In September 2015, the 2030 Agenda was hammered through by the UN General Assembly. This means that Member States must together achieve 17 main objectives and 169 milestones for sustainable development. Some of the objectives include combating climate change, increasing access to clean water, building sustainable cities and industries, and reducing inequality.
"For me, this is a moment of destiny. I became a politician but also a minister because I am so deeply involved in sustainability issues. It is the fate of our time and determines whether we have a future where we can feel good and develop or whether we have a future that challenges everything we value," says Per Bolund, spokesperson for the Green Party and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change.
In an interview with DN, he believes that we are currently in a critical position to achieve the goals within the nine remaining years.
He admits that the sustainability goals have been high.
"I think it is absolutely right to have a high level of ambition to reach as far as possible. The GLOBAL SDGs are a major step forward because we in the international community managed to agree on them jointly. But this is where the test comes, that we are actually also jointly able to do what is necessary to achieve them.
"Must take the opportunity to invest"
Bolund sees the increase in poverty, hunger and hunger globally as a major factor in the problem. He believes that Sweden needs to "allocate the resources needed to help other countries".
But Sweden is also lagging behind in achieving the sustainability goals, according to a study from Statistics Sweden. Especially on climate issues, equality issues, sustainable production and consumption, and clean seas. Bolund, on the other hand, is more hopeful and points out that Sweden is well placed to meet the goals.
"In international comparisons, we are at the top when it comes to the implementation of the Global Sustainability Goals. But we are far from finished yet and have challenges that we have to face. We now have extremely good conditions for making investments, such as low interest rates, and we are in many ways in a situation in Sweden where I feel we have to take the opportunity to invest. If we do not use this opportunity, we run the risk of not meeting either the global sustainability goals or the climate targets we have set.
SBP offers complete deliveries of sustainable energy solutions to companies and CEO Andreas Backström sees that there is a great willingness among Swedish companies to take the step towards a green transition. But there is still much more to be done, he points out.
"I sincerely believe that politics, business, interest groups and green capital will have a hugely positive effect in the future transition. But the future needs to start as soon as possible," says Andreas Backström.
