H.M. Konungens tal vid Belém Climate Summit inför Förenta nationernas klimatkonferens COP30

I have had the privilege of visiting Belém before – a vibrant gateway to the Amazon. The river and the rainforest give life to the city, shaping its people, economy, culture and culinary traditions.

President Lula’s commitment to protecting the Amazon is appreciated, and urgently needed, at a time when the impact of climate change is increasingly being felt across the globe.

In 1972, I participated in the first-ever United Nations Conference on the environment, held in Stockholm. I was a young Crown Prince back then, attending the ceremony with my grandfather, King Gustaf Adolf. It was historic, as it placed global environmental issues on the political agenda and was a starting point for international environmental cooperation.

For me, that conference marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to protecting nature and a belief that science will foster innovation and show the way forward. It also convinced me that cooperation across borders, disciplines and sectors will be essential to meet the challenges ahead.

This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of Sweden’s climate transition. More than 500 companies, municipalities, regions and organisations, are engaged in efforts aiming to make Sweden one of the world’s first fossil-free welfare nations.

To turn ambition into concrete action, the Swedish Climate Policy Council has supported the development of Panorama. It is a platform that provides an overview of how Sweden can reach net-zero gas emissions by 2045 - hopefully just before President Lula and I turn 100 years old! The model can be adopted globally, helping other countries reach climate goals.

These efforts go hand in hand with our international engagement. This year, Sweden is the co-chair of the Green Climate Fund. Through this role, we help mobilise resources and turn climate commitments into real action.

However, major challenges remain. Thirty-three years after the Climate Convention was signed in Rio de Janeiro, emissions of greenhouse gases continue to rise. Biodiversity is in decline, and ecosystems are under enormous pressure.

International collaboration is crucial. Pollution and climate change respect no borders, as we know. Cooperation between nations is the only path towards sustainable development and long-term prosperity. Climate action is the investment opportunity we should all embrace. Because the green transition drives economic growth, builds the workforce for the future, and keeps our industries competitive.

We know there are ways to limit temperature rise while building the resilient economies of the future. I am now counting on all of you, Heads of State and Government, to implement policies that stimulate demand for sustainable innovations. Together, we must speed up the deployment of these solutions to limit temperature rise to 1,5 degrees, and to build resilience for generations to come.

That message, I believe, is really what we need to see happening here and now. Action today is important for growth tomorrow. Lack of action means a tremendous loss in human as well as economic capital.

I would like to conclude by quoting from the 1972 Stockholm Declaration:
“In our time, man’s capability to transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can bring to all people the benefits of development and the opportunity to enhance the quality of life.”

Let us make this gathering in Belém a turning point – a moment when the world came together, not just to discuss, but also to deliver.

Thank you.