Sweden to become first country in the world to report overseas emissions

It is widely held that the first step to recovery from addiction is recognition of the problem, and global addiction to fossil fuels is perhaps no different.

When it comes to countries’ self-assessed contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions, governments have long been accused - including by figures such as Greta Thunberg - of using "creative accounting".

One sleight-of-hand which can make emissions appear lower is the failure of governments to count the emissions created by imported goods.

But it now appears that Ms Thunberg’s home country will become the first in the world to include overseas emissions reporting, in a move which will make it a leading light on tackling emissions.

Sweden is already leading the world on net zero commitments with a climate policy to hit carbon neutrality by 2045 – five years ahead of the UK – the first country to enshrine a net zero greenhouse gas emissions target in law.

Sweden’s political parties agreed last week to include the consumption-based emissions within its climate targets.

“No other country in the world has done what we have done,” Emma Nohrén, chair of the climate goals committee, told a press conference announcing the goals.

“There has been a pioneering sprit,” she said.

About 60 per cent of all Sweden’s emissions are released in other countries producing goods for Swedish consumption.

Sweden’s production-based emissions, and the targets based on these figures misrepresent Sweden’s impact on the world – just as is the case for other countries.

As well as legislating for the climate impact of exports, the proposals by Sweden’s governing parties include accounting for the climate impact of international aviation and shipping and to assess internal aviation emissions by 2030.

Amanda Palmstierna, an MP for Sweden’s Green Party told news website The Local it was positive the new goals had the backing of all seven of Sweden’s parliamentary parties.

“It’s important that all the parties are backing this proposal so that it can become implemented,” she said.

“Significant action is required now. We have so little time, as we saw in the IPCC report which came out on Monday.”

The landmark report warned that humans have just three years to reach peak fossil fuel emissions, after which significant cuts to rates of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere must be made.

The report found that limiting Earth’s average temperature rise to the ambitious 1.5C agreed by nations under the Paris Agreement would require “immediate and deep” emissions cuts across every sector of society.