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Inauguration of the Swedish Pavilion Passed

Tuesday November 10, 2026 10:00 - 12:00 +03 The Swedish pavilion - Open for public

Partner: Business Sweden

Category: Transitioning Energy, Industry & Transport

The Inauguration will offer a high-level preview of the key themes and discussions that will shape the Swedish Pavilion throughout COP31, bringing together leaders from business, academia, civil society and the public sector. Positioning Sweden as a Climate Matchmaker, the programme will demonstrate how collaboration across sectors and value chains can connect climate priorities with solutions, finance, policy frameworks, infrastructure and delivery partnerships, helping move climate ambition towards investment, implementation and deployment at scale.

Reflecting the broader vision of Sweden’s COP31 engagement, the Inauguration will highlight the enabling conditions needed to accelerate climate action and investment, including ambitious NDCs and NAPs, long-term targets, predictable policy frameworks, global standards, climate-aligned procurement and incentives that strengthen demand for climate-smart solutions. Through the perspectives of the Swedish Pavilion’s thematic summits, the programme will demonstrate how policy, finance, innovation and public-private collaboration can come together to translate climate commitments into investable and scalable pathways, in line with the Paris Agreement.


Welcome & Opening Remarks (10:00–10:10)

Welcome & Opening Remarks will officially open the Swedish Pavilion and position Sweden’s role as the Climate Matchmaker, connecting COP30 priorities with COP31’s focus on implementation and measurable delivery.

Speakers:

  • Jan Larsson, President & CEO, Business Sweden
  • Diana Janse, State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden


Setting the Scene for COP31: What is at Stake?

Setting the Scene for COP31: What is at Stake? will provide a high-level framing of the global climate context, the priorities ahead and what is required to accelerate implementation.

Moderator: 

  • Mattias Frumerie, Climate Ambassador and Head of Delegation to UNFCCC, Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise

Panellists:

  • Maesela John Kekana, Chief Climate Negotiator, South Africa
  • Roaa Alobeid, CEO & Founder, United Beyond Borders


From Ambition to Transition: Energy & Electrification

A fireside chat between H.E. Mattias Frumerie and Niklas Persson (Hitachi Energy Sweden), highlighting the critical role of the private sector in delivering the Action Agenda and accelerating the transition, using energy and electrification as a key example.

Participants:

  • Mattias Frumerie, Climate Ambassador and Head of Delegation to UNFCCC at Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise
  • Niklas Persson, CEO, BU Grid Integration, Hitachi Energy & Chairman of the Board, Hitachi Energy Sweden AB

Panel

Electrification & Resilient Infrastructure: 
"How do we accelerate electrification and resilient infrastructure at scale?"  (10:30–10:50)

Electrification & Resilient Infrastructure: "How do we accelerate electrification and resilient infrastructure at scale?" will explore how NDCs can unlock the infrastructure, investment and partnerships needed to accelerate resilient electrification at scale.

Moderator: 

  • Olov Hemström, Head of Strategic Projects, Business Sweden

Panellists:

  • Sofia Svingby, Head of Sustainability, AFRY
  • Lena Julle, Chief Sustainability Officer, Inter IKEA Group
  • Niklas Persson, CEO, BU Grid Integration, Hitachi Energy & Chairman of the Board, Hitachi Energy Sweden AB
  • Thomas Spencer, Senior Energy Analyst, International Energy Agency

Panel

Decarbonising Industry: "How do we accelerate industrial decarbonisation?"  (10:50–11:10)

Decarbonising Industry: "How do we accelerate industrial decarbonisation?" will explore how NDCs can create the market and policy conditions needed to accelerate industrial decarbonisation while strengthening competitiveness.

Moderator: 

  • Olov Hemström, Head of Strategic Projects, Business Sweden

Panellists: 

  • Sofia Jonsson, Head of Sustainability, Investor AB
  • Martin Pei, Senior Advisor, SSAB
  • Sofie R Cederberg, Director Group Sustainability, SKF
  • Jennie Dodson, Senior Director, Policy Advocacy & Member Mobilization, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Panel

Circular Value Chains for Resilience and Competitiveness: 
"How do we scale circular solutions for competitive and climate-resilient value chains?"  (11:10–11:30) 

Circular Value Chains for Resilience and Competitiveness: "How do we scale circular solutions for competitive and climate-resilient value chains?" will explore how circular solutions can move from individual pilots to investable, commercially viable and climate-resilient value chains.

Moderator: 

  • Samiksha Jalan, Senior Project Manager, Business Sweden

Panellists: 

  • Fredrik Nilzén, Head of Sustainability, Scania
  • Lina Wiles, Chief Sustainability Officer, Adapteo
  • Charlotte De Bruyne, Regional Technical Specialist, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 

Panel

Resilient and Climate-Smart Food Systems: 
"How do we position the Critical Middle of food systems as a key lever for food security and climate resilience?" (11:30–11:50)

Resilient and Climate-Smart Food Systems: "How do we position the Critical Middle of food systems as a key lever for food security and climate resilience?" will explore how investment and innovation in the Critical Middle of food systems can strengthen food security, reduce resource use and build more resilient food systems at scale.

Moderator: 

  • Samiksha Jalan, Senior Project Manager, Business Sweden

Panellists: 

  • Eija Hietavuo, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Tetra Pak
  • Anna Celsing, Chief Sustainability Officer, Alfa Laval
  • Karin Wessman, Head of Sustainability & Country Analysis / Deputy Director Risk Management, Swedish Export Credit Agency (EKN)
  • Stephen Cahill, Country Director and Representative for Türkiye, World Food Programme

Closing Remarks (11:50–12:00)

Closing Remarks will capture key takeaways from the Inauguration and connect the discussions to the wider Swedish Pavilion programme.

Speaker:

  • Anne Olhoff, Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony (12:00 - 12:05)

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will mark the official opening of the Swedish Pavilion.

Networking Reception – Mingle and Press (12:05–14:00)

Networking Reception – Mingle and Press will provide an opportunity for speakers, partners, participants and media to connect following the Inauguration.