Climate change in Sweden
Encyclopedia
The issue of climate change
has received significant public and political attention in Sweden
and the mitigation of its effects has been high on the agenda of the two latest Governments of Sweden
, the previous Cabinet of Göran Persson
(-2006) and the current Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt
(2006-).
Climate Change Performance Index 2010 Sweden ranked as the second best country after Brazil in addressing greenhouse gas emissions and policy formulation.
For the total carbon dioxide emissions in 2009 (without other greenhouse gases or land use) Sweden ranked 87th to 83rd top out of 216 countries: 50.56 tonnes (t) below Libya 55.0 t, Serbia 52.3 t and Finland
52.15 t. For the per capita carbon dioxide emissions in 2009 Sweden ranked 82nd to 83rd top out of 216 countries having the same emissions as Ukraine
5.58 tonnes per capita (t/capita). This was only slightly below the carbon dioxide emissions per capita in China
5.83 t/capita (with 80th top position).
In 2000 Sweden ranked seventy sixth out of 185 countries for the per capita greenhouse gas
emissions when taking any land use changes into account. Without considering land use changes the country ranked at fifty eighth.
has applied policy instruments and measures for climate change mitigation since 1980s. The instruments used include economic instruments (such as tax, subsidies, penalties), legislation, voluntary agreements and a dialogue between the state and business enterprise. The main instruments are described below:
In Sweden, there are so far three different taxes levied on energy products (mainly fossil fuels), namely energy tax, sulphur tax and tax. Energy taxation has been used as a policy instrument ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s to support renewable energy and nuclear power. Energy tax was reduced by half in 1991 during the tax reform, simultaneously with the introduction of a tax on fossil fuels, with exceptions on ethanol, methanol, other biofuels, peat and wastes.
As one part of the Government’s long-term energy policy to reduce GHG emissions, the Swedish government introduced a voluntary international system for trading “green certificates”, i.e. the renewable energy certificate system (RECS). With effect from 1 May 2003, RECS intends to encourage and increase the proportion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. This will be done by payment of a levy in proportion to certain fraction of their electricity during the year. For example, during the first year (2003), users will be required to buy 7.4 per cent of the electricity generated from renewable sources
Since 1991, Sweden started many programmes to encourage the use of renewable energy and new technology development, e.g. Energy Policy programme (Long and short term programs that focus on ways to increase the supply of renewable electricity, to reduce electricity consumption, and to promote energy efficiency), Green Certificate Scheme (Generators using solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, wave or small hydro are awarded one certificate for each MWh produced, and all consumers are obliged to buy enough certificates to cover a set proportion of their use).
Sweden also shows its leadership in international cooperation and competence on the climate change issues. Sweden actively took part in some international climate policy programs, such as Prototype Carbon Funds (PCF) and Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ)
Public participation is quite important in addressing climate change and its effects and developing
adequate responses. Without the support of the public, it is impossible to implement a new policy
instrument successfully. For example, one cannot anticipate that bio ethanol and bio diesel could be
widely consumed without support and understanding from the general population. Therefore,
information to raise the level of knowledge concerning the climate issue to the public is necessary.
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
has received significant public and political attention in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and the mitigation of its effects has been high on the agenda of the two latest Governments of Sweden
Government of Sweden
The Government of the Kingdom of Sweden is the supreme executive authority of Sweden. It consists of the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers appointed by the Prime Minister. The Government is responsible for their actions to the Riksdag, which is the legislative assembly...
, the previous Cabinet of Göran Persson
Cabinet of Göran Persson
Göran Persson served as Prime Minister of Sweden between March 22, 1996 and October 6, 2006. Persson took over after Ingvar Carlsson, who retired as party leader and Prime Minister...
(-2006) and the current Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt
Cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt
The cabinet of Fredrik Reinfeldt is the current cabinet of Sweden. It is a coalition cabinet consisting of the four parties in the centre-right Alliance for Sweden: the Moderate Party, Centre Party, Liberal People's Party and the Christian Democrats...
(2006-).
Emissions
According to the GermanwatchGermanwatch
Germanwatch Nord-Süd-Initiative e.V. , usually called Germanwatch, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Bonn, Germany. It seeks to influence public policy over trade, the environment, and relations between countries in the industrialized north and underdeveloped south...
Climate Change Performance Index 2010 Sweden ranked as the second best country after Brazil in addressing greenhouse gas emissions and policy formulation.
For the total carbon dioxide emissions in 2009 (without other greenhouse gases or land use) Sweden ranked 87th to 83rd top out of 216 countries: 50.56 tonnes (t) below Libya 55.0 t, Serbia 52.3 t and Finland
Climate change in Finland
Environmental issues in Finland discuss the environmental issue in Finland.- Climate strategy 2001 :Finnish national renewable energy program was done in 1999 and it was accepted as the national climate strategy in 2001.It included targets for the renewable energy but no limit in the use of the...
52.15 t. For the per capita carbon dioxide emissions in 2009 Sweden ranked 82nd to 83rd top out of 216 countries having the same emissions as Ukraine
Energy in Ukraine
Energy in Ukraine describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Ukraine.Ukraine has depended on Russia for most energy supplies, especially natural gas There was low prices for natural gas until 2009. Ukraine tries to diversify energy sources.- Overview :-Gas:Ukraine was...
5.58 tonnes per capita (t/capita). This was only slightly below the carbon dioxide emissions per capita in China
Climate change in China
Climate change in China is a contentious issue since it is not required to be a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol yet it is responsible for one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions....
5.83 t/capita (with 80th top position).
In 2000 Sweden ranked seventy sixth out of 185 countries for the per capita greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
emissions when taking any land use changes into account. Without considering land use changes the country ranked at fifty eighth.
Policy
SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
has applied policy instruments and measures for climate change mitigation since 1980s. The instruments used include economic instruments (such as tax, subsidies, penalties), legislation, voluntary agreements and a dialogue between the state and business enterprise. The main instruments are described below:
- Carbon dioxide tax instrument
In Sweden, there are so far three different taxes levied on energy products (mainly fossil fuels), namely energy tax, sulphur tax and tax. Energy taxation has been used as a policy instrument ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s to support renewable energy and nuclear power. Energy tax was reduced by half in 1991 during the tax reform, simultaneously with the introduction of a tax on fossil fuels, with exceptions on ethanol, methanol, other biofuels, peat and wastes.
- Renewable energy certificate system
As one part of the Government’s long-term energy policy to reduce GHG emissions, the Swedish government introduced a voluntary international system for trading “green certificates”, i.e. the renewable energy certificate system (RECS). With effect from 1 May 2003, RECS intends to encourage and increase the proportion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources. This will be done by payment of a levy in proportion to certain fraction of their electricity during the year. For example, during the first year (2003), users will be required to buy 7.4 per cent of the electricity generated from renewable sources
- Renewable energy subsidies and continuous investment on R&D
Since 1991, Sweden started many programmes to encourage the use of renewable energy and new technology development, e.g. Energy Policy programme (Long and short term programs that focus on ways to increase the supply of renewable electricity, to reduce electricity consumption, and to promote energy efficiency), Green Certificate Scheme (Generators using solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, wave or small hydro are awarded one certificate for each MWh produced, and all consumers are obliged to buy enough certificates to cover a set proportion of their use).
- International collaboration and carbon trading systems
Sweden also shows its leadership in international cooperation and competence on the climate change issues. Sweden actively took part in some international climate policy programs, such as Prototype Carbon Funds (PCF) and Activities Implemented Jointly (AIJ)
- Public participations
Public participation is quite important in addressing climate change and its effects and developing
adequate responses. Without the support of the public, it is impossible to implement a new policy
instrument successfully. For example, one cannot anticipate that bio ethanol and bio diesel could be
widely consumed without support and understanding from the general population. Therefore,
information to raise the level of knowledge concerning the climate issue to the public is necessary.
Oil phase-out in Sweden
The government created a Commission on Oil Independence (Kommissionen för att bryta oljeberoendet i Sverige till år 2020) and in 2006 it proposed the following targets for 2020:- consumption of oil in road transport to be reduced by 40-50 per cent;
- consumption of oil in industry to be cut by 25-40 per cent;
- heating buildings with oil, a practice already cut by 70% since the 1973 oil crisis, should be phased out;
- overall, energy should be used 20% more efficiently
Public perception
A 2002 survey showed that over 95% of respondents said that the use of tax money for addressing climate change was either "Very important" or "Fairly important". A little over half of the respondents were willing to change the use of hot water, electricity consumption and travel arrangement in order to reduce the impact of climate change. A little under half did not want to decrease internal building temperatures as a means of reducing climate change impact.See also
- Biofuel in SwedenBiofuel in SwedenSweden has achieved the largest E85 flexible-fuel vehicle fleet in Europe, with a sharp growth from 717 vehicles in 2001 to 195,545 by May 2010. Also, Sweden has the largest ethanol bus fleet in the world, with over 600 buses running on ED95, mainly in Stockholm Most ethanol fuel in Sweden is...
- Regional effects of global warmingRegional effects of global warmingRegional effects of global warming are long-term significant changes in the expected patterns of average weather of a specific region due to global warming. The world average temperature is rising due to the greenhouse effect caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide...
- Arctic Climate Impact AssessmentArctic Climate Impact AssessmentThe Arctic Climate Impact Assessment is a study describing the ongoing climate change in the Arctic and its consequences: rising temperatures, loss of sea ice, unprecedented melting of the Greenland ice sheet, and many impacts on ecosystems, animals, and people...
- List of countries by greenhouse gas emissions per capita
- List of countries by ratio of GDP to carbon dioxide emissions
- Environment of Sweden
External links
- Swedish Government Offices - Climate policy
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency - Climate change page
- Swedish Environmental Protection Agency - Tables on greenhouse gas emissions
- Emissions from 1990
- Sweden's Environmental Objectives - Climate change page
- Commission on Climate Change and Development - based in Sweden and currently chaired by the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation