Sweden, Once A Climate Action Leader, Now Lags Behind Its Peers In Europe - CleanTechnica

Sweden, historically a leader in climate action, is now falling behind its European peers, raising concerns about the future of the EU’s climate ambitions. The country’s environmental leadership dates back over a century, highlighted by early scientific contributions to understanding carbon emissions and pioneering policies such as carbon taxation in 1991. Sweden also played a key role in international climate efforts, including substantial financial commitments to the Green Climate Fund and the establishment of a comprehensive Climate Policy Framework supported by most political parties. The global climate movement, notably sparked by Greta Thunberg’s activism, further cemented Sweden’s reputation as a frontrunner in decoupling economic growth from fossil fuel emissions, achieving a significant reduction in carbon emissions while growing its GDP. However, recent developments have reversed much of this progress. Since the right-wing shift in Sweden’s government, investments in climate action have been drastically cut, leading to the largest increase in fossil fuel emissions in 15 years and a halving of carbon uptake by forests. These