Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative

🎄✨ Happy Holiday wishes from GTI! ✨🎄 A typical Swedish Christmas tree has decorations such as baubles, strings of lights and tinsel but also quite often straw figures and small Swedish flags. The Christmas goat is one of the very oldest Christmas symbols in Sweden and is often placed near the Christmas tree. In Sweden, December 24 is the main day for celebrating Christmas. 📷 Credits: Helena Wahlman/imagebank.sweden.se

🌍 Explore the Latest in Sustainable Urban Innovation un this years last newsletter 🌱 This month’s GTI Newsletter dives into how U.S. cities and states are leading the green transition and the exciting opportunities for Sweden-U.S. collaboration. 🚦 From California’s clean innovation clusters to Oakland’s equitable climate action, we spotlight the cutting-edge initiatives transforming urban resilience. ✨ Don’t miss our exclusive features: ✅ Reflections from Daniel Hamilton, Sustainability and Resilience Director for the City of Oakland, on his participation at European Viable Cities Days. ✅ Insights from Fredrik Hoeglund Ekehaell, CFO of Thomas Concrete, on low-carbon concrete solutions. ✅ Lessons in sustainable urban planning from Martin Edfelt, Head City Architect of Uppsala. ✅ Fact of the Month: The rise of electric vehicles in Sweden and the U.S. Let’s create livable, vibrant, and viable cities together! 🌟 Happy Holidays from the GTI Team! #GreenTransition #SustainableCities #ClimateAction #SwedenUSCollaboration #UrbanInnovation #ResilientCommunities #CleanEnergySolutions #ViableCities #SustainableFuture #GlobalPartnerships

Sweden and the United States share a long tradition of collaboration, with Sweden being the 10th largest investor in the U.S. This bond continues to grow stronger, paving the way for impactful partnerships. Collaboration is key to driving the green transition. We can tackle global challenges and seize new opportunities by connecting leading institutions, companies, and policymakers. Sweden is ready to support the U.S. with cutting-edge green technologies and innovations to accelerate decarbonization. Are you curious about collaborative opportunities? Reach out to the Green Transition Initiative (GTI) — we unite innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to advance the green movement between Sweden and the U.S. Let’s #pioneerthepossible—together. 🌿✨ 📷 Credits: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se & Melker Dahlstrand/imagebank.sweden.se #GreenTransition #Collaboration

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Bridging Green Agendas: EU-US Climate Policy at a Crossroad seminar, hosted by GTI and the Embassy of Sweden in USA in Washington, DC. The event brought together colleagues from European embassies and US organizations to explore how EU and US climate policies can influence and support each other. We were pleased to feature the report Transatlantic Cues: How the United States and European Union Influence Each Other’s Climate Policies, presented by Milan Elkerbout from Resources for the Future and co-authored by Dallas Burtraw, Åsa von Ekensteen Löfgren, and Lars Zetterberg. Their work offers valuable insights into opportunities for deeper transatlantic collaboration on climate action. You can find the report here: https://lnkd.in/dAJ5KA9G

Happy International Human Rights Day! December 10 marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948—a cornerstone document that recognizes the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people. Today, we also reflect on how the pursuit of human rights intersects with environmental justice. In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm became the first global forum to address environmental issues as fundamental to human well-being. The Stockholm Declaration emphasized the connection between economic development, environmental protection, and human rights, paving the way for global collaboration. This groundbreaking declaration outlined 26 principles prioritizing sustainable environmental management, while the accompanying Action Plan proposed 109 recommendations across three key areas: 🌍 Global Environmental Assessment ⚙️ Environmental Management Activities 🤝 International Cooperation On this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to protecting human rights and fostering a sustainable future for everyone. Human rights and environmental sustainability go hand in hand—both essential to ensuring a thriving, equitable world. #HumanRightsDay #Sustainability #StockholmDeclaration

Reflecting on an insightful two-day dialogue in Stockholm 🌆 📝 🌱 GTI had the opportunity to engage in discussions on cities’ aggregated purchasing power alongside key stakeholders from Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA), Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, City of Oakland, California, Stockholms stad, City of Lund, ViaEuropa, Dark Matter Labs, Global Urban Development (GUD), UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme), Vinnova, Swedish Energy Agency, Viable Cities and representatives from the Swedish Government Office. We were also honored to participate in the European Viable Cities Day, where 48 Swedish cities proudly signed their Climate City Contracts—a significant step toward sustainable urban development. A special thank you to Irene Garcia, Kristiina Yang, Daniel Hamilton and Dr. Marc A. Weiss for contributing to these valuable discussions. We're also grateful to Tyrone Jue 🌎 and Nik Kaestner from San Francisco for joining us virtually. Additionally, we’d like to extend our thanks to Daniel Dersén at Internetstiftelsen, Lidia Partheni Smart City Sweden, AMF Fastigheter AB and Stockholm School of Economics for hosting and facilitating such impactful sessions. Looking forward to continuing these important conversations and advancing climate action together! #ClimateAction #UrbanDevelopment #Collaboration #PioneerThePossible

🚗 Transportation remains the most significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, responsible for 29% of total emissions. 🌍 Meanwhile, Sweden is at the forefront of sustainable transportation, spearheading the EU’s Green Corridor Project. By piloting innovative technologies, Sweden is setting a new standard in sustainable transport, redefining what’s possible for the future of mobility. 🤝 The Sweden-U.S. collaboration offers a powerful avenue to advance the green transition, accelerating climate action through shared expertise and pioneering solutions. Discover more about the transformative potential of this partnership. Photo credits: Sofia Sabel/imagebank.sweden.se Einride #GreenTransition #SustainableTransportation #SwedenUS

🌍 Ready to drive the green transition and make a meaningful impact? It’s not too late to apply and join the GTI Team! As Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships, you’ll lead projects and activities, connecting with governmental agencies, universities, Swedish Innovation Programs, Team Sweden colleagues, American partners, and Swedish green-tech innovators to accelerate the green transition. 🏢 You’ll be based in Washington, D.C. ⏳ Applications are open until December 6th. Join us to #Pioneerthepossible!

🌍 November Newsletter: Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative 🌎 As the political landscape in the U.S. shifts, we’re at a crucial crossroads for sustainability. With Donald Trump set to return to office in January, questions arise about the future of U.S. energy policies. While federal support for traditional energy sources may increase, the global momentum for sustainability—driven by state leadership, market forces, and international partnerships—remains unstoppable. This month, we dive into the implications of these changes for Sweden-US collaboration in the green transition. Highlights include: 🔹 Insights from Eric Vettel, Ph.D., President of the American Energy Society, on fostering objectivity in polarized energy narratives. 🔹 A deep dive into Sweden's leadership in renewable energy, including green steel innovations and decarbonization initiatives. 🔹 An exploration of the dynamic interplay between U.S. and EU climate policies, from the Inflation Reduction Act to the EU's Net-Zero Industry Act 📅 Upcoming Event: Bridging Green Agendas: EU-U.S. Climate Policy at a Crossroads Join us at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, DC, for an insightful seminar on December 9. Experts will discuss how these policies shape the path to net-zero emissions. 🌟 Fact of the Month: California and Washington lead the way with groundbreaking sustainability policies like California’s Cap-and-Trade program and Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act. These states showcase how ambition and innovation can set the standard for climate action. 👉 Let’s continue building partnerships that demonstrate sustainable innovation transcends politics. Dive into the newsletter for more insights and opportunities for collaboration. #GreenTransition #SwedenUSCollaboration #Sustainability #ClimateAction

During GTI's Green Transition Summit last month, one of the key discussions revolved around tangible solutions for achieving sustainable, green cities. A standout example? The fully electric construction project in Durham, North Carolina, led by a Swedish consortium of industry leaders: Volvo Construction Equipment, Husqvarna Construction, and Atlas Copco. This project is not just a vision - it is a concrete step (literally!) toward electrified construction and sustainable urban development. For the first time, these Swedish companies joined forces to showcase an entire electrified construction site. The results? Reduced emissions, quieter operations, and a clear demonstration of what building electric by electric can achieve globally. Watch the video below to see how this collaboration brings Sweden’s innovative spirit to life together with American partners, and sets the stage for global impact. #GreenTransition #Electrification #Construction #ChargingInfrastructure #SustainableCities