Sweden’s greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 3% in 2022 compared to the previous year. The decrease is visible in several sectors of the economy, mainly due to emissions reductions from household car transportation, manufacturing, and the energy sector.
According to preliminary emission statistics for the fourth quarter of 2022, the emissions from the entire Swedish economy have decreased by 1.5 million tons compared to the previous year. The decrease is seen in almost all industries, except for the transportation industry, where there is still a slight increase.
Axel Ehrling, an analyst at the Swedish National Statistics Office’s environmental accounting, said, “Our calculations of preliminary greenhouse gas emissions for 2022 show a 3% decrease in emissions from the Swedish economy compared to the previous year. This is after emissions increased in 2021 following low levels in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. The emission reduction in 2022 is visible in almost all industries, except for the transportation industry, where we still have a slight increase.”
The emissions from the Swedish economy in 2022 decreased by 3% compared to the previous year, totaling 49.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents. During the same period, the country’s GDP increased by 2.6%. This means that emissions intensity, measured as emissions per unit of GDP, also continues to decrease.
Both 2020 and 2021 were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected emission levels. In 2021, emissions increased compared to the previous year, but in 2022, emissions have decreased again. When compared to emissions in 2019 before the pandemic, emissions in 2022 are 9% lower.
The decrease in emissions can be seen in various sectors, including manufacturing, the energy sector, and household fuel use. Private consumption emissions, mainly due to fuel consumption, decreased by 7%, equivalent to 610 kilotons. The emissions from the manufacturing industry decreased by 3%, equivalent to 450 kilotons. At the same time, the value added in the entire manufacturing industry increased by 9%. The emissions reductions were mainly in refineries, the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, and the rubber and plastics industry. In power generation and water, sewage, and waste management, emissions decreased by 5%, equivalent to 390 kilotons.