ODA Spending


How much ODA does Sweden allocate to climate projects?




The 2019 OECD DAC peer review commended Sweden’s international leadership on environmental sustainability and climate change, highlighting its work in assisting countries in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and its adoption of an ambitious national target (net-zero emission by 2045). Following the inclusion of environmental and climate indicators in the upgraded version of the UN’s Human Development Index Report, Sweden moved up to the sixth position. Within Sweden’s 2016 Policy framework for Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance, ‘the environment and climate change, and the sustainable use of natural resources’ is one of eight focus areas for Sweden's development cooperation.


According to OECD data, in 2022, 14% of Sweden’s bilateral allocable ODA targeted climate change as a principal goal, slightly higher than the DAC average of 13%. 19% of funding was spent on projects with a significant climate change component ( DAC average: 16%).



How is Swedish climate ODA changing?


Bilateral Spending


A large majority of Sweden’s climate-related ODA went to projects supporting adaptation. As a result, there is an emphasis on the overlap between climate adaptation and the use of natural resources, which drives Sweden’s investment in climate-smart agriculture, including forestry and fishing: agriculture received the third-largest share (13%) of climate-related spending in 2022, just behind energy (18%) and environmental protection (22%). By comparison, agriculture is the tenth-largest sector of Sweden’s overall bilateral funding (including ODA not related to climate objectives).


Focus on climate adaptation is reflected in Sweden’s strategy for development cooperation in sustainable environment, climate and marine resources, and sustainable use of natural resources, in which the government highlights the opportunities for synergies between climate adaptation, sustainable use of natural resources, and disaster risk reduction.



Multilateral Spending and Commitments


In line with its overall ODA policy, Sweden works closely with multilateral organizations, to which it contributes significant amounts of funding, though not all these funds are counted as ODA.



Funding and Policy Outlook


What is the current Swedish government's outlook on climate ODA?


Focus on sustainable development within climate, the environment, and our oceans: Sweden’s ‘strategy for global development cooperation in the areas of environmental sustainability, sustainable climate, and oceans, and sustainable use of natural resources’ covers 2018-2022 and highlights three main goals: 

  • Climate-resilient sustainable development; 
  • Environmentally sustainable development and sustainable use of natural resources; and 
  • Sustainable oceans and water resources. 

The strategy is backed by a funding envelope of SEK6.5 billion ( US$740 million).


 

Key Bodies



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