Sweden: A Glimpse into a Sustainable Future

The experiences of Sweden in finding new sources of energy and creating energy-saving systems following the oil crises of the 1970s may offer practical lessons for countries hard-pressed to cut greenhouse gas emissions, such as Japan.

While the soaring output of biofuels from farm produce is blamed for causing food price surges and shortages in developing countries, biogas made from waste, regarded as the most environmentally friendly form of fuel currently available, is part of Sweden's efforts to wean itself off oil.

Launched in April 2006, the Amanda, the world's first train powered solely by biogas, is in service between Linkoping, southwest of Stockholm, and Vastervik, also on Sweden's east coast. So far, it has traveled a distance equivalent to going around the globe twice.

The prototype model is carbon neutral because biogas is a renewable energy source. Fuel is produced locally, based on organic waste primarily from slaughterhouses and restaurants.

"The train operates more smoothly, because the biogas engine doesn't have the same vibrations that a diesel engine does," says a driver of the Amanda.

Bertil Carlson, manager of the biogas train project, says, "The second stage is...to convince train manufacturers that this is a good idea...in Sweden, Germany, India, or perhaps in Japan."

From Toilet to Omelet

The lakeside town of Hammarby Sjostad in Stockholm features integrated environmental solutions for energy, waste, water and sewage. The system is billed by town representatives as "From Toilet to Omelet."

For example, biogas is extracted from sewage sludge treated in a wastewater treatment plant to provide fuel for buses and taxis in Stockholm, as well as for gas stoves at households in Hammarby Sjostad, formerly an industrial area.

From waste thrown into deposit chutes linked by underground pipes to a central collection station, combustible waste is recycled for heating and electricity. Food waste is composted into soil.

Once fully built by 2015, Hammarby Sjostad will have 11,000 residential units housing just over 25,000 people. The goal is for residents to produce half of all their energy needs by themselves.

According to Erik Freudenthal, information officer at GlashusEtt, the center for environmental communication in Hammarby Sjostad, the apartments are "enormously popular" for sale or rent among people aged between 25 and 45.

Residents in Hammarby Sjostad are not forced to take environment-friendly measures at the expense of a comfortable life. Rather, creating an attractive residential environment is seen as a natural part of efforts against global warming.

Hammarby Sjostad is based on the SymbioCity concept for sustainable urban development, which has been applied to environmental city projects worldwide, including ones in China, Russia and South Africa.

Royal Institute of Technology Prof. Ulf Ranhagen, who developed the SymbioCity concept, says, "Maybe it's a little bit costly in the initial phase, but you have lots of benefits." These include reduced environmental costs, higher demand for apartments, and lower operational costs, due to the efficient energy utilization system.

The policy efforts of Sweden, the global frontrunner in making its cities sustainable, may also provide other countries with clues on tackling climate change.

From 1990 to 2006, Sweden reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 9 pct despite robust gross domestic product growth of 44 pct, offering proof that environmental measures do not necessarily act as a drag on the economy.

Aiming to make the country oil-free by 2020, the government implemented a series of policy measures, including a CO2 tax, which has been gradually raised since its introduction in 1991. The Swedish government estimates that CO2 emissions would have been 20 pct higher if taxes had remained at 1990 levels.

As part of its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector, the government exempts biofuels from CO2 and energy taxes and grants tax incentives to eco-friendly cars.

"To put a price on carbon is really essential. It is the key measure if we really should create those possibilities of both reduced emissions and economic growth," says Swedish Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.

How did Sweden win the understanding and cooperation of the business community on taxes and environmental regulations?

After initial opposition "they said this is really a part of what gives us opportunities in competition and what really makes us strong in competitiveness," Carlgren says. "So I would say that today, the main experience is that the business community is really in favor of quite progressive environmental action."

Love of Nature as Part of National Identity

Similarly drastic policy measures and industry support may be needed in Japan, as the country is to take the initiative in combating climate change as the chair of this year's Group of Eight summit. The Japanese government is expected soon to announce a 60 to 80 pct reduction of domestic greenhouse gas emissions as a long-term goal that needs to be achieved by 2050.

"Sweden shows us a glimpse of one step ahead into the future," Tetsunari Iida, executive director of the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, a Tokyo-based independent organization, says. "Despite differences in politics, culture and society, there are many things that Japan and the whole world can learn from Sweden."

Ranhagen, the developer of the SymbioCity concept, cautions, "There has to be collaboration with local stakeholders. You are not just taking Swedish solutions to other countries. You have to adopt it and look upon the overall system first."

Indeed, simply emulating Sweden would not be an easy task, since policies and industry initiatives in the Nordic country grow out of the care and respect for nature that is cultivated in Swedish people from childhood.

"Many of the Swedish preschools are engaged in taking children into nature, giving them experience of nature. I think that's also part of the everyday life of most Swedes," Carlgren says.

Under the Forest Mulle program of Sweden's kindergarten system, children learn from activities in the forest how wonderful it is to be out in nature. In a country with a population of about nine million, more than two million children have participated in Forest Mulle since its launch in 1957.

Environmental programs are also found in later stages of education.

Global College, a public upper secondary school in central Stockholm, takes a multidisciplinary teaching approach aimed at enhancing understanding among students that their future must be built on sustainable development. Students undertake a number of subject-integrated projects every year, such as a U.N. project on climate change.

At the school's canteen, ecological and locally produced foods are served, following a decision by a conference that includes equal representation from students and staff.

"Support for progressive environmental action is really strong in Sweden, as people have experience of how it has improved the lives of us," Carlgren says. "We are very connected to nature. That's part of our tradition. It's a sort of part of the national identity. But it's also very practical."

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