SWEDEN Law and Practice Contributed by: Peter Dyer, Alexandra Thörnroos and Jonna Sjöström, Wåhlin Advokater AB
ible risks that the [Kallak] project poses to Sami lands, resources, culture and livelihoods”. In the summer of 2019, more than 1,000 people got together in a tent camp in Kallak to protest in solidar - ity with the Sami people. Nevertheless, in March 2022 the Swedish government gave a qualified green light to Beowulf to proceed with its plans for an iron ore mine. This enabled Beowulf to start economic and environmental studies and apply to an environmental court to start processing ore, but it will have to meet a range of environmental and other conditions that the government attached to its approval. 3. Climate Change, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in Mining 3.1 Climate Change Effects In 2018, Svemin (the Swedish Association of Mines, Mineral and Metal Producers) presented a Road Map for a Competitive and Fossil-Free Mining and Mineral Industry, in collaboration with the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and Fossil Free Sweden. The targets in the road map include fossil-free mining by 2035 and climate-neutral processing and completely fossil-free energy use by 2045. To implement the roadmap, the industry is working on: • increased electrification; • switching to biofuel in a transitional phase where electricity cannot yet be used; • further automation and digitalisation for more effi - cient vehicles; and • technological development in processing – eg, using hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Svemin is co-ordinating the process of implementing the roadmap, and it is reported that several mining companies have drawn on it to produce roadmaps of their own. 3.2 Climate Change Legislation and Proposals Related to Mining No climate change legislation specific to mining has yet been passed in Sweden. The Climate Policy
Framework of 2017, which introduced the Climate Act, includes a review of all relevant legislation in emis - sions sectors. One of the sectors to be analysed is the transport sector, which is closely related to and is likely to impact the mining industry. In the meantime, climate change initiatives directly related to mining are being pushed forward by industry organisations such as Svemin, with its Road Map for a Competitive and Fossil-Free Mining and Mineral Industry (see 3.1 Climate Change Effects ). Currently, efforts are being made to develop a global, consolidated mining standard for sustainability (Con - solidated Mining Standard Initiative). The standards being considered for inclusion are: • Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM); • International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM); • the Copper Mark; and • Gold Standard. The first version of the consolidated standard was open for public consultation between 16 October and 16 December 2024, and Svemin submitted a response on behalf of the industry. The final public consultation on the consolidated standard took place from 8 Octo - ber until 17 November 2025, and the partners are now working to develop and finalise the standard. The goal is to address all relevant sustainability issues within the mining sector, organised into categories, including governance and management, working conditions, environmental impact, climate, stakeholder relations and legal matters. Another aim is to establish a stand - ard that is applicable to all types of mines and regions globally. 3.3 Sustainable Development Initiatives Related to Mining Svemin has developed a roadmap detailing how increased consideration for biological diversity can also be profitable, called Mining with Nature. The goal is for the mining industry to contribute to increased biodiversity in all the regions where mining and min - eral activities and exploration are ongoing by 2030. Svemin has also introduced the TraceMet project, which investigates the possibility of tracing certified
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