Sweden Shares Secrets to Kicking the Fossil Fuel Habit, Offering Vietnam a Path to Net-Zero Emissions
Sweden is leading the way in the global transition to carbon neutrality, with ambitious plans to eliminate the use of fossil fuels by 2045. This remarkable journey began decades ago and was fueled by a global oil crisis, which forced the country to rethink its energy strategy. The 1970s oil crisis, a result of Sweden’s heavy reliance on oil, served as a pivotal moment. The shortage of oil and soaring prices led to the implementation of oil rationing, similar to food rations. This crisis threatened the economic gains of the previous ‘golden period’, prompting Swedish authorities to take decisive action. A Transformative Oil Crisis Sweden’s response to the crisis was twofold. Firstly, they turned to nuclear power to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Secondly, they invested significantly in central heating infrastructure, constructing large heating plants to supply heat to clusters of households and industrial parks through insulated piping and underground networks. This shift ...