Response to interpellation 2024/25:359 on limit values for the climate impact of buildings
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD considers it urgent to reduce climate emissions and that Sweden is at the forefront with climate declarations 1 2. KD argues that the measures must be balanced against competitiveness and growth, and that one should not anticipate Boverket's investigation or the EU's delegated act 1 2. KD considers that it is already possible today to transition with benefits for both climate and costs 3. KD argues that support for electric construction machinery facilitates for companies to reduce emissions without affecting competitiveness 3. MP argues that the climate issue is acute and that the construction sector must reduce emissions significantly faster than before 4.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Katarina Luhr has asked me what will happen moving forward with Boverket's report Limit values for buildings' climate impact and an expanded climate declaration and when limit values will be introduced for buildings' climate impact. Katarina Luhr has also asked me if I consider Boverket's proposal for limit values to be reasonable and if I consider it urgent to reduce climate emissions from the construction sector.
The Government's climate policy work is based on the premise that Sweden shall have no net emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2045 at the latest, in order to subsequently achieve negative emissions.
Continued measures to reduce emissions within the construction and real estate sector are important to maintain Swedish competitiveness and growth. The construction and civil engineering sector's updated roadmap for fossil-free competitiveness shows that the industry is making progress. The Government is implementing several measures that contribute to the construction sector's transition to a fossil-free economy. Among other things, measures are being implemented to promote a more efficient utilization of the existing building stock.
The requirement for climate declarations when constructing buildings, which was introduced on 1 January 2022, is an important information tool for uniting the industry to reduce climate impact from a value chain perspective. From an EU perspective, Sweden and the Nordic countries are at the forefront in the work with climate declarations.
The Government assesses that the climate declarations should be expanded to meet the requirements resulting from the EU's regulatory framework and to include more building components and processes while simultaneously limiting the administrative burden. Boverket's proposal on limit values for buildings' climate impact has been referred and is being further prepared within the Government Offices.
For the government, it is important to note in this context that Article 7 of the EU's directive on the energy performance of buildings contains provisions on the calculation and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions during the building's life cycle for new buildings. Furthermore, the Member States shall develop a national roadmap for the introduction of limit values for the climate impact of buildings.
The Commission shall, by 31 December 2025 at the latest, adopt a delegated act establishing a Union framework for how greenhouse gas emissions shall be calculated. The delegated act will therefore set the framework for the continued development of climate declarations for buildings in Sweden. The Government is following the Commission's work on the delegated act.
In December 2024, the government tasked Boverket with, among other things, submitting proposals for the implementation of the requirements for climate calculations for new buildings. Boverket shall report the necessary legislative proposals by June 1, 2026, at the latest, and submit proposals for a roadmap on limit values for buildings' climate impact by October 1, 2026, at the latest. The government does not wish to anticipate the agency's investigation on how the system of climate declarations and limit values for buildings' climate impact will develop moving forward.
Katarina Luhr (MP)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!
The year 2024 was the first time the Earth's average temperature reached a 1.5-degree increase, and during the year we saw terrifying fires and major floods, with fatalities, all around the world. The reason I wrote this interpellation is that I want to get an answer to the question of how the Minister for Housing intends to act so that climate emissions from the construction sector will decrease and so that they decrease at the pace that the climate crisis demands. We have, after all, a shared responsibility to meet the climate goals, and some of us have more power than others right now.
The climate issue is acutely urgent, and all parts of politics need to do their part so that we can reduce emissions as quickly as possible. The construction and real estate sector alone accounts for just over 20 percent, that is, one-fifth, of Sweden's local climate emissions. In addition to that, it accounts for a non-negligible part abroad, where building materials and construction products are manufactured and transported. The Minister therefore has, within his responsibility as Minister for Housing, at least 20 percent of Sweden's climate emissions to work with.
What one must not forget is that it is the total emissions that count and that it therefore becomes harder to reach the goals the longer one waits. If the construction sector does not reduce its share, one risks shifting the work of reaching the climate goals onto some other sector, which would then need to do much more. As it stands with the climate work today, there is also no time if we are to meet any of our climate goals, and everyone needs to do their part now. That is why mandatory climate declarations for construction were introduced a few years ago.
That our building regulations need to keep pace with the Paris Agreement and the climate goals of Europe and Sweden is by no means news. However, it is perhaps not clear to many how urgent it is. Calculations by researchers at Uppsala University and the Tyndall Centre in the United Kingdom show that Sweden's emissions need to decrease by more than 35 percent per year from 2024 for us to meet the 1.5-degree goal, or 13.5 percent per year for us not to exceed 2 degrees. This applies to all sectors in Sweden. By comparison, climate emissions from the construction and real estate sector have decreased by 12.3 percent between the years 2008 and 2022. That is thus less than 1 percent per year, compared to the 13 percent we are talking about.
My question today concerns new construction and the requirements for climate emissions when building new. Both building materials in themselves and the transport of construction machinery create large emissions. The idea was that this summer, statutory limit values for maximum emissions would be set when building, so that in the long run we can turn down the values to the level that we need to see in the long term.
Here I want to specifically highlight that the previous government initially intended for the limit values to be introduced in 2027, but after reading the referral responses, they realized that it was too late. Therefore, they had to back down and make a new attempt to see how the limit values could be introduced as quickly as possible, and they landed on 2025. But what I understand now is that this is something the current government has dropped. Instead, they are waiting for a new investigation, which is to be presented in the autumn of 2026, and where the aim is that limit values should be introduced by 2030 at the latest.
The problem is that our remaining emissions budget risks already being exhausted by then. If we are to follow the carbon budget from Tyndall, emissions need to have decreased by approximately 70 percent by the year 2030. It is therefore not about meeting the 1.5-degree goal, but about keeping ourselves under 2 degrees. If we do not do that, we have big problems.
Madam Speaker! I would therefore like to ask the Minister if the Minister also considers it urgent to have measures in place now to reduce climate emissions from the construction sector.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Yes, there is certainly a hurry, and it is certainly important that we achieve as much impact as possible to influence not only Sweden's but also Europe's and the EU's emissions.
As I said in my answer, the Nordic countries are at the forefront in the work with climate declarations and in much of what we are working on today regarding energy efficiency. It is of course associated with high costs if one does not improve energy efficiency in our part of Europe, but there is also a great value for other countries to take part in Swedish knowledge and Swedish innovative power. Swedish companies can work both to reduce emissions and to strengthen jobs and growth in Sweden.
That is why, in my response, I also point to competitiveness and the roadmap that the construction and civil engineering sector itself has developed and updated. The rules, decisions, and regulations that we adopt nationally must not lead to an excessively large administrative burden that could reduce the competitiveness of Swedish companies at the EU level.
We are also working at the Nordic level to try to see how we can unify the regulations and see how we can get more out of Nordic construction, for example regarding wooden houses and other ways to reduce emissions. Therefore, it is important, Madam Speaker, to take into account the work that is also taking place at the EU level so that our work is synchronized with it to the greatest extent possible – but of course not delayed, because it is important to work at a high pace.
As I said in my answer to the member's questions, the commission shall, by December 31 this year at the latest, produce a delegated act establishing how greenhouse gas emissions shall be calculated within a Union framework. The act will set the framework for the continued work and development of the climate declaration for buildings as well as limit values for buildings' climate impact. I also mentioned the assignment that Boverket has to implement the requirement for climate calculations for new buildings and produce a roadmap for limit values for buildings' climate impact.
It is, therefore, a mandate that we have given to Boverket and a work that is ongoing in the commission. We have, of course, also implemented several different measures - that should not be forgotten - and are far ahead, but it is important not to anticipate partly Boverket's investigation, and partly the delegated act which will, therefore, come from the EU during this year.
Katarina Luhr (MP)
Madam Speaker! I have great respect for the fact that we are going to try to synchronize our climate work with the rest of the EU, but it is also important that we ensure we actually do our part – the part that we have been assigned from the EU – so that not all other countries are sitting with their conditions while we do nothing.
I said in my first post that Sweden's total climate emissions need to decrease by 13-14 percent per year for us to be able to land under 2 degrees of warming. For the construction sector, this is a much faster reduction than the previously proposed limit values for climate declarations, which according to the previous plan would have entered into force this summer.
Many referral bodies also underlined this when the proposal was out for consultation. White Arkitekter, Sweden Green Building Council, WSP, Byggföretagen and many others emphasized that the starting levels for the limit values were set too low and that the pace for the tightening of the limit values was all too low for us to meet either the national or the international climate goals. Several also emphasized that it is already possible today to build to a much lower level than the proposed limit values.
The problem is that the government is now postponing measures further until after the upcoming election, which puts the one who is to clean up in a very bad position. If we do not reduce emissions at a sufficient pace today, the pace must be increased even further in the future.
How much did emissions in the construction industry decrease last year? I do not know if the Minister can guess or if I should tell, but since it is my speaking time, I will tell. According to SCB, emissions in the construction industry increased in 2024 by an average of 31 percent compared to the previous year. I want to emphasize that I did not say it incorrectly, Madam Speaker: Emissions did not decrease, they increased by over 30 percent.
From SCB's quarterly reports for 2024, one can read that emissions from the construction industry increased by 31 percent during quarter 1, primarily due to increased use of fossil diesel. In quarter 2, the increase was largest within the construction industry. It was then 28 percent, primarily due to increased use of fossil diesel. In quarter 3, emissions from the construction industry increased by 35 percent, primarily due to increased use of fossil diesel. The Minister may remember that I said that all emissions count. This obviously gives us even less time to meet the climate goals by 2030.
This is a gigantic problem. I wonder how the government intends for us to be able to powerfully reduce the construction sector's climate impact without introducing any limits on how much one is allowed to emit when building. What other reforms do you think the minister can come up with to contribute to the sector's climate impact decreasing? Furthermore, it is a matter of making it decrease approximately ten times faster than it has during the last 17 years. Or is the idea to hand over the emission reductions to some other sector and simply just postpone the construction sector's climate responsibility?
I know that the construction sector is calling for frameworks, goals, and direction. The entire business community is calling for long-term perspective. Everyone understands that we need to transition, also for increased competitiveness. I therefore want to know which measures Minister Carlson intends to replace the limit values for reduced climate emissions over the next two years, as the minister continues to have responsibility for this. I am speaking of measures that can ensure we live up to reducing climate emissions at the rate that would be needed.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! The Member spoke about doing nothing, but this is not quite correct. The Government is doing very much to reduce emissions in the construction and civil engineering sector.
The members of the committee also pointed out that several have highlighted that opportunities already exist today. Yes, there are opportunities. It is also pointed out that it is often also associated with reduced costs. The business community therefore sees that the transition goes hand in hand with jobs, growth, and strengthened competitiveness. This is a very strong driver. In its work, the Government has emphasized that it is important that this is synchronized so that it goes hand in hand with the various measures being taken to strengthen competitiveness in the construction sector. It is not just about reducing emissions in our own country but also about being able to export this knowledge and influence emissions also at the EU level and on a global level.
One thing the government has done is to strengthen the market introduction support that exists for construction machinery powered by fossil-free fuels, for example, electrified excavators and trucks. They have a higher purchase price, and it is therefore reasonable with a market introduction support. The government has thus strengthened and expanded this in the latest budget.
Here in the Stockholm area, good examples have been pointed out regarding the construction of the Slakthusområdet. The increased costs for the purchase of machines have led to the fact that one has been able to plan and build in an even more efficient way. The information I have received from parties active in the project indicates that the costs are actually not becoming higher, but rather that this strengthens competitiveness. Furthermore, the working environment becomes better.
I think that is a very good example of that this is already possible today, just as the member said. There is also a gain with the transition, both for the climate – of course – and ultimately when one calculates the costs in kronor and öre.
Taking on a portion of the costs for purchasing new construction machinery powered by electricity is a very concrete way to facilitate things for the companies that build, so that they can reduce emissions without it affecting competitiveness. On the contrary, it becomes a fundamental prerequisite for fossil-free competitiveness. This is exactly what the construction and civil engineering sector has developed in its roadmap, which points to several major advancements.
Katarina Luhr (MP)
Madam Speaker! The Minister raised very important examples of how we actually have the opportunity to transition today. This is challenging. These are point examples. These are pilot projects and certain projects that are ongoing in cities that have high environmental and climate goals, for example.
The Minister says that a lot is being done. The challenge is that emissions are increasing significantly when we need to see a substantial reduction from the construction sector. This happens despite the fact that we know it can be done correctly; it is not the technology that is lacking.
All our politics needs to be directed towards reduced climate emissions. We do not have much time to fulfill our part in the work of meeting the Paris Agreement. To meet the EU's and our own climate goals, we need to do a substantial amount of work well before 2030. The climate goals are not just numbers on a piece of paper. The work of reducing emissions is about what the world will be like to live in for everyone who lives here.
I cannot really see that the minister takes the work seriously, which is extremely serious given the power that the minister nevertheless has. He is responsible for both construction, which we are discussing here, and for infrastructure, which we have not even touched upon in this debate.
It is not enough with an action plan from the government if there are no measures tied to it. The measures need to take place on site and nowhere else.
The construction sector accounts for 20 percent of our emissions today. I would very much like to hear something from Andreas Carlson that can give me some reassurance that he sees the emissions from the construction sector as an important part to start working on quickly and at the pace that is needed until 2030.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would like to thank Katarina Luhr for her commitment to this issue. I share that commitment. It is very important to reduce emissions and strengthen competitiveness, as well as to take advantage of the power that exists in Swedish society to do this and to be able to export these products.
When I received EU ministers in Stockholm at an informal transport ministers' meeting, I showed, together with parts of the Swedish business community, what is already available on the market today. We got to test excavators powered by electricity and drive electric trucks. One of the colleagues—I will not say what nationality this colleague had, Madam Speaker—jumped out and said: What a great prototype! How exciting to test! When will it be released on the market? Then I said that it is on the market and that it can certainly be ordered home already today.
It is clear that that type of example affects the negotiating table at the EU level. That is where we need to work together in Sweden, and I believe we have a very broad consensus on this. The point is that we can influence at the EU level. We naturally need to do our part to further reduce emissions, but we are already far ahead today and should be proud of that.
We have much to teach our brothers and sisters. Not least, there is a very great interest when it comes to the reconstruction of Ukraine. On days like these, it may be even more important to speak about this, because it will also be important in the future to have a broad way of looking at how we should reduce emissions to do so as quickly as possible and with as great an effect as possible. It is why, Madam Speaker, I refer to the delegated act that now exists at the EU level.
We will have to return to the question, but the work is proceeding at a very high pace. I am pleased with the member's commitment, and I share it.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.