The world's most modern country became one of the most moss

 

 

Peter Kadhammar  

 

The world's most modern country has become the mossiest  

 

Published: Today 05.41  

 

This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's. 

 

 

When Energy Minister Ebba Busch visited LKAB a couple of weeks ago, CEO Jan Moström handed her an hour glass. The message was that the time to meet the climate goals is running out. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT  

 

COLUMNIST  

 

Saturday morning in Sörmland. Finally some cold. Frost on trees and ground. The landscape lights up, a respite from the darkness and the low, heavy clouds. 

 

Vilsta ski stadium in Eskilstuna. The snow cannons have managed to create a thick enough blanket for a 1.8 kilometer course. We go around, around. The trail is icy but a trail anyway. And an illusion of Swedish winter as it used to be. 

 

Afternoon in the living room. Darkness falls slowly. Should go down to the lake and see if the ice starts to settle. Remains seated in the armchair. A modest 7.2 kilometers on skis feels good when it's the first trip of the year.  

 

Browsing the latest issue of the Economist, the joint magazine of the world's political and economic elite. The Brits show that the art of making headlines is not dead yet. Prince Harry's already well-worn confessions and royal revelations have been published in book form. The title in English is "Spare" which becomes Reserven in Swedish. The title of the Economist's article about the book: "Spare us" - Skona oss.  

 

For once, the advertising is more telling than the articles. Seven full pages have the usual Economist ads. The International Institute for Strategic Studies is looking for a new director general, Harvard Business School wants to teach more effective board work and the like.  

 

But five interestingly have bearing on climate and environment. Infosys, an Indian IT company, advertises itself with green leaves and the words: "Responsibility is an opportunity". Another IT company promises: "Faster, smaller, greener".  

 

The Economist offers online courses: Prepare for the future. The first course is entitled "Climate change and sustainability in business". 

 

The magazine is also organizing an international conference in Lisbon on the world's oceans: "Meet the global leaders who are restoring the health of the oceans and changing the ways in which companies interact with one of the world's most important ecosystems."  

 

With a shrug, Elisabeth Svantesson stated in an interview that it will be difficult to reach Sweden's climate goals by 2030. Photo: Tim Aro/TT 

 

Of course, you can snort at any company that claims to be green and climate-friendly. But the advertising shows that they understand that climate and the environment are the big issues of the future.  

Already 15 and a half years ago, Volvo trucks demanded guidance from politicians so that they can start manufacturing more climate-friendly engines.  

 

I was at the display outside the Maritime History Museum, where they drove seven trucks with different engines, all cleaner than the old diesel-powered ones. 

 

- Legislation is required, said Volvo's then CEO Leif Johansson. The technology for clean engines exists.  

 

When Energy Minister Ebba Busch visited LKAB a couple of weeks ago, CEO Jan Moström handed her an hour glass.  The message was that the time to meet the climate goals is running out. 

 

Responsible companies think decades ahead. What customers will demand. How to handle business in a rapidly changing world.  

 

I get a cup of coffee and think about our Swedish government. It sees as one of its main tasks to lower the reduction obligation for diesel and petrol and thereby dramatically increase Sweden's emissions of carbon dioxide.  

 

We have a finance minister who has shown sensational indifference to the climate goals. With a shrug, Elisabeth Svantesson stated in an interview that it will be difficult to reach Sweden's climate goals by 2030:  

- If we don't do it, we won't do it.  

 

And State Secretary PM Nilsson poaches eels, which is as cool as hunting rhinoceros. The same PM Nilsson has stated that his mission is to help the Prime Minister think long-term about the big issues, including the environment and sustainability.  

 

Sweden usually boasts that we are the world's most modern country.  

 

Suddenly we have become one of the mossiest.