Sweden

Political situation

• Conservative government since 2006, next elections in 2014
• No governmental positioning on shale gas
• Full reliance on environmental law
• Overview of the national mineral law, proposal ready end of October 2012
• Continuous input through motions from opposition parties to the parliament, so far without positive result

Shale Gas activities

• So far only exploration activities
• Shell in Skania, exit 2011
• Gripen Gas on Öland and in Östergötland
• Energigas in Östergötland
• Continental Precious Minerals in Östergötland
• Thetys Oil and Shale Oil Sweden on Gotland

Mobilisation

• Swedes are very difficult to mobilize!
• Local action groups only in Skania and on Öland (Heaven or sHell and AMFÖ)
• Support from environmental groups (Greenpeace, Society for Nature Conservation, WWF…) and Swedish farmer organization
• Political support from the Greens, and partly from socialist and social democrats
• Strong opposition from climate change deniers
• But: some very strong single players with excellent political contacts