Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Climate Researchers: The Government is Wrong About the Air Travel Tax

Abolished air travel tax has no direct link to emissions, claims the government. Completely wrong, according to climate researchers.

» Updated: 04 September 2024, 06:57

» Published: 03 September 2024

Climate Researchers: The Government is Wrong About the Air Travel Tax
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

The air travel tax is to be abolished to make Sweden attractive to businesses, the government announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

The negative climate consequences are being downplayed. Emissions from air traffic will increasingly be regulated at the EU level, emphasized the Sweden Democrats' group leader Linda Lindberg.

A abolished air travel tax has no direct link to emissions, she says.

But it's not that simple, researchers argue – since only part of the emissions from air travel are regulated by the EU.

It's about half of the emissions from Swedish air traffic that are regulated by the EU. No flights outside the EU, i.e. the really long trips, are included in the EU regulations. The EU's regulatory framework also does not address the increased impact of emissions occurring at high altitude, says Mattias Höjer, professor of environmental strategic analysis and futures studies at KTH.

Must reduce

Research at KTH and Chalmers indicates that high-income countries largely need to halve air travel compared to pre-pandemic levels if the aviation sector's emissions are to decrease at the rate needed to meet climate goals.

But the government's abolished air travel tax has the explicit purpose of increasing travel.

It will likely increase the number of passengers and more air traffic will affect emissions, but we'll have to look at that further ahead, says Linda Lindberg (SD) at the government's press conference.

At the press conference, Minister of Enterprise Ebba Bush (KD) referred to the fact that the requirements for biofuel blending will increase, which will reduce climate impact. However, according to Jonas Åkerman, research leader for strategic sustainability studies at KTH, it will take a long time for this to take effect.

The goal is to reach 6 percent blending by 2030. 94 percent will still be fossil fuels, he says.

Another claim that surprises researchers is that Sweden would be almost alone in having an air travel tax in the EU.

Many countries have some form of air travel tax, even if it's designed differently. For example, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, and Switzerland have air travel taxes.

Even the UK has an air travel tax that is significantly higher than Sweden's.

No VAT

Jonas Åkerman says that even without the air travel tax, air travel has had significant tax exemptions.

We should remember that we don't pay any VAT on flights abroad. From a societal economic perspective, this means that those who don't fly pay for it through other taxes. Air travel is already heavily subsidized before the air travel tax is removed.

From the transport industry, there are much happier faces:

"The air travel tax completely missed the mark and shouldn't have been introduced in the first place. It was a tax on travel, not on emissions. We should transform air travel, not shut it down", says Transport Companies' CEO Marcus Dahlsten in a written comment.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

New French obstacles for Airbnb
1 MIN READ

New French obstacles for Airbnb

The Government Seeks Support for Those Affected by Northvolt
1 MIN READ

The Government Seeks Support for Those Affected by Northvolt

The regional tax will be raised next year
1 MIN READ

The regional tax will be raised next year

Astra Zeneca's China Chief Arrested by Police
1 MIN READ

Astra Zeneca's China Chief Arrested by Police

More rate cuts - but risk of turmoil with Trump
2 MIN READ

More rate cuts - but risk of turmoil with Trump

Svantesson: Trump's policy may increase inflation
2 MIN READ

Svantesson: Trump's policy may increase inflation

Major Banks Lower Mortgage Rates
1 MIN READ

Major Banks Lower Mortgage Rates

Central Bank Economist: Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Too Late
2 MIN READ

Central Bank Economist: Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Too Late

How You Are Affected by Lowered Interest Rates
2 MIN READ

How You Are Affected by Lowered Interest Rates

Thedéen expects turmoil after Trump's victory
2 MIN READ

Thedéen expects turmoil after Trump's victory

Inflation upswing does not threaten interest rate cuts
3 MIN READ

Inflation upswing does not threaten interest rate cuts

Stockholm Stock Exchange rises after interest rate cut
1 MIN READ

Stockholm Stock Exchange rises after interest rate cut

Most up on Asian stock exchanges
1 MIN READ

Most up on Asian stock exchanges

This is how your wallet can be affected by Trump's victory
2 MIN READ

This is how your wallet can be affected by Trump's victory

Cheerful on Wall Street after Trump win
1 MIN READ

Cheerful on Wall Street after Trump win

Thousand-kronor notes to be picked up when the Central Bank increases the pace
3 MIN READ

Thousand-kronor notes to be picked up when the Central Bank increases the pace

Swish up and running again after disruption
1 MIN READ

Swish up and running again after disruption

Trump's company is soaring on the stock exchange
1 MIN READ

Trump's company is soaring on the stock exchange

Swedish Export Threatened by Trump Victory
2 MIN READ

Swedish Export Threatened by Trump Victory

Sameby's appeal against mining company rejected
1 MIN READ

Sameby's appeal against mining company rejected