Sweden: an ecological haven and a world model?
Sustainable development and ecology remain important issues in today's world. In recent years, Sweden has introduced environmentally friendly technologies to meet the environmental challenges linked to pollution, global warming, over-consumption and over-exploitation of resources.
After the signing of the Paris climate agreements on the 12th of December 2015, the Scandinavian country committed to reducing its net carbon emissions to zero by 2045, paving the way for other countries to follow with ecological transitions. As a reminder, the Paris agreements were adopted by 196 countries and aim to limit global warming to "well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels". Even though Sweden recycles 99% of its waste and beats records when it comes to producing electricity based on renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, it is not enough to save the planet. Indeed, climate activist Greta Thunberg sounds the alarm when she says: "In Sweden, we live as if we had 4.2 planets.”
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In order to ensure the promotion and dissemination of environmentally friendly technologies, Sweden has opted for the use of clean energy technologies. In Sweden, the use of wind turbines, solar panels and recycling machinery reduces greenhouse gas emissions in a sustainable way. However, how can we guarantee the promotion and dissemination of environmentally friendly technologies on the world scale?
In the past few years, the world intellectual property organisation, (WIPO) , has been looking into this question. As The goal of their work is to stimulate creativity and economic development by promoting an international system of intellectual property, based on collaboration between states. Spreading the use of new technologies throughout the world can really help us to fight global warming. To promote the creation and production of green technologies, programs have been established like the “pilot program green technologies”.
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The goal of these programs is to accelerate the patent examination process linked to Environmentally Rational Technologies (ERT). One of the solutions proposed to promote technologies respectful of the environment is trade liberalization in environmental goods and services. It allows every country of the world to broadcast their inventions more easily because the political boundaries and obstacles to trade and exchange would be removed. Finally, the development of new platforms like WIPO GREEN allows exchanges of ideas, projects between suppliers and applications ERT. By working together, the inhabitants of the world have more chances to find solutions to fight against climate change which is necessary to save our planet. Everyone can take part in acting on a daily basis with ecological actions to become eco responsible citizens.
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Elsa RENAULT
