Response to interpellation 2025/26:514 on the climate goals for 2030
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
L argues that electrification is the long-term solution for the climate challenge and competitiveness 1 2 3. They argue that the government has invested heavily in charging stations and electric car premiums 4 2 and that the reduction of the reduction obligation was necessary to create acceptance for the climate policy 2. L argues that previous governments' high reduction obligation contributed to high diesel prices 2 and that the Social Democrats, the Green Party, and the Left Party slowed down electrification by focusing on biofuels 3. S argues that the government has failed its promises, that emissions have increased, and that the pace of electrification has been slowed down 5 6 7. S advocates for more money for electrification, expanded climate premiums, and increased biofuel production 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Åsa Westlund has asked me whether the government still stands united behind the transport goal for 2030, and what I and the government, in that case, intend to take for measures to reach this goal.
The climate policy framework serves Sweden well, and the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest and negative emissions thereafter provides long-term conditions for the business sector and society to carry out the transition that is required. The national milestone targets are important as checkpoints on the way towards net-zero emissions.
The interim target for domestic transport means that emissions from the sector shall be reduced by 70 percent by 2030 compared to 2010. It is a faster emission reduction than what is required for the long-term net-zero target to be reached. It is also overlapping and more strict than Sweden's interim target and EU commitment for the ESR sector 2030, where the transport sector is one of the largest parts.
To reach the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, the focus should primarily lie on carrying out a comprehensive electrification of the transport sector.
The government has invested heavily in the electrification of the transport sector during the mandate period. The number of charging points has more than doubled during the mandate period. The government has introduced a targeted electric car premium that also enables households with lower incomes living in areas where there are no good alternative means of transport to acquire an electric car.
Thanks to the government's climate premiums, trucks and buses are now being electrified. At the same time, the government has enabled new fossil-free electricity production so that companies dare to invest in new nuclear power.
In January 2025, the Environmental Goals Secretariat was tasked with evaluating and submitting proposals on how the national milestone targets can be designed so that they better align with Sweden's commitments within the EU and steer effectively towards Sweden's climate goals, net-zero emissions by 2045 at the latest.
The Environmental Goals Commission has submitted its report to the government, and this is being prepared in the Government Offices.
Åsa Westlund (S)
Madam Speaker! All three government parties promised the Swedish people during the last election campaign to meet Sweden's climate goals. After the election, they made a deal with the only party in the Swedish Riksdag that did not stand behind these climate goals. Then emissions increased.
For the first time since 2010, Sweden's emissions increased. For the first time since 1990, emissions increased without it being due to a previous pandemic or a previous recession. All authorities have been clear that emissions have increased as a direct consequence of the government's policy. This is precisely the opposite of what was promised to the Swedish people.
In my upcoming speech, I am fairly convinced that the Minister will speak about nuclear power and that it is important to have low prices on fuels. That is what the Minister's party and the other government parties also said during the 2022 election campaign. But they promised that it would not stand in the way of Sweden reaching the climate goals. That would be achieved while simultaneously achieving this other thing.
Furthermore, it would be a more effective climate policy. That promise has been broken. In fact, the government's collective policy has also significantly slowed down the electrification. In a comparison with Sweden's neighboring countries, we clearly see how Sweden has lagged behind since the government took office.
We hear all the time that the major Swedish world-leading vehicle manufacturers have done their part. They truly have, but they are not getting their new technology sold because the government has caused the pace of electrification in Sweden to slow down. Sufficient measures have also not been taken to ensure that the EU sticks to its long-term climate goals for the automotive industry.
That is why company after company in Swedish business are demanding a more ambitious and long-term climate policy that also supports the companies' climate transition. They are deeply disappointed with this government.
My question today is on this theme. There is not even a clear picture of which climate goals the government stands behind. At the same time as the government stands behind the climate goal I asked about, each and every one of the government parties says that they do not. It did not become any clearer from the minister's answer either. And perhaps it does not play any greater role, because the government and not least the Liberals have already in practice shown that they completely disregard which climate goals the government says it stands behind.
What is dishonest is the total betrayal in this issue. It becomes even more dishonest when the Liberals and the other government parties now again promise to meet the climate goals, without meaning it this time either.
How could the next Tidö government conduct a more ambitious climate policy? How could the parties that are currently in government manage to conduct a more ambitious climate policy, when it has already been promised to give the Sweden Democrats, which is still the least climate-ambitious party, a place and more influence in the next government? How could one succeed better, with that basis?
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! I will begin by thanking Åsa Westlund for this discussion and the question she has posed to me.
It was a bit unclear to me which goals Åsa Westlund was referring to in her speech, but the Environmental Goals Commission did not give any clear answer anyway on whether there is a need for a transport goal for 2030. But we can state that they suggested that relevant authorities should be tasked with proposing goals for the electrification of the vehicle fleet.
It is electrification that will solve the climate challenge, secure competitiveness, and ensure that we become energy independent in relation to countries in the Middle East. Therefore, the focus lies primarily on carrying out a comprehensive electrification of the transport sector.
New car sales in Sweden show that we have the second highest share of electric cars in the entire EU. One might think that we should be at the top – I can think that. But we are still second highest. That the electrification of the transport sector has somehow slowed down is simply not true.
But too little has been done previously. The charging infrastructure has not been expanded at the pace that is needed, and neither has the electricity production. That is where we have the problems, and this government is addressing that progressively.
My question to Åsa Westlund is, of course: Does Åsa Westlund agree that it is electrification that is the solution, or does Åsa Westlund want to increase the reduction obligation and in that way drive up fuel prices for households in the global energy crisis we find ourselves in, given also that we have just come from an inflation crisis?
Åsa Westlund (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer!
The Social Democrats have, during this mandate period, proposed more money for electrification, for Klimatklivet, and for charging stations. We had more money in previous proposals regarding climate support for those who want to buy an electric car, which the government then introduced. We have also proposed that today's opportunities to receive the climate premium should be expanded; we think it is too stingy towards those who do not live in the direct rural areas. We also think that too little money is being allocated to this. We have submitted a long series of other proposals to increase the pace of electrification, something that the government, therefore, has not succeeded with during this mandate period.
We have three enormously large automotive companies in Sweden. They are at the forefront. They say unequivocally that they need society's support to maintain their competitiveness as the rest of the world also electrifies and transitions.
The government has clearly failed in that work. They have even contributed to easing the requirements on vehicle manufacturers within the EU in a way that benefits Volvo Cars' direct competitors. When the government took its position, it was clear that it was the foreign vehicle manufacturers that were benefited, at the expense of Swedish vehicle manufacturing and the jobs that exist in Sweden.
This is a very dangerous development. I believe that we really need to do more to electrify faster. We Social Democrats have, as I have said all the time, proposed more money for this. Furthermore, we have not managed money for, for example, Klimatklivet in the way that the government has done. Although a lot of money has been appropriated, the money has since been impossible to use because one, either through carelessness or deliberately, ensured that the money did not have a sufficiently long planning horizon to be put into use.
Sweden needs a faster transition when it comes to the climate. According to Klimatrådet, the government's policy risks hitting Swedish taxpayers hard in the future. Fines of 40 billion await if Sweden does not meet the EU targets by 2030. The government has no plan for how to achieve this. They have also not been clear to the voters that they will contribute to the introduction of EU ETS2.
Furthermore, it has been said no to increasing Swedish biofuel production. We Social Democrats believe that this is needed, alongside a faster pace of electrification. Otherwise, we will not be able to replace the entire Swedish vehicle fleet fast enough to meet the climate goals. And we also need more fuel for other types of vehicles in the future.
We will also need to increase our resilience and preparedness, given the terrible global situation we have. We cannot continue to be as dependent on fossil imports from the Middle East as we are today, and we need a Swedish biofuel production.
I note that the Minister, in his answer, did not speak much about the climate goal that I asked about, namely the transport goal for 2030, what the government actually thinks about this and what is intended to be done to live up to it. Instead, the Minister spoke about the goal for 2045. I can only note that it is not only reaching net-zero emissions by 2045 that matters. All emissions that occur on the way there matter, and therefore the goals for 2030 are also important.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! I believe I said that we have received the Environmental Goals Commission's report, that it is being prepared in the Government Offices, and that it does not give a clear answer on whether there is a need for a transport goal for 2030 or not. We also note, however, that the investigation suggested that relevant authorities should be tasked with proposing goals for the electrification of the vehicle fleet – that is because electrification is the key forward.
The government has achieved a lot during this mandate period, as I mentioned. More electric cars are rolling on the roads now. There are more charging stations. The government's targeted electric car premium has already enabled over 2,000 households with incomes below 50 percent of the average income to acquire an electric car. In total, over 6,000 households have since the middle of March been granted support to buy or lease an electric car.
Emissions increased during 2024, particularly within the transport sector, as a result of the lowered reduction obligation. But that reduction was necessary to create acceptance for the climate policy. I perceive that the Social Democrats are not fundamentally pursuing any other line than the government's regarding the reduction obligation. But the previous Social Democratic government's high levels for the reduction obligation contributed to very high diesel prices, which hit households and companies hard.
Why engage in side issues, when the long-term solution, not only for our nation Sweden but also globally, is electrification? And why do you say no to new nuclear power, which is completely necessary for that electrification to be able to become a reality in the long run?
Åsa Westlund (S)
Madam Speaker! It is telling how pleased the government is to have broken the promise to the Swedish people to meet the climate goals. One beats one's breast for having slowed down the pace of electrification, and one must lie about the opponent to get through the debate.
The Social Democrats are not saying no to new nuclear power. On the other hand, we are saying yes to cheaper and faster expansion of other electricity production in Sweden as well.
The Minister asks why one should care about anything other than achieving full electrification by 2045. So that is how I interpret the Minister. Well, it is because every ton of climate emissions on the way there plays a role. It will play a role for how many degrees of warming we get and how large the disasters will be for Swedish agriculture, for Swedish inhabitants, and for our entire planet. Therefore, it matters.
I also believe that is why the Liberals are also telling the voters in this election that they intend to meet the climate goals. But why would the voters listen this time? The Liberals have already promised away power to the Sweden Democrats, who in turn do not want to take on this responsibility. Why would one believe the Liberals this time? I think one is wise not to listen.
I think it is wise to hear how the government is pleased that it has broken its promise and that it also seems very pleased to have left the Swedish automotive industry in the lurch in the important electrification work.
Arbetsmarknadsminister och vikarierande klimat- och miljöministern Johan Britz (L)
Madam Speaker! Let me just clarify that the Social Democrats have indeed voted no to all the propositions that the government has submitted which have aimed to enable new nuclear power. If they were for new nuclear power, they could have voted yes to some of them, for example the financing proposition.
We are lagging behind when it comes to electrification. That is true. It has been electrified too slowly in this country. The reason for this is the side track with biofuels in the tanks of ordinary cars. Had we already during the previous parliamentary term done what has been done during this parliamentary term, we would have been in a significantly better position. Then we would have had even more electric cars on our streets, and we would have been even closer to new fossil-free electricity production. But that development has been contributed to by the Social Democrats, the Green Party, and the Left Party to be slowed down when it should have accelerated.
Let us not go into more side issues. Let us now focus on what is the long-term solution – the one that will solve the climate challenge, competitiveness, and make us independent of energy from countries from the Middle East. Let us focus on electrification to 100 percent and do everything we can to accelerate it during the coming years! Thank you for this discussion!
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.