2025-05-142024/25:CU16 · p.2CUCivil law & housing
Climate perspective
The climate perspective in the new urban development strategy
What's at stake: How cities are planned for cloudbursts, heatwaves and green space affects how well buildings and residents cope with a changing climate, while a clearer climate focus could mean different priorities for transport and urban development.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the government's new urban development strategy has a sufficiently clear climate perspective, or whether the government should return with a strategy that more clearly prioritises climate adaptation and reduced climate impact in cities.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the government's new strategy and does not share the view that the climate perspective has disappeared; it points to the strategy's 13 focus areas, to ongoing legislative work on planning, building and the environment, and to the Committee on Environment and Agriculture's assessment that the strategy provides good conditions for robust, climate-adapted urban development, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, C, MP)
The reservation (S, C, MP) argues that the climate perspective has nearly disappeared from the strategy, which has scaled back earlier goals for fossil-free transport, public transport and greener cities in favour of cars; it wants the government to return with a new strategy with a clear climate perspective that brings nature-based planning, cloudbursts, heatwaves, drinking-water supply and climate-related infrastructure in early.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 2 by S, C, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have gone the other way
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: LLiberalerna, VVänsterpartiet
Ja 173–130Nej 138–165
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 21/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/93/0/13 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | Yes | Yes 16/0/0/3 | match | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | Yes | Yes 60/0/0/8 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | Yes | Yes 62/0/0/10 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
Parliament rejects the motions 2024/25:3342 by Jennie Nilsson et al. (S) motion 3, 2024/25:3346 by Märta Stenevi et al. (MP) motions 7 and 9, and 2024/25:3347 by Alireza Akhondi et al. (C) in this part.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:3342 av Jennie Nilsson m.fl. (S) yrkande 3, 2024/25:3346 av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 7 och 9 samt 2024/25:3347 av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C) i denna del.
Riksdag decision: Parliament has dealt with the Government's report on a new strategy for vibrant and safe cities. The report concerns a new direction for urban development policy with a new national objective for urban development. The report contains 13 focus areas for national urban development policy aimed at Sweden's cities developing, based on their conditions, into vibrant, safe and robust cities. Parliament welcomes the Government's new strategy and the new national objective for urban development. Parliament filed the Government's report with the records, that is, closed the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to see a new urban development strategy with greater focus on sustainable and equitable development. (S, C, MP) — Reservation 2
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan demands societal planning that as far as possible avoids locking people into car dependence and a coherent strategy for electrified transport where urban planning and public transport have leading roles.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan demands societal planning that as far as possible avoids locking people into car dependence and a coherent strategy for electrified transport where urban planning and public transport have leading roles. An urban development strategy that downplays fossil-free transport in favor of cars conflicts with this. The plan also states that all political decisions shall take climate crisis into account and that greenery and climate resilience are part of societal building.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver en samhällsplanering som så långt som möjligt undviker att låsa människor i bilberoende och en sammanhållen strategi för elektrifierade transporter där stadsplanering och kollektivtrafik har huvudroller. En stadsutvecklingsstrategi som tonar ned fossilfria transporter till förmån för bilen står i strid med det. Planen slår också fast att alla politiska beslut ska ta hänsyn till klimatkrisen och att grönska och klimatmotståndskraft hör till samhällsbygget.
- planning without car dependencedecisive»Vi vill se en samhällsplanering som så långt som möjligt undviker« (party programme ↗)“We want to see societal planning that as far as possible avoids”
- coherent transport strategy»en sammanhållen strategi för elektrifiering av transporterna, där stadsplanering, kollektivtrafik och elfordon alla har viktiga roller att spela.« (party programme ↗)“a coherent strategy for electrification of transport, where urban planning, public transport and electric vehicles all have important roles to play.”
- expanded public transport»behöver även kollektivtrafiken byggas ut och göras billigare och mer tillgänglig i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“public transport must also be expanded and made cheaper and more accessible across the country”
- resilience against climate change»stärker motståndskraften mot klimatförändringarnas konsekvenser.« (party programme ↗)“strengthens resilience against climate change consequences.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto promises continued major investments so that municipalities can adapt to climate locally, with cloudbursts, droughts and fires as stated reasons – precisely the risks the counter-proposal wants to see managed early in planning.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises continued major investments so that municipalities can adapt to climate locally, with cloudbursts, droughts and fires as stated reasons – precisely the risks the counter-proposal wants to see managed early in planning. The party programme furthermore requires urban development that creates transport-efficient living environments and that transport systems are transformed towards walking, cycling and public transport, which argues against a strategy that prioritizes the car.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar fortsatta stora investeringar så att kommunerna kan klimatanpassa lokalt, med skyfall, torka och bränder som uttalade skäl – precis de risker motförslaget vill se hanterade tidigt i planeringen. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom ett stadsbyggande som skapar transportsnåla livsmiljöer och att transportsystemen läggs om mot gång-, cykel- och kollektivtrafik, vilket talar mot en strategi som prioriterar bilen.
- local climate adaptationdecisive»Vi vill fortsätta de stora investeringarna så att kommunerna kan klimatanpassa lokalt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to continue the major investments so that municipalities can adapt to climate locally.”
- transport-efficient urban development»framtidsinriktat stadsbyggande som skapar integrerade, variationsrika och transportsnåla« (party programme ↗)“forward-looking urban development that creates integrated, varied and transport-efficient”
- transformed transport systems»Transportsystemen ska läggas om för mer gång-, cykel- och kollektivtrafik och så att« (party programme ↗)“Transport systems shall be transformed for more walking, cycling and public transport and so that”
- investments in railway»Genom massiva investeringar i både ny och befintlig järnväg kommer fler att kunna resa klimatsmart med tåg.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Through massive investments in both new and existing railway, more will be able to travel climate-smartly by train.”
The plan requires investments in climate adaptation and that schools, preschools and care homes are adapted to handle cloudbursts and heat, and more nature and greenery in cities.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires investments in climate adaptation and that schools, preschools and care homes are adapted to handle cloudbursts and heat, and more nature and greenery in cities. The counter-proposal's requirement for an urban development strategy with a clear climate perspective—nature-based planning, cloudbursts, heat waves and drinking water supply—are the same commitments in strategy form. The plan also wants to strengthen protection of drinking water sources.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver investeringar i klimatanpassning och att skolor, förskolor och äldreboenden anpassas för att klara skyfall och hetta, samt mer natur och grönska i städerna. Motförslagets krav på en stadsutvecklingsstrategi med tydligt klimatperspektiv — naturbaserad planering, skyfall, värmeböljor och dricksvattenförsörjning — är samma åtaganden i strategiform. Planen vill dessutom stärka skyddet av dricksvattentäkterna.
- investments in climate adaptationdecisive»investera i klimatanpassning för att möta effekterna av klimatförändringarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest in climate adaptation to meet the effects of climate change.”
- adaptation to cloudbursts and heat»anpassa äldreboenden, skolor och förskolor för att klara skyfall och hetta.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“adapt care homes, schools and preschools to handle cloudbursts and heat.”
- greener cities»investera i mer natur och grönska i städer och tätorter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“invest in more nature and greenery in cities and towns.”
- protected drinking water supply»stärka skyddet av våra dricksvattentäkter och se till att det finns fungerande reservvattentäkter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen protection of our drinking water sources and ensure that there are functioning backup water sources.”
The plan explicitly commits to making Sweden's cities greener, with emission-free transport, more green spaces close to people, cleaner water and more biodiversity, and that it should be easy to choose not to use the car.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to making Sweden's cities greener, with emission-free transport, more green spaces close to people, cleaner water and more biodiversity, and that it should be easy to choose not to use the car. An urban development strategy that downplays climate goals in favour of the car goes against this, and the counter-proposal's demand for a strategy with clear climate perspective and nature-based planning aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att Sveriges städer ska bli grönare, med utsläppsfria transporter, fler grönområden nära människor, renare vatten och mer biologisk mångfald, och att det ska vara smidigt att välja bort bilen. En stadsutvecklingsstrategi som tonar ned klimatmål till förmån för bilen går emot detta, och motförslagets krav på en strategi med tydligt klimatperspektiv och naturbaserad planering ligger i linje med planen.
- greener citiesdecisive»Sveriges städer ska bli grönare. Utsläppsfria transporter, cyklar, elbilar och kollektivtrafik ska bli smidigare och attraktivare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's cities shall become greener. Emission-free transport, bicycles, electric cars and public transport shall become easier and more attractive.”
- greenery and clean water in cities»Vi vill se fler grönområden nära där människor bor, renare vatten och mer biologisk mångfald.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see more green areas close to where people live, cleaner water and more biodiversity.”
- alternatives to the car»Det ska dessutom vara smidigt att välja bort bilen till förmån för tåg, buss, båt och cykel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It should furthermore be easy to choose not to use the car in favour of train, bus, boat and bicycle.”
- climate-smart cities»Samtidigt krävs miljövänliga och klimatsmarta lösningar i städerna genom effektiva transporter och samutnyttjande av gemensamma ytor.« (party programme ↗)“At the same time, environmentally friendly and climate-smart solutions are required in cities through efficient transport and joint use of common spaces.”
The plan establishes that future societies must be built in an environmentally sustainable way and that physical planning is needed to manage the consequences of climate change, which is precisely the climate adaptation the counter-proposal calls for.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that future societies must be built in an environmentally sustainable way and that physical planning is needed to manage the consequences of climate change, which is precisely the climate adaptation the counter-proposal calls for. The plan also binds the party to all public transport on road and rail being fossil-free by 2030 and to green areas having a natural place in densification. The requirement that drinking water supply is weighed in has support in the plan's commitment that everyone has the right to clean water.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att framtidens samhällen måste byggas på ett miljömässigt hållbart sätt och att samhällsplanering behövs för att klara klimatförändringarnas följder, vilket är precis den klimatanpassning motförslaget efterlyser. Planen binder också partiet vid att all kollektivtrafik på väg och spår ska vara fossilfri senast 2030 och vid att grönområden ska ha en självklar plats vid förtätning. Kravet på att dricksvattenförsörjningen vägs in har stöd i planens åtagande att alla har rätt till rent vatten.
- sustainably built societiesdecisive»Framtidens samhällen måste byggas på ett miljömässigt hållbart sätt.« (party programme ↗)“Future societies must be built in an environmentally sustainable way.”
- fossil-free public transport 2030»all kollektivtrafik på väg och spår ska vara fossilfri senast 2030« (2022 manifesto ↗)“all public transport on road and rail shall be fossil-free by 2030”
- green areas in densification»Vid förtätning av städer måste grönområden få en självklar plats.« (party programme ↗)“In densification of cities, green areas must have a natural place.”
- secured drinking water supply»Alla har rätt till rent vatten.« (party programme ↗)“Everyone has the right to clean water.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The election manifesto explicitly stands behind those living outside the major cities and dependent on their car, and the party programme states that access to a car for many is a prerequisite for being able to live and work.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly stands behind those living outside the major cities and dependent on their car, and the party programme states that access to a car for many is a prerequisite for being able to live and work. A requirement for a new strategy that shifts the focus from the car to public transport and greener cities therefore goes against the plan's prioritization, which wants to see a climate transition that works and is efficient. The plan's requirement for sustainable urban planning, however, speaks partly to the opposite.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet ställer sig uttryckligen bakom den som bor utanför storstäderna och är beroende av sin bil, och partiprogrammet slår fast att tillgång till bil för många är en förutsättning för att kunna leva och verka. Ett krav på ny strategi som flyttar tyngdpunkten från bilen till kollektivtrafik och grönare städer går därför emot planens prioritering, som vill se en klimatomställning som fungerar och är effektiv. Planens krav på hållbar stadsplanering talar dock delvis åt motsatt håll.
- car dependence is respecteddecisive»Vi ser den som bor utanför storstäderna och är beroende av sin bil.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We see those who live outside the major cities and are dependent on their car.”
- the car as a prerequisite»Tillgång till bil är för många en förutsättning för att kunna leva och verka oavsett var i landet man bor.« (party programme ↗)“Access to a car is for many a prerequisite for being able to live and work regardless of where in the country one lives.”
- efficient climate transition»Sverige är världsledande i klimatomställningen och det ska vi fortsätta vara på ett sätt som både fungerar och är effektivt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden is a world leader in climate transition and we shall continue to be on a way that both works and is efficient.”
- sustainable urban planning»Därför är det av stor vikt med en arkitektur och stadsplanering som skapar bestående värden och är hållbar i begreppets fulla bemärkelse.« (party programme ↗)“Therefore it is of great importance with an architecture and urban planning that creates lasting values and is sustainable in the fullest sense.”
The plan's transport policy commitment is that people should be able to afford to drive regardless of fuel and that the transition happens through electrification and charging infrastructure, not by downplaying the car's role in favour of public transport.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's transport policy commitment is that people should be able to afford to drive regardless of fuel and that the transition happens through electrification and charging infrastructure, not by downplaying the car's role in favour of public transport. The counter-proposal wants a new strategy that precisely reverses that prioritisation. The plan therefore speaks against the demand, and also warns against climate policy becoming expensive symbolic politics.
Original (Swedish)
Planens transportpolitiska åtagande är att människor ska ha råd att ta bilen oavsett drivmedel och att omställningen sker genom elektrifiering och laddinfrastruktur, inte genom att tona ned bilens roll till förmån för kollektivtrafik. Motförslaget vill ha en ny strategi som just vänder tillbaka prioriteringen från bilen. Planen talar därför emot kravet, och den varnar dessutom för klimatpolitik som blir dyrbar symbolpolitik.
- car's role securedecisive»Där du som behöver åka en bit för att skjutsa dina barn till fotbollsträningen eller musikskolan har råd att ta bilen, oavsett om den går på bensin eller el.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Where you as someone needing to drive some distance to take your children to football practice or music lessons can afford to take the car, regardless of whether it runs on petrol or electricity.”
- transition through electrification»Vår politik syftar därför till att ställa om transportsektorn genom elektrifiering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our policy therefore aims to transition the transport sector through electrification.”
- cheaper fuel»Sänka priset på bensin och diesel så att du klarar din vardagsekonomi« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the price of petrol and diesel so you can manage your everyday economy”
- no symbolic politics»Klimatpolitiken får aldrig reduceras till dyrbar symbolpolitik« (party programme ↗)“Climate policy must never be reduced to expensive symbolic politics”
The plan states that all forms of transport, including cars, are important and that infrastructure policy should to a greater extent be based on ordinary people's needs and daily life, with improved conditions for car commuting.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that all forms of transport, including cars, are important and that infrastructure policy should to a greater extent be based on ordinary people's needs and daily life, with improved conditions for car commuting. The counter-proposal opposes an urban development strategy that gives cars more space and wants to steer towards public transport and greener cities. The plan's demands for crisis planning provide some support for the climate adaptation part, but the main demand is rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att samtliga transportslag inklusive bilen är viktiga och att infrastrukturpolitiken i högre grad bör utgå från vanliga människors behov och vardag, med förbättrade förutsättningar för bilpendling. Motförslaget vänder sig just mot att en stadsutvecklingsstrategi ger bilen större plats och vill styra om mot kollektivtrafik och grönare städer. Planens krav på krisplanering ger visst stöd för klimatanpassningsdelen, men huvudkravet avvisas.
- all transport modes neededdecisive»Sverigedemokraterna anser att samtliga transportslag, inklusive bil och flyg, är viktiga för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats believe that all forms of transport, including cars and aviation, are important for society to function.”
- infrastructure from everyday needs»Sverigedemokraterna är negativa till ett förbud mot försäljning av nya bensin- och dieselbilar och anser att infrastrukturpolitiken i högre grad bör utgå från vanliga människors behov och vardag« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats are negative about a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and believe that infrastructure policy should to a greater extent be based on ordinary people's needs and everyday life”
- better car commuting conditions»Förbättra förutsättningarna för bilpendling, framförallt på landsbygden« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Improve conditions for car commuting, especially in rural areas”
- plan for crises»Analysera och planera för olika typer av stora kriser« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Analyze and plan for different types of major crises”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2024/25:CU16)
- Committee report full text (HC01CU16)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2024/25:3342 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:96 Ny strategi för levande och trygga städer av Jennie Nilsson m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2024/25:3346 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:96 Ny strategi för levande och trygga städer av Märta Stenevi m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2024/25:3347 — med anledning av skr. 2024/25:96 Ny strategi för levande och trygga städer av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2024/25:96 — Ny strategi för levande och trygga städer
Source: The Swedish Parliament