Choices that matters for climate savvy companies

Per Molander, Mannheimer Swartling Law


Ambassador Wood - who is known for his passion for what he calls the “One Big Thing” – said one of the main focuses of his tenure in office has been to enable co-operation between the US and Sweden in the area of alternative energy sources. He said the US has finally recognized the importance of awareness about climate change. 

“On the global warming front, the US was asleep for a long time. But when the US wakes up, there is a huge market,” he said.

There are four main sources of greenhouse gas emissions: homes and buildings, industry, transportation, and electric power. “If you want to do something about climate change, you need to have breakthrough technologies in all of these categories,” Ambassador Wood said. 

The Ambassador’s speech was followed by a presentation from Ulf Svahn, managing director at the Swedish Petroleum Institute, who talked about the European oil industry’s perspective on climate change. 

“The industry is increasingly recognizing climate change and greenhouse gas emission’s contribution to it,” he said.  


                        
                           US Ambassador Michael Wood

The next speaker was Daniel Haas, development manager of green construction at Skanska AB. He said that carbon foot printing can help identify opportunities for improved efficiency and cost savings. Management should “live and lead by example”. Measures can include employer programs for employees, green power incentives, alternative transportation/vehicle policies and greening/wellness initiatives. In Seattle, for instance, Skanska has found that promoting public transportation has actually saved the company money.  

“It's less expensive for us to buy our employees bus passes than to pay for their parking in a downtown urban environment,” Haas said.  

Christofer Kohn, a specialist in green logistics and supply chain management consultant at Establish/United Logistics Group, talked about the key issues in greening the supply chain. “Long-term profitability is achieved through an understanding of the interplay between traditional supply chain efficiency and CO2 emissions,” he said.   

The next speaker, CEO Hans Enocson of GE Nordic Region, presented GE’s “Ecomagination" concept, which looks at how to optimize operating and environmental performance by investing in the technologies of the future.  

Anna Langenius, PioPower manager at Saab Automobile AB, talked about her company’s search for technologies that support lower CO2, including the Aero X ethanol car. It is the only ethanol car that combines a lot less environmental impact with a lot more engine power.  

“Car manufacturers are not ecological companies, but we are deeply committed to doing things differently than we have before,” she said.  

Per Molander, partner at Mannheimer Swartling law firm, then presented how companies can commit suppliers to a CO2 policy. “Purchase contracts stipulating carbon neutral energy are being used throughout the entire supply chain, representing a widening of the CSR and HR aspects that are normal in contracts today,” he said.  

The climate change conference was concluded by Per Anders Enkvist, associate partner at McKinsey & Company, who discussed greenhouse gas abatement opportunities in Sweden. 

Written exclusively for AmCham by Charlotte West, Battison & Partners

To see some of the presentations please click below:

The One Big Thing + 1
-  Mr Michael Wood, U.S. Ambassador to Sweden

The European Perspective on Climate Change from the Oil Industry
- Ulf Svahn, Managing Director, The Swedish Petroleum Institute

Reducing C02 while sitting in your office
- Daniel Haas, Development Manager - Green construction, Skanska AB    

Sustainable Logistics
- Christofer Kohn, Specialist Green Logistics and SCM consultant, Establish - United Logistics Group

Committing Suppliers to your C02 policy
- Per Molander, Partner, Head of the Environment practice group - Mannheimer Swartling Law

Climate Change - the End of Driving Pleasure
- Anna Langenius, Manager BioPower, Saab Automobile AB


   
    Daniel Haas            Christofer Kohn        Hans Enocson 
 
   
    Per Molander             Ulf Svahn            Anna Langenius

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