Sweden falls further behind climate targets as emissions gap widens

Sweden is on course to miss all its climate targets, and the gap widened over the past year, according to a transition budget presented by the government on Thursday, SVT reports.

The budget estimates a shortfall of 7.6 million tonnes of emissions reductions against the 2030 target, an increase of 2 million tonnes from last year’s assessment. The gap to the government’s own 2045 net-zero target has also grown, by 1.6 million tonnes.

The Finance Ministry attributed the worsening outlook to slower-than-expected electrification of road transport and machinery. Industrial electrification has also proceeded somewhat more slowly than forecast. The government said temporary cuts to taxes on petrol and diesel, which expire at the end of the year, have contributed to a slight increase in emissions.

“We should always continue with more electrification and more measures to reduce emissions. But we are doing a lot, and I think it is important to keep that in mind,” Elisabeth Svantesson of the Moderate Party said.

The government said further action in future budgets would be needed for Sweden to have a chance of meeting its climate targets. The targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions were set by parliament.

During the election campaign, the Centre Party repeatedly criticised the governing Tidö parties for not doing enough on climate policy. Svantesson said the Centre Party and the Moderates had common ground on climate issues, but declined to comment on possible government negotiations involving M, KD, L and C instead of SD.