Tech industry wants to speed up the climate transition

The tech industry is rising to the challenge. This is according to representatives from the industry and employer organization TechSverige, while extending a hand to decision-makers who want to speed up the climate transition.

The world's sustainability challenges affect everyone and change the conditions for society, business and our private lives. How well we address these challenges today will affect not only the development of the near future, but also the quality of life and conditions of future generations. For us in the tech industry, this is a high priority.

TechSverige today presents a report that highlights two aspects of sustainability. Firstly, the industry's own sustainability challenges and the work to reduce them, and secondly, our unique position as an enabler of other industries' transition to more sustainable flows, technologies and business models - with reduced fossil emissions and reduced climate impact as a result.

In the report, we present nine concrete policy proposals for a sustainable tech industry that contributes positively to its own and other industries' climate work and to a more sustainable society at large. These include steering towards increased reuse of small electronics, promoting sustainable digital solutions through increased access to data, and a shift where procurement promotes sustainable choices and innovations in the industry.

As mentioned, the tech industry's contribution to the global climate goals lies not only in its own transition, but in the development of smart products, services and infrastructure that help other industries and society as a whole to transition and become more sustainable.

According to the World Economic Forum, 70% of the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals can be supported by existing technologies and solutions, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics.

Several of our more than 1,400 member companies, together with various partners, have developed digital solutions that reduce climate impact in other sectors; examples include blockchain technology for climate-smart food chains, 3D modelling that reduces emissions in the construction sector and sensor technology that optimizes flows in the manufacturing industry. What these solutions have in common is that they can be scaled up and spread to other sectors globally, accelerating the pace of the climate transition.

Climate challenges are big and serious. Therefore, we cannot be satisfied with our solutions doing good for others, or with our own sustainability efforts being ambitious. We must consciously work on both fronts. Innovative sustainability work is also important for Sweden's future competitiveness and as a potential export product. Technology in itself does not solve any problems, but we can choose to use it in a way that contributes to a sustainable society. TechSverige works for a sustainable tech sector, together with decision-makers and other actors. To achieve the climate goals, even more and broader collaborations with organizations, authorities and politicians are needed, as well as more effective implementation. To all the decision-makers gathered in Stockholm to meet the climate challenges, we would like to make the following appeal: Turn to the tech industry to find solutions!

Swedish tech companies want to and can contribute to transformative change at the societal level - locally, regionally, nationally and globally - and to accelerate the pace of the climate transition.

Magdalena Aspengren, Chair of TechSverige's Sustainability Council

Frida Faxborn, Industry policy expert with special responsibility for sustainability issues, TechSverige

The Sustainable Tech and Tech for Climate report can be found here
Join the launch seminar of the sustainability report here