Organized by Team Sweden in India, the day brought together key stakeholders from government institutions, corporate, and academia, promoting a comprehensive exchange of ideas, insights and strategic pathways around industry transition and sustainability. The event also featured impactful addresses that underscored the pivotal roles that diverse stakeholders play in driving green relations among both countries.
Sweden’s industrial sector has consistently focused on creating solid decarbonisation pathways particularly in energy-intensive segments such as cement, iron and steel, automotive, pulp & paper, and more. Significant progress has been made towards achieving decarbonisation, with the country witnessing lowest energy-related emissions in 2023 in the last 50 years. Defining the roadmap and strategies for the transition to clean technologies, Sweden aims to be the first welfare state to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
Focusing on international collaboration, Sweden continues to play a leadership role in global climate efforts. It has been working with India amongst other countries for stricter climate targets and push for global action on decarbonization. With India setting up an ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, Sweden is committed to contribute with knowledge, solutions and expertise across different segments.
Team Sweden in India, including Business Sweden, the Consulate General of Sweden, the Embassy of Sweden, and key agencies including Swedish Energy Agency, organised the Second India Sweden Sustainability Day in Mumbai on 13 December 2024 to showcase and highlight ongoing initiatives and collaboration for Industry decarbonisation between both countries.
A major highlight of the day was the panel discussion on, “Breaking Barriers: Innovative Approaches to Sustainability in High-Emission Sectors,’’ which converged leading Swedish and Indian companies including Atlas Copco, Alleima, Tata Power, Hindustan Petroleum and Mahindra Group to discuss groundbreaking approaches for decarbonisation and adoption of sustainable practices. Additionally, to highlight the ongoing collaboration, a session titled “Impact: Unlocking a Sustainable Future Driven by India-Sweden Collaboration” showcased successful projects and initiatives in sustainability from leading companies including Volvo Group, Affectus AB, Kalyani Steel and BSES.
“Sweden consistently ranks high on the innovation and sustainability index. We have the technologies, innovations and smart solutions to global challenges that India also requires to transition into a green economy. Several Indian companies are looking for innovative solutions that they can bring to India and scale to up. Swedish companies that have established operations in India and are sharing their technology through collaborations with clients, partners, and subcontractors. It is this symbiotic relationship that the Consulate General in Mumbai looks to facilitate and further strengthen,’’ said Mr. Sven Östberg, Consul General of Sweden in Mumbai.
“India-Sweden Sustainability Day represents a significant collaboration to address the pressing environmental challenges faced by the world. This partnership combines Sweden’s advanced technologies and sustainability expertise with India’s dynamic economy and ambitious environmental goals.” said Mr. Abhijit Ghorpade, Director, State Climate Action Cell, Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Maharashtra.
2024 has been a milestone year in terms of India-Sweden joint work towards decarbonisation and green transition. Dedicated commitment from all key stakeholders have resulted in multiple impact cases and over 20 collaborations and partnerships driven through long-term strategic programs, partnerships and initiatives. Leveraging the proven Swedish tripe Helix Model of close cooperation among academia, industry and government, these initiatives accelerate decarbonisation and promote technology as well as commercial collaborations through technical workshops, expert forums, business meetings etc. These programs include decade long India Sweden Innovations Accelerator, India Sweden Industry Transition Partnership, India Sweden Green Transition partnership and India-Sweden Green Hydrogen Cluster.
“Sweden’s advanced technologies and sustainability expertise, combined with India’s dynamic economy and ambitious vision, position us to set global benchmarks in sustainable innovation. Each Swedish company and stakeholder represented here today is integral to this journey, bringing expertise and solutions that make our shared vision a reality,’’ said Mr. Christian Kamill, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Sweden.
“I am encouraged by the strong collaboration between our two nations on sustainability and green transition. This prominent gathering today reflects a shared commitment to one of our greatest challenges: protecting our planet and building a future that is sustainable, resilient, and fair to all of us,’’ said Mrs. Sofia Högman, Trade Commissioner of Sweden to India, Business Sweden.
The esteemed gathering actively engaged in interactive sessions and networking opportunities, facilitating knowledge sharing and best practices. The India-Sweden Sustainability Day 2024 inspired participants with a renewed sense of purpose and a wealth of innovative strategies to advance green initiatives globally.