Greenhouse gas emissions associated with Swedish consumption totalled 79 million tonnes in of CO2e in 2024, an increase of 3.5 million tonnes compared to the previous year, according to new data from Statistics Sweden.
This represents a year-on-year increase of 5%, the statistics body said, with the increase in emissions linked primarily to ‘higher emissions from household consumption, with transport-related emissions contributing the most to the overall increase’, it said.
During the same period, demand in the Swedish economy, measured in monetary terms, increased by 1%, meaning that emissions intensity – i.e. greenhouse gas emissions per Swedish krona – increased by 3% in 2024.
Emissions drivers
Household consumption-related emissions increased by 2.2 million tonnes in 2024, equivalent to a 5% rise. Transport was responsible for 1.6 million tonnes of that increase, with emissions from the category rising by 11%.
Statistics Sweden said transport accounted for around 70% of the total increase in household consumption-based emissions.
Food, housing and other forms of consumption also contributed to the increase, while emissions associated with clothing and footwear declined slightly.
Long-term picture
Despite the increase recorded in 2024, Sweden‘s consumption-based emissions remain substantially below their level in 2008. Between 2008 and 2024, emissions fell by 27 million tonnes, a reduction of 26%.
Over the same period, domestic demand measured in monetary terms increased by 30%, meaning that emissions intensity declined by 43%.
The latest figures therefore highlight a tension between Sweden’s longer-term improvements in emissions efficiency and a renewed increase in the environmental impact of consumption.
Domestic consumption
The increase in 2024 was also more pronounced for emissions occurring within Sweden than for those generated abroad as a result of Swedish consumption.
Emissions in Sweden associated with domestic consumption increased by 2.9 million tonnes, or 10%, while emissions abroad linked to Swedish consumption rose by 0.6 million tonnes, or 1%.
‘Regarding emissions occurring abroad because of Swedish consumption, both increases and decreases were observed between 2023 and 2024, depending on the country examined,’ Statistics Sweden added. ‘For example, emissions in China, India, and the United States associated with Swedish consumption increased, while emissions linked to the consumption of products originating from EU countries (plus Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom) and Russia decreased.’ Read more here.
