ABSTRACT
Ask many throughout the world which country cares most about the environ-
ment, while also being devoted to a fair and just society, and the answer is almost
always Sweden. And the Swedes know this, although their natural, almost patho-
logical, modesty makes it diffi cult for them to crow about it. However, just occa-
sionally it sneaks out. In 2006, Sweden announced that it intended to end its
reliance on oil. The opening paragraphs of the groundbreaking policy document
‘ Making Sweden an Oil Free Society ’ state that ‘ ...the phase out of oil can fur-
ther strengthen our position as one of the world ’ s leading nations in sustainable
development ’ .