Sweden prepares for oil-free future
By andygogo
@andygogo (1579)
China
December 31, 2006 2:19am CST
Sweden prepares for oil-free future
Sweden prepares for oil-free future
By John Vidal, London
February 9, 2006
SWEDEN is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced Western economy by trying to wean itself off oil within 15 years — without building new nuclear power stations.
The attempt by the country of 9 million to become the world's first practically oil-free economy is being planned by a committee of industrialists, farmers, car makers and others.
The Swedish Government said on Tuesday that it intended to replace all fossil fuels with biofuels (such as ethanol) and renewables (such as wind and wave power) before climate change destroys economies and oil scarcity leads to bigger price rises.
"Our dependency on oil should be broken by 2020," said Sustainable Development Minister Mona Sahlin. "(This) would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices."
A Government official said: "We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil."
Sweden, which was badly hit by the oil price rises in the 1970s, now gets almost all its electricity from nuclear and hydro-electric power, and relies on fossil fuels mainly for transport. A 1980 referendum decided that nuclear power should be phased out, but this has still not been finalised.
The decision to abandon oil puts the country at the top of the world green league table.
Last week, President George Bush surprised analysts by saying that America was addicted to oil. The US plans to increase nuclear power.
GUARDIAN
7 people like this
27 responses
@loudcry (1043)
• India
31 Dec 06
This is an interesting post.
Any country which words in this direstion is being foresighted. But, I'm not sure wheather we will be facing a oil scarcity in near future, because we still have good amount of reserves and new reserves are being found. I think the alarmist veiw about oil is invented by the politicians, they get to harp on the oil card. Anyway , i'm curious to see if sweden will be able to acheive this target,it's a tall order, i dont htink they will make it. Good info thanks.
@CheckNitout (853)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I don't think it's the oil running out they are worried about as much as the environment and of course the outrageous prices from people who say we're running out. I think this is exciting news. Most of Europe is working in some way to become more self sufficient. But not America.
@clark16 (375)
• Philippines
1 Jan 07
This is a good topic for every nation and country to learn. I'm wondering why do we have to become so dependent on other countries' oil when we can develop our own resources or have new ideas how get rid of it. I hope Sweden will become successful in doing this so after other countries' have seen their success they'll be able to do the same for their own success.
Oil really affects prices of major needs of the people, we can hardly have them whenever prices increases! Especially that wages and salaries in our country didn't meet to buy the needs of the whole family especially, the family of 6 people.
1 person likes this
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
31 Dec 06
sooner or later the rest of the world will have to follow where Sweden leads, we can either do it now or do it later but do it we will
1 person likes this
@masterminds (352)
• India
31 Dec 06
SWEDEN is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced Western economy by trying to wean itself off oil within 15 years — without building new nuclear power stations.
The attempt by the country of 9 million to become the world's first practically oil-free economy is being planned by a committee of industrialists, farmers, car makers and others.
The Swedish Government said on Tuesday that it intended to replace all fossil fuels with biofuels (such as ethanol) and renewables (such as wind and wave power) before climate change destroys economies and oil scarcity leads to bigger price rises.
"Our dependency on oil should be broken by 2020," said Sustainable Development Minister Mona Sahlin. "(This) would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices."
A Government official said: "We want to be both mentally and technically prepared for a world without oil."
Sweden, which was badly hit by the oil price rises in the 1970s, now gets almost all its electricity from nuclear and hydro-electric power, and relies on fossil fuels mainly for transport. A 1980 referendum decided that nuclear power should be phased out, but this has still not been finalised.
The decision to abandon oil puts the country at the top of the world green league table.
Last week, President George Bush surprised analysts by saying that America was addicted to oil. The US plans to increase nuclear power.
@cloud_kicker_32 (4635)
• United States
4 Jan 07
HEY,,you have been reported for copy and pasting,.,how stupid do u have to be to copy and paste the main thread?
@Starline (681)
• United States
12 Feb 07
Thanks for posting about the environment. I wish more countries were like Sweden acknowledging this problem. In fact, Sweden is already in the forefront and I was hoping that one day Americans could start caring too.
@the_vicar (1477)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I respect Sweden for this wonderful advancement and to be free from the grasp of fossil fuel countries. The US could do it but they are too indebted to the oil companies which own our senators. Of course the Nordic countries have for the last 100 years been way ahead of the rest of the world.
@volschenkh (1043)
• South Africa
31 Dec 06
Well done to Sweden, its a bold step, but a clever step. Independance from oil will stop world wars! Lets hope other countries follow suit!
@keminem001 (779)
• Saint Lucia
31 Dec 06
this is great for sweden. i think that the rest of the countries in the world should follow the same example.
thank you for sharing this information with us.
@MentalPanic (227)
• Sri Lanka
1 Jan 07
This is intresting I´m Swedish and have not read any about this it says that the article is from february 9 2006. Then we had another leader in the country. I wonder if it stills going on with this thinking. I do know that Sweden put up some few airpower. The ideas are from Germany. Sweden do import a lot of power from Germany. For not forget so is Germany a leading country in this thinking sometimes I think people give Sweden to high words. Sweden are after in many ways in the thinking and in the system .
@adrianngan (423)
• Hong Kong
31 Dec 06
This is a good thing.Of course,it can makes the environment a but better!
Swedish people do care about their environment and their future! They are starting to do something to save the world so that the next generation will be living better.For those big countries like USA that sucking lots of oil every day and produce a lot of carbon dioxide.They should try something to replace this fossil fuel! That would be much better! For us ride public transportation,use power efficient electronic! Our world is damaging quickly,do something!
@sigma77 (5383)
• United States
31 Dec 06
That is an interesting idea. It will make sense to cut back on using oil since the supply is so fragile. The U.S. is addicted to oil in my opinion. People here don't think twice about conserving or cutting back on usage. I guess we have always been able to have available supply so that most of us take it for granted. I believe there is enough oil for the forseeable future and the problem is that there is not enough supply infrastructure in place. Considering alternatives to oil is a smart choice in any event.
@lucalucky (1839)
• Italy
31 Dec 06
I rated your post with a + because it is really a good and interesting post. All countries need to do something to prepare for an oil-free future. It is not only a problem of cost but it is a problem of dependency from other countries. This is a fisrt, and absolutely good, step. I am not sure that the other nations in Europe or all around the world are doing the same. Oil dependency is one of the most important problem and seems that countries are talking much about that but never do something. That's a good news.
@anne_143god (5387)
• Philippines
31 Dec 06
It's good if it is really possible, that oil free but I dont think so it is possible. I hope it is really possible for us to have pollution free.
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
31 Dec 06
Beeing from sweden I have to say That I am proud that we (the goverment) atleast will give it a try. I didnt know that it had been decided though, but i haven´t watched mych news lately =?
Maybe the taxes will come down even more by this =) Pr maybe they will increase =(
Thanx for a good post, + to you!
@Sportello (97)
• Italy
31 Dec 06
I think there's still much research to do to achieve this result, but i hope Sweden will get to do that. Perhaps less oil-need will also mean less wars...
