British News Agency

Prime Minister Kristersson noted that almost 70% of Sweden is covered by forests, saying: “We Swedes have cared for forests for generations and lived in them, by them, and from them. In winter, they heated our homes, provided us with wood, and sustained our villages. Every child at school learns to work with wood.”

He stated that forests are part of their culture and a fundamental element of the public access right, which all Swedes enjoy with great freedom and great responsibility:

“In much of Europe, the land is flat. When we speak of the vast forests in the EU, some think we are talking about small parks; they have rarely seen anything comparable to the Scandinavian coniferous forests.”

Kristersson added that they have managed forests for centuries and done well: “This is why today, together with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, I sent a letter to Commission President von der Leyen. We want the EU to truly make use of the flexibilities available in the LULUCF legislation, for the sake of climate and Europe’s security.”