Vattenfall’s Annika Ramsköld Leads Sustainability Agenda at COP28

Vattenfall’s Annika Ramsköld Leads Sustainability Agenda at COP28

(IN BRIEF) Vattenfall, a key player in the European energy transition, is actively participating in COP28, the 28th UN Climate Conference, held from November 30th to December 12th in the United Arab Emirates. Head of Sustainability, Annika Ramsköld, is representing Vattenfall, focusing on building partnerships and promoting fossil-free value chains through high-level discussions. Vattenfall is committed to sustainability, with plans to phase out coal by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. Despite concerns about potential oil-related deals at COP28, Vattenfall has decided to participate, aiming to accelerate the global transition away from fossil dependency and advocate for sustainability.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 1-Dec-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Vattenfall, a Swedish government-owned multinational power company, is pleased to announce its active participation in COP28, the 28th UN Climate Conference, taking place from November 30th to December 12th. Our Head of Sustainability, Annika Ramsköld, will be in the United Arab Emirates for a week, where she will play a pivotal role in fostering partnerships and championing the cause of fossil-free value chains during a series of high-level meetings.

As a pivotal player in Europe’s energy transition, Vattenfall places sustainability at the core of its operations. This dedication has earned Anna Borg a place on the recently unveiled TIME100 Climate list, recognizing her as an international leader committed to fossil freedom.

With an ambitious plan to phase out coal by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040, Vattenfall enters COP28 with a strong commitment to climate action. While legislators worldwide have initiated measures to combat climate change, the onus now falls on business leaders to translate ideas into tangible actions. COP28 serves as a vital platform for Vattenfall to engage with partners and stakeholders, establish new alliances, share expertise, inspire change, and call for swift and decisive action.

Annika Ramsköld, Head of Sustainability at Vattenfall, emphasizes the importance of considering entire value chains in the pursuit of fossil freedom:

“Removing emissions from our own processes and products is one thing. The same logic should apply to the resources going in to the process and to the partners that Vattenfall relies on,” she says. “Sustainable thinking means thinking it through to the end. We need to consider whole value chains and all sustainability aspects and see how Vattenfall can contribute to making them fossil free in a just way. Fossil free steel is one important example here among many. We are taking our ideas and best practices to the world stage now to have a bigger impact, strengthen our existing alliances, and forge new ones.”

Among the high-level events on her agenda, Annika Ramsköld will participate in meetings of the First Movers Coalition (FMC). Vattenfall is a co-founding member of FMC, an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum and the U.S. special envoy for climate, John Kerry, with the goal of driving demand for breakthrough technologies with (near) zero emissions. While addressing entire value chains poses challenges, it also presents opportunities for transformative change. Engaging in discussions becomes more complex when diverse stakeholders are involved, a challenge heightened at COP28.

Annika Ramsköld emphasizes that the decision to attend COP28 was carefully considered. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the host country, appointed Sultan al-Jaber as the president of the UN Climate Conference. However, concerns have been raised regarding his dual role as CEO of the state oil company, Adnoc, and the state renewables company, Masdar, potentially representing a conflict of interest.

Serious allegations suggest that the UAE may aim to leverage COP28 for oil-related deals. Vattenfall, like other organizations, has thoroughly assessed the implications of attending COP28. Despite these concerns, the decision is to actively participate in COP28 and engage in the critical discussion on the path forward for our shared world. Vattenfall is committed to advocating for an acceleration of the transition away from fossil dependency, promoting sustainability, and shaping a more sustainable future.

You can find more information about COP28 here:
COP28 UAE – United Nations Climate Change Conference

Media contact:

Tim Robin Reichel
+46 8 739 50 10
press@vattenfall.com

SOURCE: Vattenfall AB