi Energy i Sverige 

Åsa Lyckström, Head of Sustainability, Siemens Energy AB

Martin Pei, Senior Advisor, SSAB 

Annika Ölme, teknikchef, SKF 

Pär Larshans, Head of Sustainability, Ragn-Sells 

Tomer Shalit, founder and CPO, ClimateView

Axel Holmberg, CEO, Ingrid Capacity 

Shameek Ghosh, CEO and co-founder, TrusTrace 

Mathias Wikström, CEO and co-founder, Doconomy 

Dr. Martin Edlund, CEO, Minesto

Dr. Lina K Wiles, Chief Sustainability Officer, Adapteo Group 

Henrik Johansson, CEO, Spowdi 

Eva-Marie Byberg, EVP, Chief Sustainability and Strategy Officer, Sekab 

Sebastien Blanc, CEO, Normative 

Torsten Karlsson, CEO, BCC AB