2023-03-092022/23:MJU7 · p.9MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Emissions trading system in the Baltic Sea
Emissions trading for eutrophying substances in the Baltic Sea
What's at stake: The outcome affects how the Baltic Sea's eutrophication problem, caused by nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from several countries, is addressed internationally, and could determine whether Sweden takes the initiative on a new economic policy instrument together with neighbouring countries.
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 should work to introduce a trading system for emission rights covering eutrophying substances among the Baltic Sea countries, or whether the committee considers other ongoing measures against eutrophication sufficient for now.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee rejects the motion for a Baltic Sea emissions-trading system. This forms part of the committee's overall assessment of motions on eutrophication, in which it points to ongoing work such as local coordination of measures and state support, and concludes that this work should continue before new, more far-reaching policy instruments such as emissions trading are introduced.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 13 (C)
The Centre Party wants the government to start a dialogue with the Baltic Sea's neighbouring countries and regional cooperation bodies to introduce a trading system for emission rights covering eutrophying substances, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, citing an agency inquiry showing that such a system has several advantages and can be created even without Russian participation.
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 13 by C.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 280–22Ja 264–38
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 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 93/0/0/14 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 14/1/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | derived |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 64/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
Broke with the party line
| MPAnnika Hirvonen (MP, Stockholms län) | No — party line: Yes |
MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2022/23:906 by Stina Larsson et al. (C) paragraph 35.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2022/23:906 av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C) yrkande 35.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag made a formal parliamentary urging (tillkännagivande) to the Government regarding increased investment in wetlands. This urging is based on proposals in motion items from the general motion period 2022 on water care. The motion items address increased efforts to protect and restore existing wetlands and to establish new wetlands. According to the Riksdag, this work needs to continue and be strengthened as wetlands play a major role in climate efforts and help, among other things, strengthen biological diversity and counteract eutrophication in seas and lakes. The Riksdag rejected the remaining approximately 50 motions from the general motion period 2022 that address, among other things, eutrophication, cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, treatment plants, and a marine environment law. The Riksdag considers, among other things, that work is already underway in the areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants to carry out targeted remediation projects for contaminated coastal areas with clarified legal responsibility and central prioritization. (C) — Reservation 13
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 establishes that cross-border environmental problems cannot be solved without international cooperation and agreements between states, and that economic tools are needed to master environmental threats.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that cross-border environmental problems cannot be solved without international cooperation and agreements between states, and that economic tools are needed to master environmental threats. To begin a dialogue with Baltic Sea countries about a system for emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus lies in line with that. At the same time, the plan is skeptical of market solutions, which makes support uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att gränsöverskridande miljöproblem inte kan lösas utan internationellt samarbete och överenskommelser mellan stater, och att ekonomiska styrmedel behövs för att bemästra miljöhoten. Att inleda en dialog med Östersjöländerna om ett system för utsläpp av kväve och fosfor ligger i linje med det. Samtidigt är planen kritisk mot marknadslösningar, vilket gör stödet osäkert.
- cross-border environmental problemsdecisive»Många av världens problem är gränsöverskridande: miljöförstöring, vapenhandel, växande sociala klyftor« (party programme ↗)“Many of the world's problems are cross-border: environmental destruction, arms trade, growing social divides”
- international cooperation necessary»De kan inte lösas utan internationellt samarbete« (party programme ↗)“They cannot be solved without international cooperation”
- economic tools in environmental policy»Därför behövs en kraftfull lagstiftning, ekonomiska styrmedel, långsiktig samhällsplanering, klimatinvesteringar« (party programme ↗)“Therefore forceful legislation, economic tools, long-term societal planning, climate investments”
- skepticism toward market solutions»Det går inte att överlåta framtiden till marknadskrafternas godtycke, framtiden tillhör oss alla« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is not possible to leave the future to the arbitrary actions of market forces, the future belongs to us all”
flags: svagt planstöd
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wants to work for a global carbon dioxide price to be introduced with the principle that the polluter pays and for a cap on emissions, precisely the type of market-based policy instrument that the counter-proposal wants to discuss for nitrogen and phosphorus.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to work for a global carbon dioxide price to be introduced with the principle that the polluter pays and for a cap on emissions, precisely the type of market-based policy instrument that the counter-proposal wants to discuss for nitrogen and phosphorus. It also highlights cooperation with the Nordic and Baltic countries as central. The plan does not specifically mention eutrophication, which is why the conclusion is derived from the policy instrument principle.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill verka för att ett globalt koldioxidpris införs med principen att förorenaren betalar och för ett tak för utsläppen, alltså just den typ av marknadsbaserat styrmedel som motförslaget vill diskutera för kväve och fosfor. Den lyfter också fram samarbetet med de nordiska och baltiska länderna som centralt. Planen nämner inte övergödning särskilt, varför slutsatsen härleds ur styrmedelsprincipen.
- the polluter paysdecisive»Vi ska verka för att ett globalt koldioxidpris införs med principen att förorenaren betalar.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall work for a global carbon dioxide price to be introduced with the principle that the polluter pays.”
- cap on emissions»Det behövs också ett tak för hur mycket mer koldioxid som kan släppas ut i atmosfären.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“There also needs to be a cap on how much more carbon dioxide can be released into the atmosphere.”
- regional Baltic cooperation»Också det nordiska samarbetet är centralt, liksom samarbetet med de baltiska staterna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Nordic cooperation is also central, as is cooperation with the Baltic states.”
- economic instruments in environmental policy»Detta kräver en strategisk miljöpolitik, där« (party programme ↗)“This requires a strategic environmental policy, where”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that powerful economic instruments are necessary and that costs that affect the environment shall be included in the price through taxes, fees or other appropriate instruments.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that powerful economic instruments are necessary and that costs that affect the environment shall be included in the price through taxes, fees or other appropriate instruments. It also demands that Sweden works internationally for all countries around shared waters to introduce measures against emissions. A dialogue on trading emission allowances for nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea therefore aligns with the plan's direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att kraftfulla ekonomiska styrmedel är nödvändiga och att kostnader som drabbar miljön ska inkluderas i priset genom skatter, avgifter eller andra lämpliga instrument. Den kräver också att Sverige verkar internationellt för att alla länder runt gemensamma vatten inför åtgärder mot utsläpp. En dialog om handel med utsläppsrätter för kväve och fosfor i Östersjön ligger därför i planens riktning.
- powerful economic instrumentsdecisive»Kraftfulla ekonomiska styrmedel är nödvändiga« (party programme ↗)“Powerful economic instruments are necessary”
- the polluter pays»annan part ska inkluderas i priset genom skatter,« (party programme ↗)“another party shall be included in the price through taxes,”
- cooperation on shared waters»internationella organisationer, i synnerhet EU, för« (party programme ↗)“international organizations, in particular the EU, for”
- more expensive emission allowances»höja priset på utsläppsrätter i EU« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise the price of emission allowances in the EU”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's crucial commitment is that trading in emissions allowances is among the most effective tools we have and that the system should become more ambitious and be opened to more countries — precisely the logic the counter-proposal wants to apply to nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's crucial commitment is that trading in emissions allowances is among the most effective tools we have and that the system should become more ambitious and be opened to more countries — precisely the logic the counter-proposal wants to apply to nitrogen and phosphorus in the Baltic Sea. The party programme states that it should be unprofitable to act in an environmentally destructive way and that pricing mobilizes the market's transformative power. The plan moreover wants to stop algal blooms in Swedish waters.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att handel med utsläppsrätter är bland de mest effektiva verktyg vi har och att systemet bör bli mer ambitiöst och öppnas för fler länder — precis den logik motförslaget vill tillämpa på kväve och fosfor i Östersjön. Partiprogrammet slår fast att det ska vara olönsamt att agera miljöförstörande och att prissättning mobiliserar marknadens omvandlingskraft. Planen vill dessutom stoppa algblomningen i svenska vatten.
- emissions trading as a tooldecisive»EU:s system för handel med utsläppsrätter är bland de mest effektiva verktyg vi har, och vi vill göra det ännu mer ambitiöst och öppna upp det för fler länder som vill ansluta sig.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The EU's system for trading in emissions allowances is among the most effective tools we have, and we want to make it even more ambitious and open it up to more countries that want to join.”
- the polluter pays»Det ska alltid vara lönsamt att vara miljövårdande och olönsamt att agera miljöförstörande.« (party programme ↗)“It shall always be profitable to conserve the environment and unprofitable to act in an environmentally destructive way.”
- pricing mobilizes the market»Pris på utsläpp kan samla kraften från miljontals entreprenörer« (party programme ↗)“Price on emissions can gather the power of millions of entrepreneurs”
- against eutrophication and algal blooms»Rädda Sveriges sjöar, vattendrag och hav. Våra barn ska kunna bada utan att utsättas för gifter, nedskräpning eller algblomning.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Save Sweden's lakes, watercourses and seas. Our children should be able to swim without being exposed to toxins, litter or algal blooms.”
The plan establishes that general and technology-neutral economic instruments, such as emissions trading, are the most effective tool, and that the seas need to be protected through agreements between all coastal states.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that general and technology-neutral economic instruments, such as emissions trading, are the most effective tool, and that the seas need to be protected through agreements between all coastal states. The fight against eutrophication shall continue and the polluter shall pay. To initiate dialogue with the Baltic states on a trading system for nitrogen and phosphorus thus follows from the plan's own instrument principles.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att generella och teknikneutrala ekonomiska styrmedel, som handel med utsläppsrätter, är det mest effektiva redskapet, och att haven behöver skyddas genom avtal mellan alla kuststater. Kampen mot övergödningen ska fortsätta och den som förorenar ska betala. Att inleda dialog med Östersjöländerna om ett handelssystem för kväve och fosfor följer därför av planens egna styrmedelsprinciper.
- emissions trading most effectivedecisive»Generella och teknikneutrala ekonomiska styrmedel, såsom koldioxidskatt och« (party programme ↗)“General and technology-neutral economic instruments, such as carbon tax and”
- agreements between coastal states»Sverige omges av hav som behöver skyddas genom avtal mellan alla kuststater.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden is surrounded by seas that need to be protected through agreements between all coastal states.”
- the polluter pays»Det är den som förorenar – ingen annan – som ska betala.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is the polluter – no one else – who shall pay.”
- fight against eutrophication»Kampen mot övergödningen ska fortsätta, industrifisket ska begränsas och de mest värdefulla havsområdena skyddas som marina reservat.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The fight against eutrophication shall continue, industrial fishing shall be restricted and the most valuable marine areas protected as marine reserves.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme establishes that a system where emissions entail costs should exist and that international agreements are needed to limit emissions that lead to eutrophication.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that a system where emissions entail costs should exist and that international agreements are needed to limit emissions that lead to eutrophication. Economic instruments shall be used and the polluter shall pay. A dialogue with the Baltic countries on a trading system for nitrogen and phosphorus emission rights follows directly from these commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att ett system där utsläpp medför kostnader bör finnas och att internationella överenskommelser behövs för att begränsa utsläpp som leder till övergödning. Ekonomiska styrmedel ska användas och förorenaren ska betala. En dialog med Östersjöländerna om ett handelssystem med utsläppsrätter för kväve och fosfor följer direkt av dessa åtaganden.
- emissions shall entail costsdecisive»Ett system som innebär att utsläpp medför kostnader bör finnas inom EU.« (party programme ↗)“A system where emissions entail costs should exist within the EU.”
- agreements against eutrophication»Internationella överenskommelser behövs för att begränsa utsläpp som leder till försurning och övergödning.« (party programme ↗)“International agreements are needed to limit emissions that lead to acidification and eutrophication.”
- economic instruments»Ekonomiska styrmedel och stöd ska användas för att skapa ekonomiska motiv att agera miljövänligt för såväl konsumenter som producenter.« (party programme ↗)“Economic instruments and support shall be used to create economic incentives to act environmentally responsibly for both consumers and producers.”
- the polluter pays»Miljöpolitiken ska bygga på principen att förorenaren ska betala för de miljökostnader som uppstår.« (party programme ↗)“Environmental policy shall be based on the principle that the polluter shall pay for the environmental costs that arise.”
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 plan points to the Baltic Sea's dead bottoms as a main problem and commits itself to strengthening the common Baltic Sea work against eutrophication.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan points to the Baltic Sea's dead bottoms as a main problem and commits itself to strengthening the common Baltic Sea work against eutrophication. It is also based on political instruments in combination with technical development and growth making the living environment cleaner, and Sweden should be leading for international solutions. A dialogue with Baltic Sea countries about a trade system for nitrogen and phosphorus is therefore in line with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen pekar ut Östersjöns döda bottnar som ett huvudproblem och åtar sig att förstärka det gemensamma Östersjöarbetet mot övergödning. Den bygger dessutom på att politiska styrmedel i kombination med teknisk utveckling och tillväxt gör livsmiljön renare, och att Sverige ska vara drivande för internationella lösningar. En dialog med Östersjöländerna om ett handelssystem för kväve och fosfor ligger därför i planens linje.
- common Baltic Sea workdecisive»Förstärka det gemensamma Östersjöarbetet för åtgärder mot övergödning och nedskräpning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the common Baltic Sea work for measures against eutrophication and pollution”
- eutrophication is acute»Mer än hälften av världens största områden med döda bottnar finns i Östersjön.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More than half the world's largest areas with dead bottoms are in the Baltic Sea.”
- market-oriented instruments(2022 manifesto)
- international solutions»Klimatet känner inga nationsgränser och Sverige ska vara« (party programme ↗)“Climate knows no national borders and Sweden should be”
flags: citat_ej_verifierat
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan emphasises that eutrophication in the Baltic Sea is serious, that the pace of marine environment work should increase and that Sweden cannot solve the problem alone but needs international cooperation between Baltic countries.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan emphasises that eutrophication in the Baltic Sea is serious, that the pace of marine environment work should increase and that Sweden cannot solve the problem alone but needs international cooperation between Baltic countries. A dialogue on a trading system for nitrogen and phosphorus emissions is such a cross-border measure, in line with the plan's preference for measures that give the most effect per invested sum. The plan touches the committee's grounds through its view on choice of policy instruments and cooperation.
Original (Swedish)
Planen betonar att övergödningen i Östersjön är allvarlig, att takten i havsmiljöarbetet ska öka och att Sverige inte kan lösa problemet ensamt utan behöver internationell samverkan mellan östersjöländerna. En dialog om ett handelssystem för kväve- och fosforutsläpp är en sådan gränsöverskridande åtgärd, i linje med planens preferens för åtgärder som ger mest effekt per satsad krona. Planen berör utskottets skäl genom sin syn på val av styrmedel och samverkan.
- international cooperation in the Balticdecisive»Mer fokus måste i detta sammanhang satsas på internationell samverkan mellan östersjöländerna då Sverige inte ensamt kan bidra till att lösa situationen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More focus must in this context be put on international cooperation between Baltic countries as Sweden alone cannot contribute to solving the situation.”
- increase pace for marine environment»Öka takten i arbetet med att återställa havsmiljön i Östersjön« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase the pace of work to restore the marine environment in the Baltic Sea”
- cost-effective international policy instruments»Satsa på åtgärder som minskar utsläppen mest per satsad krona som t ex internationella klimatinvesteringar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in measures that reduce emissions most per invested sum such as international climate investments”
- serious eutrophication»Situationen vad gäller övergödning och gifter i Östersjön är allvarligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The situation regarding eutrophication and toxins in the Baltic Sea is serious.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:MJU7)
- Committee report full text (HA01MJU7)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:1247 — Minskad övergödning av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:1268 — En levande och välmående skärgård av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2022/23:1826 — Den småskaliga vattenkraften i Sverige av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:1897 — Utvidgat rotavdrag till att omfatta enskilda avloppsanläggningar av Helena Lindahl och Catarina Deremar (båda C)
- Motion 2022/23:1949 — Byggnation på landsbygden av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2022/23:2073 — Utgiftsområde 20 Allmän miljö- och naturvård av Anna-Caren Sätherberg m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2022/23:2110 — En kraftfull naturpolitik för starka ekosystem, biologisk mångfald och ökad klimatnytta av Per Bolund m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2022/23:2273 — Enskilda avlopp av Alexander Christiansson (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:309 — Gifttunnorna i Bottenhavet av Jörgen Berglund (M)
- Motion 2022/23:371 — Sanering av Östersjön av Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2022/23:843 — Hållbara gröna och blå näringar av Daniel Bäckström m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:906 — Va och vatten av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:908 — Biologisk mångfald av Stina Larsson m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:909 — Bostäder och grönt samhällsbyggande av Alireza Akhondi m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2022/23:967 — Ändamålsenlig kemikaliepolitik av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:981 — Marin miljö och vattenvård av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:985 — Låt det svenska jordbruket prestera av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2022/23:990 — Kulturarv och miljöer i fädernas bygder av Martin Kinnunen m.fl. (SD)
Source: The Swedish Parliament