Sweden Climate Emissions Rise Sharply in 2024
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Sweden’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rise in 2024, Slowing EU Progress
Table of Contents
Preliminary data reveals a significant increase in Sweden’s emissions, bucking the trend of long-term reductions and posing challenges to the European Union’s climate goals.
Key Findings
Sweden experienced a 13.8% increase in greenhouse gas emissions within the sectors covered by the EU’s Effort sharing Regulation (ESR) between 2023 and 2024, according to preliminary data released by the European Surroundings Agency (EEA) on may 29,2024. This rise, totaling 30.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, represents the highest level of emissions sence 2019.
Despite this recent increase, Sweden has achieved substantial emission reductions since 2005, decreasing emissions within the ESR sectors by 28.6%. This positions Sweden as the fifth-best performing country in the EU regarding emission reductions from the 2005 baseline.
EU-Wide Trends and Context
The increase in Sweden’s emissions contrasts with the overall EU trend, where emissions from ESR sectors saw a marginal decrease of 0.1% between 2023 and 2024.However, this slight decrease leaves the EU slightly above its permitted emission level for the year. As 2005,the EU has reduced emissions in these sectors by 17.8%.
To achieve the EU’s goal of a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030, substantially more aspiring efforts will be required. The Effort Sharing regulation covers emissions from sectors not included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), such as transport, buildings, agriculture, and waste.