Earth's resources exhausted for the year
Today marks the day that humanity has exhausted the Earth's renewable resources for this year, making July 30th this year's "Earth overshoot day".
Humanity is currently using nature's resources 73 percent faster than the rate at which Earth's ecosystem can recover.
Currently we are using resources at a rate that would require 1.73 Earths, according to the organization Global Footprint Network, which makes the measurements.
Sweden used up its share of resources even earlier in the year: Sweden's national "Earth overshoot day" this year fell on April 4th. The worst in class is Qatar, which had already used up its ration of renewable resources on February 4th.
In the early 1970s, "Earth overshoot day" occurred at the end of December.
Swedish vocabulary: mänskligheten ‒ humanity
Official information about the Swedish election will now be permitted on Facebook and Instagram
Meta has changed its mind on allowing the Swedish Election Authority to place election information advertisements on Instagram and Facebook, according to a press release from the Election Authority.
Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, had previously decided that no advertising about elections should be allowed on their platforms. Their decision came after an EU regulation concerning political advertising, among other things, came into force in the autumn of 2025.
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According to the Swedish Election Authority, however, the EU regulation clearly states that information from official election authorities should not be seen as political advertising.
Meta has now changed its mind to accept the Election Authority's position – and its advertisements.
"It will make it easier for us to reach out to voters with information about the election," said Anna Nyqvist, head of the Swedish Election Authority, in a comment about the decision.
"We don't want any voter to not vote because they don't know where, when, or how."
Swedish vocabulary: Valmyndigheten ‒ The [Swedish] Election Authority
Stockholm City Council votes no to extended alcohol serving hours
There will be no continuation of the extended serving permit for alcohol that was introduced during the World Cup, Stockholm City Council voted yesterday.
During Wednesday's meeting in Stockholm, a majority voted against the proposal to make the temporary rules that prevailed during the World Cup – which allowed alcohol to be served until 8am – permanent.
A proposal to investigate the possibility of alcohol sales around the clock, which was put forward by the four opposition parties (the Liberals, Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Centre Party) was also rejected, local paper Mitt i reports.
"It worked during the World Cup. To say no anyway is to choose ideology over facts – and it is the Stockholmers who lose," said Christofer Fjellner of the Moderates, a municipal candidate in the election, to Mitt i.
“We have just had these extra opening hours during the World Cup," said City Councillor Alexander Ojanne of the Social Democrats. "Now we have to investigate this seriously and take in the relevant statistics from, among others, the police, to be able to take a thoughtful decision that creates a fun but also safe Stockholm," said Ojanne, who called the special summer council meeting "theatre" and "acting."
Stockholm is governed by the Social Democrats, the Left Party, and the Green party, which have a majority.
Swedish vocabulary: det fungerade ‒ it worked.
Tourists from southern Europe flocking to Sweden for a cooler summer
More and more tourists from southern Europe are coming to Sweden to experience a cooler summer.
French people have started mountain climbing in Västernorrland and Spanish tourists are enjoying the weather in central Stockholm.
“Something has happened – it is clear and obvious,” said Tero Libell, who runs a climbing business at Skuleberget in Ångermanland.
Germans and the Dutch have long visited Skuleberget, but this year the guest book looks different. People from France, Spain, and Belgium have now also made their way to the mountain to test their fear of heights and enjoy a cooler climate.
“Now there are more foreign tourists and they have explicitly said that the reason they are up here is because it is too hot at home," said Libell.
Figures from the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Development show that French overnight stays in commercial accommodation were the most significant increase in Sweden already in 2025, up 28 percent compared to the previous year.
During the period January to May this year, the increase is 15 percent compared to the same period last year.
Swedish vocabulary: en svalare sommar ‒ a cooler summer.