Sweden has not abandoned sustainable development goals – 03/21/2024 – Environment

Sweden did not abandon its environmental project for 2030 after pressure from farmers in the country, contrary to what posts on social media say. This allegation is published alongside a video showing tractors and trucks blocking a road. A reverse Google search showed that the images were recorded in Germany, near the city of Neustadt an der Wied, in the west of the country.

German farmers organized demonstrations and blocked roads in January 2024, against the change in the country’s diesel subsidy policy. Like farmers in France and other European countries, they protest against foreign competition, inflation and low incomes. Despite being related to environmental policy, the movement has several other demands.

As verified by Comprova, recent documents indicate that Sweden has reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of the 2030 Agenda, as the UN (United Nations) sustainable development goals are called, to which several countries have adhered. The report did not identify any recent changes in the direction of Sweden’s environmental policy.

False, for Comprova, is content that is invented or has been edited to change its original meaning and disseminated deliberately to spread a falsehood.

Goals

The fraudulent publication says that Sweden would be abandoning the environmental goals for 2030, in a possible reference to the 2030 Agenda, as the UN’s sustainable development goals are called, to which several countries have adhered.

On the official website of the Swedish government, it was possible to access the speech by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, on September 23, 2023, in New York. In his speech, the minister spoke about the importance of “regaining the momentum to achieve the 2030 Agenda” and stated that Sweden is “a partner committed to contributing to the United Nations development system”.

Among the practices adopted by the country to combat climate change is Sweden’s financial assistance to Agenda 2030. According to the minister, Sweden is one of the few countries to meet the UN target of dedicating 0.7% of gross annual income to the global development agenda. The minister’s speech also showed concern about climate change, reaffirmed that the country will continue to do its part and asked other nations to increase their contributions to the project.

Furthermore, in 2024, Sweden assumed the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers, an institution of cooperation between the governments of Nordic countries, with the aim of creating the most integrated and sustainable region in the world. In an official statement published on January 1, 2024, the Swedish government said that the country’s action plan will follow the proposal of Our Vision 2030, which has initiatives to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Also on the Swedish government website, there is a document with the country’s global cooperation strategies for sustainable economic development in the period from 2022 to 2026. According to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country’s cooperation in the period in question follows the principles of Agenda 2030.

Why we investigate

Comprova monitors suspicious content published on social networks and messaging applications about public policies and elections at the federal level and opens investigations into those publications that have greater reach and engagement. You can also suggest checks via WhatsApp +55 11 97045-4984. Suggestions and questions related to questionable content can also be sent to Folha via WhatsApp 11 99486-0293.

Read the full verification on the Comprova website.

The investigation into this content was carried out by UOL and AFP and published on March 20 by Comprova, a coalition that brings together 42 media outlets to check viral content. It was verified by Folha, Piauí, Correio, Correio Braziliense, Estadão and Estado de Minas.