Green Transition Initiative

🌍 Sweden at UNC Cleantech Summit 2025! The 11th Annual UNC Cleantech Summit, held on March 24-25, 2025, brought together global leaders, innovators, and students to tackle the future of clean technology. Green Transition Initiative (GTI) represented Sweden in the Nordic Magic panel alongside Denmark, Finland, and Norway! Key Takeaways from the Summit: ◾ North Carolina is a vibrant region with business opportunities! The UNC Clean Tech Summit emphasized increased international participation, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in advancing clean technology initiatives. Sweden already has many strong businesses in the region, including ABB, Volvo Group, Skanska, Thomas Concrete, Inc., Nederman, Ericsson Telecommunications Inc., and many more. Learn more about the companies in North Carolina here => https://lnkd.in/dJcGqqFi ◾ One of the most well-known innovation clusters in the United States, it is named for the three major research universities that anchor it: Duke University (Durham), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill), and North Carolina State University (Raleigh). ◾ Deep dive into the future. With 50+ breakout sessions covering grid integration, AI in energy, battery supply chains, hydrogen, and circularity, the event showcased cutting-edge advancements; the summit underscored clean technology's dynamic and evolving landscape, highlighting the critical role of innovation, policy, and collaboration in driving the transition toward a sustainable and clean economy. ◾ Investing in the next generation. Engaged and ambitious students connected with industry leaders, ensuring a bright future for clean technology. The momentum is real; let us #PioneerThePossible together! #UNCcleantech #GreenTransition #Cleantech #Innovation #SwedenUSA #NordicCollaboration

Fully electric construction is no longer a future vision – it is happening now, powered by collaboration. GTI have supported the demonstration of a fully electric construction site in the U.S. together with Swedish companies Husqvarna Construction, Volvo Construction Equipment, and Atlas Copco. This project in Durham, NC shows what is possible when electric machines work together as a system. In the U.S., several cities have already joined the North American Electric Construction Coalition, including: New York City, San Diego, Los Angeles, Boulder County, Philadelphia and Austin. These cities are stepping up to lead the transition toward low-noise and low-emission construction. Momentum is building, and more cities are looking to take similar steps. Why it matters: The construction sector accounts for over 23% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of global resource use. Switching from diesel to electric improves air quality, reduces climate impact, and creates healthier worksites and communities. We look forward to seeing these Swedish solutions scale - with partners across the U.S. leading the way in electric construction. #GreenTransition #ElectricConstruction #SwedishInnovation #SustainableCities #CleanConstruction #PublicHealth #ClimateAction

To create livable and sustainable cities it is necessary to be innovative and creative from the ground up. 👷 Thomas Concrete, Inc. is doing just this. We spoke with Fredrik Hoeglund Ekehaell, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, to learn how Swedish expertise is shaping the American market for sustainable construction materials and contributing to global climate goals. Hoeglund highlighted the role of the company’s central lab in Sweden, where technical expertise supports research and development projects across multiple countries, including the U.S., Poland, Germany, and Norway. “Working together has helped us over the years stay up to speed with what’s going on and what opportunities there are in terms of low carbon concrete technologies available to support our products and make better products,” he said. This international collaboration ensures that cutting-edge technologies and best practices are shared, enabling the company to stay ahead in developing low-carbon concrete products. Intrigued by what unique advantage the U.S. offers? https://lnkd.in/gmp-EhTj

As California looks to rebuild after January fires destroyed much of the area surrounding LA a key topic of conversation has been the Passive House design. 🏠 We spoke with Mike Woolsey, a certified Passive House designer. “If you envision the part of the building that keeps the outside out and the inside in, that's the envelope. And building envelopes can either be leaky, or they can be airtight, and the more airtight you make it, the more energy you save,” he said. Read more of his expert insights about indoor climate here: https://lnkd.in/gUEzYmGz

Did you know that happier nations tend to be more sustainable? Research suggests that sustainability and happiness have a positive, reinforcing relationship. Nations that rank high in happiness also tend to excel in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While happier nations tend to engage in more responsible environmental behavior, the relationship also works the other way around: acting sustainably can enhance well-being. Here's how: Purpose & Meaning: Sustainable actions, like reducing waste or supporting ethical brands, align with personal values and contribute to a greater good, which boosts life satisfaction. Health & Well-being: Sustainable choices, such as walking or biking instead of driving, lead to healthier lifestyles, which contribute to overall happiness. Financial Stability: Conscious consumption and energy efficiency can reduce costs, lowering financial stress and improving long-term happiness. Community & Connection: Sustainability efforts often involve collective action, fostering social bonds and a sense of belonging.

Have you heard about the WIN WIN Award? 🌍✨ The WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award is one of the world’s leading sustainability awards, recognizing outstanding contributions toward a more sustainable future. Since 2000, this prestigious 1 million SEK award—along with the WIN WIN Youth Award since 2018—has been presented annually in Gothenburg, Sweden, to honor and empower changemakers actively shaping a better world. As a Swedish initiative, we at GTI take great pride in seeing this global recognition for sustainability leadership awarded in Sweden. 🇸🇪✨ Read more about this year’s finalists 👇 #TrailblazingLeadership #Sustainability #GreenTransition

The United States’ green transition is shaped by ambitious leadership at the city and state level. These regional powerhouses are setting benchmarks for climate action with comprehensive policies, innovative programs, and a willingness to embrace systemic change. Seattle Models Sustainable Urban Growth 🏙️ Seattle’s vision for sustainability is as ambitious as it is comprehensive. With its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050, the city has already achieved milestones such as establishing the country’s first carbon-neutral electric utility. Projects like "Waterfront Seattle" reimagine urban spaces to prioritize people, green infrastructure, and climate resilience. Collaboration with Sweden could accelerate Seattle’s progress by integrating Swedish expertise in electric transport systems, renewable energy solutions, and smart urban design. Oakland Prioritizes Equitable Climate Solutions 🤝 Oakland is a trailblazer in equitable climate action. Its "2030 Equitable Climate Action Plan" focuses on building decarbonization, zero-emission transportation, and community-driven resilience. The city’s emphasis on equity aligns with Sweden’s approach to sustainable development, which prioritizes inclusivity and long-term adaptability. Partnerships could explore green port infrastructure, electrified building technologies, and urban planning innovations, amplifying the impact of both cities’ efforts. To read more about who the key movers are in the green transition check out our December newsletter:

Have you followed our progress? Here are GTI’s key milestones from 2024!   - Supported the first fully electrified construction site in the U.S. - Chaired collaboration with Viable Cities, engaging in roundtables and policy innovation development on city transformation. - Contributed to creating a letter of intent between Sweden and Washington State, establishing activities within the agreement. - Hosted and co-hosted over 20 events, panels, and seminars, with over 1,000 participants. - Strengthened our network with companies, cities, researchers, and policy actors and collaborated with major institutions like Stanford and UC Berkeley. - Boosted digital engagement through LinkedIn growth, a monthly newsletter, and published pamphlets on Swedish green transition strengths.   We’re excited to continue advancing smart green buildings, urban energy solutions, and sustainable city transport as we #PioneerThePossible.

🌉 Reflections on the Bifrost Summit 2025 🌍 Last week, GTI was proud to be a partner of the #BifrostSummit2025, leveraging the strength of the Nordic network to connect great companies from Sweden with the dynamic ecosystem of the Bay Area. Together with Luminar Ventures, Swedish innovators explored new commercial opportunities and collaborations in Silicon Valley. On Thursday, GTI had the opportunity to present on Bifrost Summit Side Event “Sustainable Cities Bilateral Exchange and joining a panel discussion with Palo Alto City Council Member and former Mayor Patrick Burt. The conversation underscored the shared ambitions between our two hosts, the City of Palo Alto and the Linköpings kommun, both striving for innovative and sustainable urban solutions. But the collaboration doesn’t stop there! GTI is excited to continue working with the City of Palo Alto and Access North, a soft-landing program designed to support US companies looking to establish a presence in Sweden and the EU. A big thank you to Nordic Innovation House - Silicon Valley and everyone who contributed to the discussions and connections that made Bifrost Summit a success! Let’s keep building bridges for a sustainable future. 🌱🤝 #BifrostSummit #SwedenUS #SustainableCities #GTI #Innovation #NordicNetwork #PaloAlto #AccessNorth

GTI unites Swedish innovators to support U.S. cities in their transformation into sustainable, livable hubs.   ⚡ Accelerate Growth – Expand into the U.S. with tailored programs. 🌿 Sustainability Focus – Connect with decarbonization, energy, and green innovation leaders. 🚀 Key Networks – Engage with policymakers, industry pioneers, and tech leaders.   What We Offer 🔹 Strategic programs in Energy, Transport & Buildings 🔹 Market insights tailored to your industry 🔹 Roundtables & site visits with top innovators 🔹 Premier networking events, incl. the Green Transition Summit 🔹 Customized collaboration programs to match your goals   Who Can Apply? Public and private organizations committed to advancing the green transition.   💡 Ready to scale your impact? Connect with the GTI team: 🔹 Energy – Johanna Eklund 🔹 Transport – Marcus Rönngren Liu 🔹 Buildings – Malin Höij   🌍 More info: https://lnkd.in/dcuA9_at   #GreenTransition #Sustainability #Innovation #EnergyEfficiency #SmartCities #UrbanTransformation #PublicPrivatePartnerships #SwedishInnovation #CleanTech