Responsible Sweden

It's not just China that's trying to come up with a comprehensive plan to get off of oil:

STOCKHOLM (AP)--Prime Minister Goran Persson said Tuesday that Sweden will try to end its dependency on fossil fuels in 15 years by boosting research devoted to alternative energy sources.

Persson, addressing lawmakers returning to Parliament after the summer recess, said global warming was a growing concern.

"We are frightened by climate change today," Persson said as he laid out government policy for the next 12 months. "The mean temperature of the earth is rising, and it is rising most nearest to the poles.... A new goal will be set: creation of the conditions necessary to end Sweden's dependence on fossil fuels by 2020."

Persson said the government will increase spending on energy research and will start subsidizing exports of environmental technology. Wind power will be extended and a tax regime promoting renewable energy sources would continue, he said. For example, taxes would be reduced for cars running on natural gas instead of gasoline.

Persson also said 35% of the cars driven by government employees would either run completely on electricity or renewable fuels, or be hybrid cars.

Good stuff. One wonders, though - if Sweden (per capita GDP: $28,400) can afford this, why can't Canada ($31,500) or the US ($40,100)?