Sweden's emissions of greenhouse gases increased by seven percent last year, according to preliminary statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency.
”The government has received the Environmental Protection Agency's report, which shows, just like before, that emissions increased temporarily in 2024. The government is working with several measures to reduce emissions, and they are expected to decrease again in 2025 and onwards", says Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari in a written comment to TT.
Sweden has binding EU commitments until 2030 – including in the so-called ESR sector. The Environmental Protection Agency writes that "with current policy instruments, it will be difficult for Sweden to achieve climate targets both nationally and within the EU".
”Good opportunities”
But according to Pourmokhtari, Sweden can achieve the EU's 2030 targets for the transport sector.
"Sweden still has good opportunities to achieve the EU's 2030 targets for the transport sector (ESR). The government is now analyzing what additional measures may be needed to close the remaining gap before the budget proposal 2026.”
The opposition is critical:
They (the government) lowered the reduction obligation, they build motorways instead of railways. They are destroying climate policy and then emissions increase, says the Left Party's environmental policy spokesperson Kajsa Fredholm.
The Green party's spokesperson Daniel Helldén says that the government must either present new policies before the summer or acknowledge that they do not intend to achieve the climate targets.
What we have gotten with this government is a stagnant economy and the largest emission increase in 15 years. This is a historic failure for Ulf Kristersson, he says.
GP: Increase the reduction obligation
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the emission increase was mainly due to the reduction obligation being reduced in January 2024. The reduction obligation means that petrol companies must mix a certain amount of biofuel in petrol and diesel to reduce emissions.
Previously, the Green party has advocated for a short-term increase in the reduction obligation, until a system with emissions trading is in place.
Increasing the reduction obligation is one of the measures that the government should take now, says Helldén.
