A/HRC/41/44/Add.1 development cooperation in the areas of environmental sustainability, sustainable climate and oceans, and sustainable use of natural resources for the period 2018–2022.69 66. The Independent Expert was informed that the Government had declared the environment to be a political priority, and was integrating an environmental and climate perspective into its international cooperation and development policies through the activities and initiatives of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The objective is to strengthen and promote environmental sustainability in different sectors and in dialogue with stakeholders at all levels. 70 Sweden acknowledges that changes in climate, combined with the overexploitation of natural resources and air and water pollution, severely affect people living in poverty, who are the target group of Swedish international development cooperation policy. In June 2017, the Agency adopted a new Environmental Action Plan for 2017–2020, which defines goals with regard to climate analysis, finance and dialogue partnership to increase the Agency’s efforts in this area. 71 67. Following its long-standing human rights-based international solidarity in this area, the Government provides support through the actions of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency in the framework of bilateral, regional and global development cooperation strategies. Several organizations and projects in other countries that have environmental or climate change actions as their main objectives have benefited from Swedish grants for climate actions, which made up 15 per cent of the Agency’s disbursements in 2016.72 In 2015, the Agency contributed financially to global as well as regional Asian and African organizations and made bilateral contributions to actors in Albania, Cambodia, Kenya and Serbia in the environmental sector. 73 In 2016, Kenya, Mozambique and the United Republic of Tanzania were the main bilateral recipients of climate financing from the Agency, along with the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Bangladesh.74 68. The significant efforts of Sweden in its international advocacy to combat climate change, as well as its international cooperation strategy to support actors working for the preservation of the environment and biodiversity, considerably contribute to international solidarity in this area. B. International partnerships to ensure a sustainable environment and society nationally and locally 69. The Independent Expert was pleased to learn about the many innovative ways Swedish institutions, businesses and society intend to ensure a more sustainable society in Sweden and abroad and comply with the climate goals set by the Government. Sweden is recognized as one of the most innovative countries in the field of environment-related technology,75 and the Independent Expert notes with appreciation a strong and significant contribution to international solidarity in this area, especially at the city and county levels. For example, the Stockholm County Council has established several procurement partnerships with companies established in other countries that are using a human rightsbased and sustainable development approach, especially in the areas of public 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 See www.government.se/articles/2018/03/new-strategy-to-increase-the-level-of-ambition-regardingglobal-efforts-on-the-environment-climate-and-oceans/. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, “Environment and climate”, 8 August 2017. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, “Environmental targets 2017–2020”, November 2017, available at www.sida.se/contentassets/c571800e01e448ac9dce2d097ba125a1/ environmental_targets_2017-2020.pdf. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency “Climate change: increasing support for climate action”, portfolio overview 2013–2016. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, “Environment and climate change: a sustainable development within planetary boundaries”, portfolio overview 2015. Sida “Climate change: increasing support for climate action”, portfolio overview 2013–2016, available at www.sida.se/globalassets/sida/eng/partners/green-tool-box/portfolio-overview-sidaclimate-2013-2016.pdf. OECD, OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Sweden 2014 (Paris, 2014). 17