Sweden’s parliament has a new political majority after an election campaign in which sustainability issues were often overshadowed by the debate on rising electricity, petrol and food prices.
But climate challenges remain and are now even more critical in the transition given the energy crisis, says Gina Aspelin Hedbring, Project Manager for Smart City Sweden.
– We see a great interest in learning how Sweden has solved and is working on its challenges, she says and mentions special areas of interest such as water, waste, renewable energy and urban planning overall.
Smart City Sweden, as a platform for sustainable city solutions, increases knowledge about Swedish technology and system solutions and is therefore an important piece of the puzzle for the transition in other countries.
Recently a delegation from Rwanda with members of the Government and GIZ – Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH visited Smart City Sweden to learn, among other things, how digitalisation and cross-collaboration can create sustainable, citizen-centred societies and connect with Swedish companies and institutions. The delegation visited different parts and regions around Sweden.
As well as collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Smart City Sweden arranged a series of webinars within different focus areas such as Digitalisation, Mobility, Energy, Climate and Environment. The participants were City Administrators of selected cities in the Philippines who have shown interest in pursuing innovative city projects.
– We are ready to continue contributing as a demonstration platform for Swedish sustainable system solutions, says Gina Aspelin Hedbring.
Whatever happens in Sweden’s new political landscape, there is a need to accelerate subject matters, leadership and behavioural change to meet the climate and energy challenges. Smart City Sweden makes it possible to use our collective experience and expertise to act also in new constellations and partners. Smart City Sweden welcomes delegations from all over the world interested in investing in smart and sustainable city solutions.
General elections were held in Sweden on 11 September 2022. A coalition of right-wing parties, led by Ulf Kristersson from the Moderate Party, won the vote over the previous centre-left coalition. The former Social Democratic prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, resigned earlier this week.
