What Stockholm gets Right about Sustainability

I recently had the chance to visit Stockholm as part of the We Are Family Foundation, and it was nothing short of incredible! 

What struck me the most though wasn’t just the beauty of the city (waterways and castles) or ridiculously fast transit system, but rather that sustainability just felt alive. No explaining, no justifications. It was a hot topic, an important topic on the minds of nearly everyone we spoke with (business owners, gift shops, hotel staff). Nobody questioned its validity or importance in the coming decade. And that was insane.

I want to highlight just a few of the remarkable trends I noticed below. Before I start though, one more thing: Stockholm saw sustainability as an opportunity not a burden. (Hopefully reading this, can inculcate that mindset into you, the reader, as well)

Biking and Electric Scootering

Bikes and electric scooters are given the same precedence as cars. They have their own dedicated lanes (not some flimsy piece of concrete). So people actually see it as a viable alternative to using cars. Walkers and bikers are prioritized, changing the whole dynamic of the city.

Businesses (Industry Practices)

Companies, too, operate differently. Swedish firms are held accountable for their climate impact through real policy: environmental fines, carbon taxes, and strict CSR reporting (which we’ve seen a major rollback of in the United States). That regulatory pressure doesn’t stifle innovation, but drives it, causing climate-tech companies to have a future. Startups focused on carbon capture, battery storage, and sustainable materials are flourishing because there’s demand not just from consumers but from the government and corporations alike.

And the rankings speak for themselves. Gothenburg, Sweden has been ranked as the 2nd most sustainable city in the world. And Stockholm follows close behind in 30th. (https://www.gds.earth/index/top-40-cities/). From waste management (https://sensoneo.com/global-waste-index/) ranked in 8th, to public transport, Sweden routinely tops the leaderboard.

Stockholm, Sweden is innovating for the future. Anticipating the future. We have to join them.