NTNU Affirms Sustainability Commitment with Swedish Delegation
National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability and global engagement on March 17. It hosted an afternoon of expert exchange with a distinguished delegation from Sweden on clean transport and net-zero transition. NTNU Vice President Hsueh-Chih Chen brought together faculty, researchers, and staff from NTNU’s Sustainable Development Office in a dialogue that underscored the University's active role in advancing the goal of global sustainability.
The Swedish delegation was led by Mattias Goldmann, a prominent Swedish sustainability expert, author, and Executive Director of the 2030-Secretariat, a Sweden-based organization dedicated to achieving net-zero emissions in the transport sector by 2030. He was accompanied by Representative Helena Reitberger, along with colleagues from The Swedish Trade & Invest Council. The visit was arranged by Professor Kuanhui Elaine Lin, Director of NTNU's Graduate Institute of Sustainable Management & Environmental Education, and was attended by Professor Shin-Cheng Yeh and other faculty members from the Institute.
Lessons from Sweden's Trajectory to Net-Zero Transport
Director Goldmann gave a thematic presentation entitled 'Smart Sustainable Mobility: Learning from Sweden's Transition — Successes and Failures.' Drawing on years of frontline experience in climate policy and the circular economy, Goldmann offered a candid and practical account of Sweden's efforts to decarbonize its transport sector. He highlighted that technological innovation alone is insufficient. Durable progress depends equally on well-designed policy incentives and sustained cooperation between government and industry. It also depends, Goldmann asserted, on the willingness to experiment, fail, and course-correct.
The 2030-Secretariat, which Goldmann leads, focuses on identifying commercially viable, fossil-free solutions for a circular economy, a model that prioritizes practical implementation over theoretical idealism. Goldmann is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most influential climate transition advocates. His contributions to climate policy have earned him international recognition, including the distinction of being decorated as a Knight by the French government.
A Forum for Cross-Disciplinary Dialogue
Beyond the formal presentation, the visit provided a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussion between the Swedish guests and NTNU faculty on Taiwan's own potential in sustainable transport and energy transition. Participants included Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Wei-ta Fang, who is also a professor in the Graduate Institute of Sustainable Management and Environmental Education; University Librarian and Professor Shyue-Cherng Liaw of the Department of Geography; and Professor Shew-Jiuan Su, also of the Department of Geography.
This exchange is the latest in a series of international initiatives through which NTNU has contributed meaningfully to the global conversation on sustainability. NTNU will continue to pursue transnational academic partnerships and expert dialogues to strengthen the link between sustainability research and real-world practice. Central to this mission is the cultivation of graduates equipped with the global perspective and cross-sector competencies needed to achieve net-zero in Taiwan and beyond.