Spring 2009

Scary as the future may look, we know that there is no way back, no way to restore the roaring, warring ways of the past decade. The earth has moved, and only change can bring us a better future. Seen from the perspective of Mother Earth, this crisis has probably been a breather, as the slowing economies of the world have paused in their relentless production of greenhouse gases and other pollutants. but standing still is no solution. We need to get goinh again, but that going must be green. America is reeling under the weight of the financial crisis, and its giant auto industry has ground to a halt. Like in the 1930s, the way forward requires new leadership, change and hope, three items that the presidential election provided us with. In a crisis of this scope, the solution cannot be piecemeal - it must be comprehensive. Demand must be restored, as must finance and credit, but we also need to focus on education, healthcare, infrastructure, energy and the environment. These are all areas in which little Sweden has a lot to contribute to the U.S. giant, while at the same time growing its own green industrial base. In this issue of Currents, we cover Swedish companies that can help the U.S. develop clean and green energy. "These technologies are known and have been used in Sweden for 40 years. They can be deployed now, and the economics work," says Ross Harding, an energy expert in Savannah, GA. We have talked to several of the 52 companies on Ambassador Michael Wood's list of Swedish clean-tech companies ready for the American market. We also report on Scandinavian Airlines' green approach to energy efficiency and helping the environment.