After decades of positioning itself as a climate policy leader, Sweden has abruptly reversed course. The government has slashed environmental budgets, scrapped ambitious targets, and even dismantled its Ministry of Environment. So much for leading by example.
For the first time in 20 years, Sweden’s policies are expected to increase emissions rather than reduce them. Preliminary data from the Environmental Protection Agency shows a 7% rise in greenhouse gases for 2024 — the largest jump in 15 years. The Left Party has strongly criticized the government for undermining climate policy. Quite the achievement, just not the kind worth bragging about.
The Swedish Climate Policy Council didn’t mince words. Current measures are “insufficient” to meet 2030 emission targets. The goal of reducing transport and agriculture emissions by 63% from 1990 levels? Gone. Apparently, that was too ambitious for the new administration. They had to make room for more motorways instead of railways. Makes perfect sense, right?
Sweden’s climate ambitions crumble as targets vanish to make way for more asphalt and diesel. So much for leadership.
Sweden once aimed to reach carbon neutrality by 2045, beating the EU deadline by five years. Now experts estimate emissions could rise at least 10% due to diesel cost cuts and green policy rollbacks. The government swears emissions will decrease again in 2025. Sure they will.
The budget tells the real story. Climate change and environmental protection funding was cut by 259 million kronor for 2024. The Ministry of Environment? Replaced with something called the “Ministry of Climate and Enterprise.” At least they kept “climate” in the title.
Opposition parties have called these moves a “historic failure” and accused the government of “ruining climate policy.” Even previous conservative administrations had increased environmental targets. Now Sweden risks falling behind other EU nations on climate leadership. This backsliding contradicts global trends where renewable energy investments now exceed those in fossil fuels.
The administration’s grand plan seems to be nuclear power, which won’t produce a single new kilowatt for at least a decade. Meanwhile, they’ve lowered the biofuel obligation and are fundamentally crossing their fingers about carbon storage solutions. The situation is particularly alarming as the current conservative government is supported by far-right parties who show little enthusiasm for ambitious climate action.
References
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/sweden/article/2023/04/06/swedish-government-criticized-for-abandoning-climate-targets_6021871_213.html
- https://swedenherald.com/article/swedens-emissions-expected-to-decrease-by-2025-says-minister
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/27/sweden-is-moving-backward-on-climate-policy_6470373_4.html
- https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/swedens-green-transition-abandoned/
- https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2025/03/oecd-environmental-performance-reviews-sweden-2025_409c4061.html
