Transcription: Kristina Sundin Jonssons video report, Tuesday 6 October
Kristina Sundin Jonsson:
The green transition is central to the transformation of our society. It brings innovation and growth, but it also presents various challenges. On October 13 and 14, we’ll be hosting the annual conference of Sweden’s Environmental Municipalities, where we’ll share our experiences from the past few years. To tell you a little more about this, I’ve invited Eva Kinnvall, who is the head of the Environment and Health Department here at Skellefteå Municipality. Welcome!
Eva Kinnvall:
Thank you very much!
Kristina:
First of all, could you tell us about your department’s mission?
Eva:
Yes, the Environment and Health Department is part of the Community Development Division, and I think the Building and Environment Committee has described our mission well in its mission statement: to ensure sustainable community development for people’s well-being, health, and the environment. It’s about creating a sense of security for the individual by offering advice and support, but also by conducting oversight in accordance with legislation in the field of urban development, and finally, we must protect biodiversity and ensure that this is done in harmony with society. This is a broad concept. I believe people’s well-being and quality of life are central to it. This is to cover activities under the Environmental Code, food safety legislation, alcohol regulations, and housing adaptations. And then we also have operations related to the Consumer Board and the Guardianship Board.
Kristina:
You describe it so well—this idea of people’s well-being. But we’ve also talked a lot about the green transition. This has been a key focus for your department as well. Can you tell us a little bit about how it’s affected you?
Eva:
The green transition is, of course, incredibly important for sustainable development, societal development, and the Building and Environment Committee—or rather, we—are the local environmental authority, and we contribute to sustainable societal development through our oversight and permit review in accordance with the Environmental Code. And as part of our oversight, we ensure that companies and operations comply with their permits and adhere to the Environmental Code. We make sure that emissions to soil, water, and air do not occur in an unauthorized manner. But we also play an important role in strategic planning. This includes physical planning for the municipality and assisting new businesses as they establish themselves here.
Kristina:
What are the biggest challenges with this transition from your perspective?
Eva:
The biggest challenge is that things are moving fast. That’s happening in society right now, and then there’s the challenge of allocating resources for strategic work. It’s very important that we’re involved from the start, so that things are done right from the beginning. That way, it won’t become a hassle for everyone—both businesses and the municipality—in the end if things go wrong.
Kristina:
People often talk a lot about complex issues, and this is truly one of those complex issues where it’s important to consider many perspectives. We’re holding this conference in Skellefteå on October 13 and 14. What kind of conference is it, and why is it significant that it’s being held right here?
Eva:
It’s organized by Sweden’s Environmental Municipalities, a long-standing association founded as far back as 1919, actually. Back then, the focus was mainly on addressing poor hygiene and sanitation problems in housing. But over time, the association has evolved and now brings together local politicians from environmental and health protection committees to discuss environmental policy and issues, both nationally and locally. And there has, of course, been interest in Skellefteå’s development within this association as well.
Kristina:
What experiences and lessons from our transformation do you think other municipalities are most interested in learning about?
Eva:
I think it’s important to highlight the municipality’s long-term, patient, and persistent efforts. With innovation and growth come challenges as well, and we’ve tried to address that in the program for this conference. Everything from the development strategy to renewable energy, various modes of transportation that must be carried out in a sustainable manner—including the port’s operations and aviation. It also involves contaminated soil and waste. Social sustainability and the experiences we’ve gained from interagency oversight, which has been implemented and expanded in recent years.
Kristina:
It sounds like it’s going to be an incredibly exciting conference with a very broad scope.
Eva:
We certainly hope so. We want to showcase Skellefteå’s journey together—a phrase you often use. Municipalities play a key role in this green transition, and I think other municipalities are interested in that. And we also have the opportunity to learn from and share experiences with other municipalities. This exchange of experiences works both ways.
Kristina:
Absolutely. Thank you so much for taking the time to join my video report, Eva.
And thank you to all of you who have been listening. We’ll see you again in a couple of weeks.