Sweden aims for consumption-based emissions – Grist
It is Tuesday 12 April and Sweden has an ambitious plan to reduce emissions from the products that its people consume.
Swedish politicians proposed a first-of-its-kind emissions target last week, with a view to climate pollution in connection with products that the country buys from abroad.
– No other country in the world has done what we have done, says Emma Nohrén, chair of the Swedish cross-policy committee for environmental issues. told reporters last week.
The change, which has been backed by all eight Swedish political parties, would mark one ambitious shift from the country’s current climate strategy. At present, Sweden’s goal is to reach net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045 stands only for climate pollution that is emitted domestically – from, for example, Swedish factories, or from cars driving on Swedish roads. The new targets will take into account emissions that are released internationally to make products that Sweden imports, including food, electronics, building materials and more.
These emissions can be difficult to track, but they play an important role in driving climate change. Globally, research suggests that more than one-fifth of carbon dioxide emissions comes from products intended for international trade. That proportion is almost three times higher in Sweden, where the state authority Statistics Sweden has estimated it more than 60 percent of the country’s emissions in 2019 derived from imports.
Global Challenge, an independent Swedish think tank, has applauded the country’s recently proposed emission reduction policy, even though it still has to be adopted by the Swedish government. The Global Challenge also emphasized the need for sectoral sub-targets and further policy changes to ensure that import emissions can be reduced rapidly. Among its recommendations is that Sweden should buy goods from less carbon dioxide-intensive countries and reduce the total demand from Swedish customers.
“Sweden has both a responsibility and an opportunity to reduce our consumption-based emissions,” says the organization in a report that was originally released in November and updated to reflect the Committee’s new proposals.
On the news
PG&E will pay more than $ 55 million to avoid prosecution for starting two forest fires
Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times
➤ Read more
Indigenous people are killed to “protect” a Congolese park
Joseph Lee, Grist
➤ Read more
Chile announces an unrivaled water rationing plan when the drought begins in its thirteenth year
Reuters
➤ Read more
Canadian banks are doubling funding for highly polluting oil sands
Camilla Hodgson, Economic times
➤ Read more
Chemours claims that the toxic PFAS chemical GenX protects the climate
Sharon Lerner, The concept
➤ Read more