GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Burial associations across Sweden are actively seeking to secure enough land for a potential future where they might need to conduct mass burials in the event of conflict. This initiative comes in response to suggestions provided by the Church of Sweden’s national secretariat, which align with the crisis readiness guidelines laid out by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) and the Swedish Armed Forces.
These guidelines have gained new significance amidst Sweden’s recent decision to join NATO as well as rising tensions with Russia in the Baltic Sea area. According to the provisions from the Church of Sweden, further supported by sections of Sweden’s Burial Act, burial associations are tasked with securing sufficient land to accommodate the burial of roughly 5 percent of a parish’s population if required.
The Goteborg Burial Association, which serves the country’s second-largest city, is currently working to acquire at least 10 acres (approximately 40,470 square meters) to facilitate the urgent burial of around 30,000 individuals in the event of war. This additional area is necessary in conjunction with another 15 acres (60,700 square meters) intended for constructing cemeteries for everyday interments in Goteborg.
Katarina Evenseth, a senior advisor at the Goteborg Burial Association, explained, “These recommendations underscore the need for more burial grounds, especially in major cities where land is already limited and often inadequate for burials even during peacetime.” In collaboration with the local municipality—which has exclusive authority over land use decisions in Goteborg—the burial association has pinpointed a substantial area suitable for the establishment of a large cemetery for these urgent needs.
However, the protracted process of obtaining necessary approvals and constructing the cemetery may take up to a decade, complicating preparations during these unpredictable times. Meanwhile, the MSB continues to emphasize the necessity of crisis readiness and acknowledges the proactive steps of the Church of Sweden in this area.
Jan-Olof Olsson, an expert in Critical Infrastructure Protection at the MSB, noted, “Back in 2015, the government tasked various agencies to reinvigorate civil defense planning, and many organizations, particularly the Church of Sweden, have been at the forefront of this initiative.” Olsson added a sobering reminder, stating, “We are continually being reminded that the possibility of war exists, making it crucial for us to be prepared.”
Historically, Sweden maintained a stance of neutrality stretching back to the early 19th Century and extending through significant global conflicts like World War II. However, public sentiment experienced a dramatic shift in 2022 following Russia’s extensive invasion of Ukraine, resulting in Sweden and Finland applying to join NATO out of concern over threats from their aggressive neighbor across the Baltic Sea.
In November, both Sweden and Finland distributed updated civil preparedness guides that offer survival strategies in the event of war, reflecting a similar approach taken by Denmark and Norway, although these guides do not explicitly reference Russia.
