Sweden ‘too slow’ in meeting emissions goals: climate report
Sweden’s greenhouse gas emissions are declining but not quickly enough, the country’s Climate Policy Council announced on Thursday.
It said the rate of emissions reduction has slowed when it needs to accelerate, to reach its climate goal of net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045.
“This is serious. We should accelerate but instead for the past three years emissions decreased less than 1%, ” said the council chair Ingrid Bonde.
The policy council, an independent scientific body, is tasked with assessing if the government’s comprehensive policy is compatible with the climate targets adopted by parliament and the government.
It said even meeting intermediate targets would not be achievable without further political action.
Since 1990, Sweden’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased 26% but the rate of reduction has slowed and 2017 was the third consecutive year in which emissions decreased less than 1%. The council said the rate of reduction would need to accelerate to between 5% and 8% each year to meet future targets.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: The Arctic ‘locked-in’ for 3 to 5 °C temperature rise, UN report warns, Radio Canada International
Finland: Finland ninth, Sweden first in EU climate efforts: enviro group, Yle News
Norway: Norway expands Arctic drilling while promising emissions cuts, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia’s quest for Arctic resources unhindered by climate crisis, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Thousands in Sweden join Greta Thunberg for worldwide climate strike, Radio Sweden
United States: 2018 was the 4th-warmest year on record, NOAA and NASA reveal, Alaska Public Media
