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Sweden Today

Swedish news in English

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Sweden's Fuel Tax Cuts Spark Climate Concerns

Published: 2024-09-08

The Swedish government, in collaboration with the Sweden Democrats, has announced a reduction in fuel taxes, which is expected to lower fuel costs for drivers by a few hundred kronor annually.

However, this move is projected to cost the state 5.6 billion kronor in lost revenue each year.

The government also plans to increase the biofuel blending mandate, which could mitigate some of the anticipated rise in carbon emissions due to the tax cuts.

Critics argue that the government's approach is more about creating an illusion of progress towards climate goals rather than achieving them.

The recent announcement of a 4% increase in the biofuel mandate, alongside fuel tax reductions, has been met with skepticism, as the government has not provided detailed calculations to support its claims of meeting EU climate targets by 2030. This has led to concerns about the potential increase in nitrogen oxide emissions and the risk of exceeding air quality standards in urban areas.