Climate Politics

Sweden Poised to Miss the Long-Term Climate Target It Pioneered

Center-right government cites tough economy, weaker krona
Sweden was the first nation to set a milestone net zero goal

Elisabeth Svantesson, Sweden's finance minister, during a Eurogroup meeting at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. German Finance Minister Christian Lindner rejected a proposal from the European Union's executive arm to negotiate debt rules individually with member states.Photographer: Valeria Mongelli/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Lars Paulsson and Niclas Rolander

September 20, 2023 at 8:40 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Sweden looks set to miss its legislated climate targets, the latest sign of how combating global warming is slipping down the policy agenda.

The nation — the first globally to set a milestone target for net zero emissions — won’t reach that goal for 2045 with current measures, according to the center-right government’s 2024 budget submitted on Wednesday. It cited the tough economic climate along with a plunging krona, expecting to also fall short on other targets for protecting the environment.