Researchers track pollution generated abroad for Swedish goods
For the first time scientists have delivered a way to make sure that Sweden doesn’t simply export its pollution to other countries, in a report seen exclusively by Radio Sweden before its release Thursday morning.
Martin Persson is one of the researchers who’s worked on the report, he’s at Chalmers Technical College. He says that they have now developed methods that can track how consumption in Sweden affects the rest of the world.
This will enable Sweden to reach its so-called generation goal. This is one of the environmental goals agreed by the parliament in 2015. It says that the next generation should not have to inherit a society plagued by major environmental problems – and that Sweden should reach this goal without causing ecological problems in other countries.
Some of the details the report reveals are that 80 percent of all dangerous substances due to Swedish consumption are emitted in other countries.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Treaty banning dangerous chemicals helped Arctic wildlife, study shows, CBC News
Finland: Increasing ocean acidification ushering era of uncertainty for Arctic, says report, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: Polar bears greatly exposed to toxic chemicals in eastern Barents Sea, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russian Navy sends clean-up team to Arctic trash dump, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Swedish mining company found not responsible for poisoning Chileans, Radio Sweden
United States: America’s most toxic site is in the Alaskan Arctic, Cryopolitics Blog
