Most Sweden Democrat voters reject climate link to heat records

A majority of Sweden Democrat voters believe climate change has no or only a limited connection to the forest fires in Europe and record temperatures, according to new figures from Indikator commissioned by SVT. The result sets the party’s voters apart from supporters of other parties represented in the Swedish parliament.

Only 9 percent of people who would vote for the Sweden Democrats today believe climate change is very strongly linked to the forest fires and heat records.

“Very warm weather or extreme weather situations are nothing new. They have always existed,” Sweden Democrat leader Jimmie Åkesson said.

“I guess our voters have the same view as we do when it comes to Sweden’s role in global climate efforts. It is a global issue,” Åkesson said.

Daniel Lindvall, associate professor of sociology at Uppsala University, said the Sweden Democrats’ distinct position may be connected to the political community the party has created around the issue.

“To a greater extent than others, the Sweden Democrats have created a political community in which the climate issue is seen as exaggerated,” Lindvall said.

Large differences between political blocs

There are substantial ideological differences among voters. Ninety-six percent of voters in the red-green bloc believe heat records and extensive forest fires in Europe are strongly connected to climate change. Among voters for the Tidö parties, 53 percent share that view.

“Previously, we had fairly broad political agreement on climate policy. But the Tidö parties in particular have now downgraded the climate issue, while the red-green parties still give it relatively high priority,” Lindvall said.

No voters who said they would vote for the Green Party if an election were held today believe there is no or only a limited connection between climate change, heat records and the extensive forest fires in Europe. The corresponding figure is 1 percent among Centre Party voters and 3 percent among Left Party voters.

Among Tidö party voters, 27 percent of Moderate Party supporters believe there is no or only a limited connection between heat records and climate change. The figure is 32 percent among Christian Democrat voters.

“The divisions we have on the climate issue mean that our views have a greater impact on our identity, who we are and our perception of reality,” Lindvall said.

About the survey

Indikator Opinion collected the data through its randomly recruited Swedish panel from July 23 to 29, 2026. The survey was commissioned by SVT and had a participation rate of 40 percent. A total of 1,863 responses were collected. The results were weighted by gender, age and party choice in 2022.