Marie Fossum Strannegård, CEO: IVL is growing and is opening a new office in northern Sweden

IVL is growing and is opening a new office in northern Sweden

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is growing, despite the challenges from the outside world. We are now establishing an operation in northern Sweden, where our work will focus on the business sector’s climate transition and continued strong links with IVL’s role as a research institute in the field of the environment and sustainability.

IVL is continuing to grow and is expanding the operation with a new office. We already carry out work in northern Sweden, both in the form of environmental measurements and licensing processes, as well as in a number of research and innovation projects in the field of climate and energy. That work is now being reinforced with a local presence. We have carried out recruitment during the year in order to establish an office in Skellefteå, and as a result we are now even closer to our customers.

Our aim is to contribute with research and skills that will support the societal transformation that Sweden is facing, including more than halving our climate emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2045. This is promoting major initiatives in new technology with renewable energy solutions, and northern Sweden is an important region in this transition.

IVL always places both the environment and our customers at the centre. Being a secure partner in the transformation to a sustainable world is not only our vision, but also our working method. We never jeopardise our credibility and the seriousness of our work regarding the environment and the climate. We base our work on the latest research, all with the aim of being the best partner for our customers and clients. According to our customers (Customer Satisfaction Index), we have continued to deliver a high level of quality and, at the same time, have achieved strong financial results.

Through the year, the outside world has also been focusing heavily on the climate. The fact that the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow eventually managed to reach an agreement was a positive outcome, even though the agreement does not live up to the expectations of the outside world in all respects. Its successes include texts relating to fossil fuels, the fact that agreement has been reached regarding rules and procedures for reporting emissions and measures, as well as the promises of financial support for developing countries.

Pressure is being applied regarding transition, and Sweden needs to pick up the pace if we are to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. The technology that is required to get there is known, and the cost is often marginal at the consumer level. Nevertheless, the transformation work is proceeding far too slowly. The rate of change in the ongoing activities has to increase.

It’s high time for actors in the business sector, cities and organisations to get started, both in terms of the transition to fossil independence and adaptation to climate change.

We can see a considerable need to increase cooperation with business and authorities domestically, in the EU and globally, and in particular with Swedish companies that can provide solutions that can then be exported to other countries. IVL is a driving force in this important work, along with many of our customers and partners.

Without our skilled and dedicated employees, none of this would have been possible. We are continuing to grow in many areas, and I am pleased to note that our employees are happy. I am now looking forward to a new year, and I can’t wait to meet our employees, partners and customers in person.