Radio Sweden's coverage of environmental and energy issues

Since January, people have had to pay a fee to drive into central Gothenburg, and now a survey suggests most Gothenburg residents want a referendum on this decision.

John Kerry held a press conference in Sweden, as he arrives to take part in the last Swedish-run meeting of the Arctic Council.

The US Secretary of State, who handles foreign affairs, is meeting the Swedish prime minister and foreign minister and then will travel to the meeting, to be held in Arctic town of Kiruna.

Over 7,000 containers of radioactive waste have to be taken out of storage since they contain too much mercury and other liquids, reports Swedish Radio's science programme.

Hundreds of tons of Baltic salmon are being illegally exported from Sweden to consumers in the EU, reports Swedish Television. The buyers are unaware that the fish contains high levels of dioxins, believed to be carcinogenic and to affect reproduction.

A report by the former chief economist of the World Bank warns that pension funds are threatening the climate, and their own survival, by investing in oil, coal and gas. And the head of sustainable development at Swedish bank Nordea agrees that most investments in Sweden are made without any reference to the effect on the climate.

The dreaded "Spanish slug" is a recent invader that has been munching its way through Sweden's undergrowth. They are so hated they are known here as "killer snails". But help may be at hand - Radio Sweden has spoken to a researcher who says they are trying to use the slugs' own strengths against them

Grocery stores are putting a big markup on plastic bags, according to a recent report from Swedish Television's consumer programme Plus. But if it is for environmental reasons, it is not making much of a difference, because most people say they wouldn't stock up on more bags if they were cheaper.

Researchers at Gothenburg's Chalmers University of Technology say eating less beef is the single most effective way to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reach the UN's 2050 climate change emission targets.

A court has today repealed a decision by the Environment Protection Agency for a licensed hunt of 16 wolves in different areas of Sweden, reports news agency TT. The Administrative Court in Stockholm writes in a ruling that there are "better ways" to reduce inbreeding in the Swedish wolf population than by a licensed hunt.

In the future, cars may be able to run on methanol and dimethyl ether (DME), instead of gasoline, and Sweden's extensive forests may be able to make the country self-sufficient in terms of biofuel, reports news agency TT.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, and Stockholm University have developed a new way to detect poisonous paint on boats, according to news agency TT.

When you do your grocery shopping do you pay attention to the environmental impact of the food you choose? Well, you may be surprised to learn that locally produced food is not necessarily the greenest option.

According to a new report from the Swedish Environmental Research Institute, cutting down on meat and choosing in-season fruit and vegetables could have a greater impact than choosing locally produced foods.

Campaigners have gathered 2,600 signatures against the building of a car park in Nyköping. They say that the Åkroken site should instead be used for a garden.

Politicians decided in 2006 to build housing and a parking block in the coastal city of Nyköping, south of Stockholm.

The action groups says that it has raised its target to 3,000 signatures by Thursday, up from the previous target of 2,000.