Sweden’s prime minister announced his country will work towards becoming ‘one of the first fossil fuel-free welfare states of the world’
Renewables account for over half of Sweden’s energy, while the UK has one of the lowest renewable energy shares in Europe.
In 2015, Sweden’s prime minister announced his country will work towards becoming “one of the first fossil fuel-free welfare states of the world,” in a speech to the UN General Assembly.
Between 2013 and 2014, 51.1 per cent of Sweden’s energy needs were met by renewables, according to data from Eurostat and the Renewable Energy Directive.
Latvia was the second most green country, with a RES of 37 per cent, followed by Finland, which had a RES of 36.8 per cent and Austria, with an RES of 32.9 per cent.
In contrast, Luxembourg had the lowest RES at 3.8 per cent, followed by Malta and the Netherlands.
The UK had the fourth lowest RES at 5.7 per cent, followed by Ireland with 8.2 per cent.
Countries around Europe are building increasing amounts of renewable energy capacity in order to reduce their carbon emissions and boost supply security.
