Gotland at the forefront of climate change in the EU

The Government commissioned the Swedish Energy Agency to work for Gotland to be a pilot area in the transition to a sustainable energy system. In connection with this, Helena Andersson, who is an eco-strategist at Region Gotland, applied for membership in the EU initiative Clean Energy for EU Islands.

- The idea is that if you are more people who want the same thing, you have a greater chance of being heard for it, she says.

- Many islands see that they have the opportunity to expand their renewable energy, but there are also many islands that take the biggest shocks to the extreme weather that can come in connection with climate change.

It was 2017 that the EU Commission, together with Sweden and 14 other countries, signed a declaration on the Clean Energy Initiative on EU islands. Clean Energy for EU Islands is part of this initiative and will open up cooperation between islands and regions within the EU as a path towards cleaner energy.

- It does not mean that we get an extra money bag, but rather that we get extra guidance for the systems that already exist and help find financing and partners for larger projects. So it's also about matchmaking and piloting, ”says Helena Andersson.