Stockholm, Sweden’s capital since the 13th century, spans fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. Roughly 30% of its area is water and another third is parks and green space, making it a model of urban-natural integration.

Politically, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with King Carl XVI Gustaf as ceremonial head of state. The unicameral Riksdag (349 members) governs via proportional representation, meeting in Stockholm. National elections occur every four years. Locally, Stockholm’s 101‑member municipal council and executive board, led by the Mayor, manage city affairs.

Stockholm and Sweden are recognized environmental pioneers. The city earned the first EU “European Green Capital” award in 2010 by cutting per‑capita CO₂ emissions by 25% in a decade, pledging fossil‑fuel freedom by 2050. Nationally, Sweden introduced a carbon tax in 1995, closed its last coal power plant by 2020, and adopted legally binding carbon‑neutrality targets: net zero emissions by 2045, negative thereafter.

Historically, Stockholm thrived through Baltic trade with the Hanseatic League from the 13th–15th centuries, becoming Sweden’s de facto capital by 1436. Its relations with Denmark and Norway evolved through unionism, rivalry, and cooperation—particularly in environmental advocacy. Together, the three Nordic neighbors hosted the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, birthing global environmental governance and the Stockholm Convention.

Today, Stockholm remains a global city and sustainability leader, blending rich Scandinavian history with progressive political structures and green innovation.