Our Environment at Risk: A Swedish Student’s View on America’s Approach to the Environment | Columnists

Nicole first visited the U.S. in 2016. She was shocked to learn that there were still those who don’t believe climate change. She was shocked to hear Donald Trump deny that climate change occurred during the 2016 election. She believes that climate change has been caused by humans and is not an opinion. She thinks most Swedes would not be surprised that Americans still debate climate change.

Nicole believes she learned climate change in middle-school, just as Greta Thunberg, her countrywoman and another student from Sweden, who started her school strikes against climate change in front the Swedish Parliament when she was in middle-school. Swedish students are open to the climate science they are being taught and have moved on from ignoring it to take action. It is the truth, even if it is uncomfortable for them.

There are no free plastic bags available in Sweden. The average cost of a plastic bag in Sweden is about 65 cents. They are made of stronger plastic and most people reuse them later as garbage bags. Sweden implemented a tax on single-use plastic bags in 2020. People stopped using single-use plastic bags after they passed the tax. Instead of paying the tax, they started to bring their own cloth grocery bags or carry their goods from the shop in their hands. It’s a small thing, but it has big results for Sweden.

Sweden’s energy comes from 42% renewable sources, while the United States has less than 10%. The U.S. is a larger country with higher energy needs. However, Sweden still uses a greater percentage of its energy from renewables, especially hydroelectric power.

Sweden’s recycling policy is a little different from that in the U.S. There are eight categories of recycling in Sweden. Each recycling bin can be divided into ten smaller ones. Metals, newspapers, general waste, and colored glass all go in separate bins. Each bin has its own compartment. IKEA offers an undercounter system that works very well. The undercounter system has two compartments: one for light bulbs and one for batteries.

There are also recycling machines in Sweden’s grocery stores. For aluminum and plastic containers, you will need to pay a 15 cent deposit. The machine returns the deposit when the containers are empty.

Nicole was also shocked to see Americans buying so much bottled water. Most people in Sweden don’t buy bottled water. Sweden’s municipal water is completely drinkable, so residents don’t need to purchase bottles. She believes the water in Sweden tastes strange and smells like cleaning supplies. She said that the water in Sweden smells and tastes great. They do not chlorinate their water as much, if at all, and they don’t add fluoride as we do.

Sweden’s public transport system is excellent. It runs everywhere. There are buses and fast trains that go between cities, as well as buses that go shorter distances. Nicole attended high school in Lund, which is about 20 minutes from her village. As did her classmates, Nicole took the bus to high school every day. Sweden is a country that relies on public transport. She also rode her bike to get from her home to her university which is approximately 20 minutes away. She said that roads in Sweden are safer for bikes and have more sidewalks.

She was unable to safely and easily walk between the major shopping centers in Valley View Mall. To her, it felt dangerous. She needed an Uber to get to Walmart in Onalaska from Target. Sweden’s sidewalks are wide enough that people can safely walk between stores.

Nicole is quick to point out that these are her perceptions, opinions, and that it could look different in other parts of Sweden. As an environmental studies teacher, I find that Sweden seems to be way ahead of the U.S. on environmental policies and practices. It would be wise to study how other countries deal with environmental issues, such as Sweden. We could learn so much from them.