H.M. Konungens inledningsanförande i samband med

Vattenfall Energy and Climate Seminar

Stockholms statshus

(Det talade ordet gäller)

Ministers,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentleman,

First of all, thank you for having invited me to the Vattenfall Energy and Climate Week.

It has already been said and it needs to be repeated; the impact of climate change is one of the most important issues for humanity to solve. Politicians, policy makers, business leaders and consumers all have to work together for sustainable solutions. We all have to take our responsibility and to act for a good future.

Climate change has become a major concern for scientists, as well as politicians, business leaders and pupils in school. And it is gratifying that the awareness is rising and solutions are being found.

Last year, for instance, I had the pleasure to inaugurate the wind power park Lillgrund in south of Sweden. Lillgrund is a good example of the progress the Swedish Vattenfall has made which has been essential to the industrial development and growth in many countries.

Swedish experience can give hope. Sweden has shown that it is possible to combine the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with economic growth. The use of oil has decreased significantly while the use of bio energy has grown rapidly. So, Sweden has made progress towards a better environment — but not fast enough. Further action is urgently needed.

For that reason the Swedish parliament has adopted a policy which is based on 16 environmental objectives for different areas. The overall goal for the policy is that, within one generation, the major environmental problems have to be solved and this means that all key measures need to be implemented by the year 2020.

But most important is that the policy for year 2020 forms the urgent process of reaching sustainable development, together with social and economic dimensions.

More than 15 years ago I founded Royal Colloquium which is an international environmental symposium, with experts and participants from all over the world. The Royal Colloquium meets every second year.

The two latest Royal colloquia have, in various ways, been related to climate change and its consequences for the environment and for the survival of humanity. A conclusion of the meeting two years ago, on the icebreaker Oden, was that the scientific evidence of changes in the global environment is strong. Adjustment will be necessary, and most likely, difficult as well as costly.

Next week the Royal Colloquium will get together again. A number of outstanding experts will exchange knowledge and ideas about important issues of our time. And of course climate change will be one of the main topics. But also energy, water and food security for the future will be on the meeting´s agenda this time. Tackling climate change will require leadership and commitment. We need to support each other for sustainable solutions for the future. I would like to thank Vattenfall in its efforts and in making this climate week possible. I look forward to bring some knowledge with me to the next Royal Colloquium which will take place in Bönhamn in the northern part of Sweden.

Thank you!