2026-04-292025/26:MJU21 · p.2MJUEnvironment & agriculture
Policy instruments for agriculture's climate transition
More policy instruments for cost-effective climate action in agriculture
What's at stake: The choice of policy instruments determines how much it costs society and farmers to cut agriculture's emissions, and whether the sector gets the long-term rules of the game needed to invest confidently in things like carbon sequestration and fossil-free machinery.
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 review and develop further policy instruments for cost-effective climate action in agriculture, for example for carbon sequestration and biogas production, or whether the committee considers the measures already taken and inquiries under way to be sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee notes that the government has already taken several measures in line with the National Audit Office's recommendations, including increased funding for Klimatklivet and a new payment for rewetting measures, and that a policy-instrument inquiry is due to report later in the spring, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 2 (S, V, MP)
The reserving parties (S, V, MP) want the government to review and develop more cost-effective policy instruments for agriculture's climate transition, such as compensating landowners for carbon sequestration, promoting biogas and biofuel production, and supporting the shift to fossil-free machinery, arguing that the measures already announced are not enough.
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, V, 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: CCenterpartiet, LLiberalerna
Ja 167–124Nej 138–153
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 | No 0/13/0/8 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| S | No | No 0/92/0/14 | match | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 20/0/0/4 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 9/0/0/7 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 57/0/0/9 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 60/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:3914 by Åsa Westlund et al. (S) call 2, 2025/26:3915 by Kajsa Fredholm et al. (V) call 2 and 2025/26:3917 by Katarina Luhr et al. (MP) call 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:3914 av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S) yrkande 2, 2025/26:3915 av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V) yrkande 2 och 2025/26:3917 av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP) yrkande 2.
Riksdag decision: The Swedish National Audit Office has examined whether the state's efforts for agriculture's climate transition are effective. The Government has in a letter presented its assessment and its measures in light of the observations and recommendations that the Swedish National Audit Office provides in its report. The Swedish National Audit Office's overall conclusion is that existing policy instruments are largely effectively designed and implemented but only cover a small part of agriculture's total greenhouse gas emissions. The Swedish National Audit Office assesses at the same time that the Government's steering has not led to agriculture contributing to climate goals in an effective way. The Government agrees with some of the assessments and recommendations that the Swedish National Audit Office has made. The Riksdag placed the letter with the documents, that is closes the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to develop additional policy tools for cost-effective climate measures in agriculture. (S, V, 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 requires that drained wetlands are restored and highlights wetlands' particular role in reducing climate emissions, which supports the counter-proposal's demand for compensation for carbon storage.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that drained wetlands are restored and highlights wetlands' particular role in reducing climate emissions, which supports the counter-proposal's demand for compensation for carbon storage. The demand for support for transition to fossil-free working machinery follows from the plan's firm framework for taking Sweden out of fossil dependency. The plan's reminder that biomass is a limited resource qualifies the support for biofuels.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att torrlagda våtmarker återställs och lyfter våtmarkernas särskilda roll för att sänka klimatutsläppen, vilket bär motförslagets krav på ersättning för kolinlagring. Kravet på stöd för övergång till fossilfria arbetsmaskiner följer av planens fasta ramar för att ta Sverige ur fossilberoendet. Planens påminnelse om att biomassan är en begränsad resurs kvalificerar dock stödet till biodrivmedel.
- restore wetlandsdecisive»torrlagda våtmarker som läcker utsläpp ska återställas« (2022 manifesto ↗)“drained wetlands that leak emissions should be restored”
- carbon storage in wetlands»Våtmarker spelar en särskild roll för att sänka klimatutsläppen.« (party programme ↗)“Wetlands play a particular role in reducing climate emissions.”
- out of fossil dependency»Vi vill sätta fasta ramar för att ta Sverige ur fossilberoendet« (party programme ↗)“We want to set firm frameworks for taking Sweden out of fossil dependency”
- limited biomass»Biomassan är en begränsad resurs, särskilt i relation till världens klimatomställning.« (party programme ↗)“Biomass is a limited resource, particularly in relation to the world's climate transition.”
The plan wants to increase Swedish production of renewable fuels and expand green public investments to break fossil fuel dependence.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to increase Swedish production of renewable fuels and expand green public investments to break fossil fuel dependence. The counter-proposal's demand for more cost-effective policy instruments - carbon storage, biogas and biofuels as well as fossil-free working machinery - aligns with these commitments. That the plan does not single out agriculture makes the position derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill öka den svenska produktionen av förnybara drivmedel och utöka de gröna statliga investeringarna för att bryta fossilberoendet. Motförslagets krav på fler kostnadseffektiva styrmedel - kolinlagring, biogas och biodrivmedel samt fossilfria arbetsmaskiner - ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Att planen inte pekar ut jordbruket särskilt gör ställningstagandet härlett.
- increased production of biofuelsdecisive»Vi vill öka den svenska produktionen av förnybara drivmedel, så att det blir lättare att tanka fossilfritt i Sverige.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to increase Swedish production of renewable fuels, so that it becomes easier to refuel fossil-free in Sweden.”
- green public investments»Öka de gröna statliga investeringarna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase green public investments.”
- away from fossil fuel dependence»Stopp för svenskt beroende av fossila bränslen från andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“Stop Swedish dependence on fossil fuels from other countries.”
- climate perspective in all decisions»Klimatperspektiv på alla nivåer av beslut och beslutsfattande.« (party programme ↗)“Climate perspective at all levels of decision-making.”
The party programme wants landowners to be able to receive payment for the climate and environmental benefit they provide and highlights regenerative methods that increase carbon storage.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants landowners to be able to receive payment for the climate and environmental benefit they provide and highlights regenerative methods that increase carbon storage. The election manifesto wants to support the transition to fossil-free farm machinery, and the programme sees biofuels as an important part of emission reductions. The counter-proposal's demand for more policy instruments of precisely this type therefore follows directly from the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill att markägare ska kunna få ersättning för den klimat- och miljönytta de gör och lyfter regenerativa metoder som ökar kolinlagringen. Valmanifestet vill stödja övergången till fossiloberoende arbetsmaskiner, och programmet ser biodrivmedel som en viktig del av utsläppsminskningen. Motförslagets krav på fler styrmedel av exakt detta slag följer därmed direkt av planen.
- payment for climate benefitdecisive»ersättning för den klimat- och miljönytta markägare gör.« (party programme ↗)“compensation for the climate and environmental benefit landowners make.”
- fossil-free farm machinery»stödja övergången till ett ekologiskt och hållbart jordbruk med fossiloberoende arbetsmaskiner« (2022 manifesto ↗)“support the transition to ecological and sustainable agriculture with fossil-free farm machinery”
- increased carbon storage in soil»Där regenerativa metoder leder till ökad kolinlagring och förbättrad jordhälsa.« (party programme ↗)“Where regenerative methods lead to increased carbon storage and improved soil health.”
- biofuels reduce emissions»Samtidigt kommer biodrivmedel att spela en viktig roll för att minska utsläppen.« (party programme ↗)“At the same time biofuels will play an important role in reducing emissions.”
The plan explicitly requires a biofuel premium that makes sustainable farming more profitable and that the production of biofuels and biogas shall be many times increased, which is exactly the economic instruments the counter-proposal calls for.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly requires a biofuel premium that makes sustainable farming more profitable and that the production of biofuels and biogas shall be many times increased, which is exactly the economic instruments the counter-proposal calls for. The principle that whoever produces ecosystem services should be paid also carries the demand for compensation to landowners for carbon storage. The plan's line is cost-effective economic instruments rather than waiting.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver uttryckligen en biodrivmedelspremie som gör det hållbara lantbruket mer lönsamt och att produktionen av biobränslen och biogas mångdubblas, vilket är precis de styrmedel motförslaget efterfrågar. Principen att den som producerar ekosystemtjänster ska få betalt bär också kravet på ersättning till markägare för kolinlagring. Planens linje är kostnadseffektiva ekonomiska styrmedel framför avvaktan.
- biofuel premium for agriculturedecisive»En långsiktigt hållbar livsmedelsförsörjning med ökad försörjningstrygghet och ökad matproduktion kräver regelförenklingar och skattesänkningar, inklusive ett kraftfullt jordbruksavdrag och en biodrivmedelspremie som gör det hållbara lantbruket mer lönsamt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A long-term sustainable food supply with increased supply security and increased food production requires regulatory simplifications and tax cuts, including a strong agricultural deduction and a biofuel premium that makes sustainable farming more profitable.”
- many times increased biogas production»Sveriges energioberoende måste stärkas, bland annat genom att mångdubbla produktionen av biobränslen och biogas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's energy independence must be strengthened, among other things by many times increasing the production of biofuels and biogas.”
- paid for ecosystem services»Lika viktigt som skyldigheten att betala när man belastar miljön, är rättigheten att få betalt när man producerar ekosystemtjänster.« (party programme ↗)“Equally important as the obligation to pay when one burdens the environment, is the right to be paid when one produces ecosystem services.”
- tax relief for biofuels»Sänk skatten maximalt på biodrivmedel som blandas in i bensin och diesel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the tax as much as possible on biofuels mixed into petrol and diesel.”
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 establishes that whoever reduces the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere shall be paid and that natural carbon storage shall be strengthened, which is precisely what the counter-proposal's demand for compensation for carbon sequestration means.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that whoever reduces the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere shall be paid and that natural carbon storage shall be strengthened, which is precisely what the counter-proposal's demand for compensation for carbon sequestration means. The plan moreover seeks more effective policy instruments and accelerated electrification, which covers the demands for fossil-free work equipment and biofuels. The counter-proposal's content thereby aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att den som minskar mängden växthusgaser i atmosfären ska få betalt och att den naturliga koldioxidinlagringen ska stärkas, vilket är just vad motförslagets krav på ersättning för kolinlagring innebär. Planen efterlyser dessutom fler effektiva styrmedel och en påskyndad elektrifiering, vilket täcker kraven på fossilfria arbetsmaskiner och biodrivmedel. Motförslagets sakinnehåll ligger därmed i linje med planen.
- paid for reduced emissionsdecisive»De tekniska lösningarna finns – nu måste staten se till att den som minskar mängden växthusgaser i atmosfären också får betalt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The technical solutions exist – now the state must ensure that whoever reduces the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere also gets paid.”
- strengthened carbon storage in soil»Den naturliga koldioxidinlagringen ska stärkas genom att fler tidigare våtmarker återställs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Natural carbon storage shall be strengthened by restoring more previously existing wetlands.”
- more effective policy instruments»mer ny teknik, mer internationellt samarbete och fler effektiva styrmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“more new technology, more international cooperation and more effective policy instruments”
- accelerated electrification»Elektrifieringen av transportsektorn ska påskyndas.« (party programme ↗)“Electrification of the transport sector shall be accelerated.”
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 party programme establishes that economic instruments and support should be used to create motives to act in an environmentally friendly way, and that renewable fuels should be favoured tax-wise with stimulated domestic production.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme establishes that economic instruments and support should be used to create motives to act in an environmentally friendly way, and that renewable fuels should be favoured tax-wise with stimulated domestic production. The counter-proposal's demand for cost-effective instruments such as carbon storage, biogas and fossil-free work machinery is in line with this. Landowners are also pointed out as a resource in nature conservation work.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet slår fast att ekonomiska styrmedel och stöd ska användas för att skapa motiv att agera miljövänligt, och att förnybara bränslen ska gynnas skattemässigt med stimulerad inhemsk produktion. Motförslagets krav på kostnadseffektiva styrmedel som kolinlagring, biogas och fossilfria arbetsmaskiner ligger i linje med detta. Markägarna pekas dessutom ut som en resurs i naturvårdsarbetet.
- economic instruments for the environmentdecisive»Ekonomiska styrmedel och stöd ska användas för att skapa ekonomiska motiv att agera miljövänligt för så väl konsumenter som producenter.« (party programme ↗)“Economic instruments and support should be used to create economic motives to act in an environmentally friendly way for both consumers and producers.”
- favour renewable fuels»Förnyelsebara bränslen måste skattemässigt gynnas. Inhemsk produktion ska stimuleras.« (party programme ↗)“Renewable fuels must be tax-favoured. Domestic production should be stimulated.”
- landowners as a resource»Markägarna är här en stor resurs, inte minst då det gäller att bevara kulturlandskapet.« (party programme ↗)“Landowners are a great resource here, not least when it comes to preserving the cultural landscape.”
- cost relief for agriculture»Regeländringar och kostnadslättnader för svenskt lantbruk för att öka Sveriges självförsörjning och stärka lantbrukets konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Regulatory changes and cost relief for Swedish agriculture to increase Sweden's self-sufficiency and strengthen agriculture's competitiveness.”
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 bases climate policy on policy instruments in combination with technical development, and specifically identifies biofuel production, carbon dioxide capture and support for technical development that reduces agriculture's environmental impact.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan bases climate policy on policy instruments in combination with technical development, and specifically identifies biofuel production, carbon dioxide capture and support for technical development that reduces agriculture's environmental impact. The counter-proposal's demand for cost-effective policy instruments such as carbon storage, biogas and fossil-free work machines is in line with these commitments. It is about support and compensation, not new burdens on agriculture, which means the plan speaks for the demand.
Original (Swedish)
Planen bygger klimatpolitiken på styrmedel i kombination med teknisk utveckling, och pekar konkret ut biodrivmedelstillverkning, koldioxidinfångning och stöd till teknikutveckling som minskar jordbrukets miljöpåverkan. Motförslagets krav på kostnadseffektiva styrmedel som kolinlagring, biogas och fossilfria arbetsmaskiner ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden. Det handlar om stöd och ersättning, inte om nya pålagor på lantbruket, vilket gör att planen talar för kravet.
- policy instruments plus technical developmentdecisive(2022 manifesto)
- investment in biofuels»Satsa på tillverkning av biodrivmedel« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Invest in biofuel production”
- support for green technology in agriculture»Minska jordbrukets miljöpåverkan genom stöd till teknikutveckling och innovationer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce agriculture's environmental impact through support for technical development and innovations”
- carbon dioxide capture»Få på plats storskalig infångning av koldioxid« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Get large-scale carbon dioxide capture in place”
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 wants to increase national funding in agriculture for environmental benefit and productivity, provide compensation for adapted care instead of reserves and promote Swedish biofuel production.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to increase national funding in agriculture for environmental benefit and productivity, provide compensation for adapted care instead of reserves and promote Swedish biofuel production. The counter-proposal's policy instruments—compensation for carbon storage, biogas and biofuels and support for fossil-free work machinery—align with this and with the requirement to choose measures delivering the most environment per crown. The plan does not mention the instruments individually, which is why the position is inferred.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill öka den nationella finansieringen i jordbruket för miljönytta och produktivitet, ge ersättning för anpassad skötsel i stället för reservat och främja svensk biobränsleproduktion. Motförslagets styrmedel - ersättning för kolinlagring, biogas och biodrivmedel samt stöd till fossilfria arbetsmaskiner - ligger i linje med detta och med kravet att välja de åtgärder som ger mest miljö per krona. Planen nämner inte styrmedlen var för sig, varför ställningstagandet härleds.
- national funding for environmental benefitdecisive»Öka den nationella finansieringen i jordbruket, för miljönytta och produktivitetsökning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Increase national funding in agriculture, for environmental benefit and productivity increase”
- most environment per crown»Sträva efter miljöeffektivitet och hitta de åtgärder som ger mest miljö per krona« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strive for environmental efficiency and find measures delivering the most environment per crown”
- Swedish biofuel production»Främja svensk biobränsleproduktion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Promote Swedish biofuel production”
- compensation to landowners»ge ersättning för anpassad skötsel av känslig natur snarare än för reservatsbildning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“provide compensation for adapted care of sensitive nature rather than for reserve creation”
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 (2025/26:MJU21)
- Committee report full text (HD01MJU21)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:3914 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:113 Riksrevisionens rapport om statens insatser för jordbrukets klimatomställning av Åsa Westlund m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:3915 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:113 Riksrevisionens rapport om statens insatser för jordbrukets klimatomställning av Kajsa Fredholm m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2025/26:3916 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:113 Riksrevisionens rapport om statens insatser för jordbrukets klimatomställning av Helena Lindahl m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:3917 — med anledning av skr. 2025/26:113 Riksrevisionens rapport om statens insatser för jordbrukets klimatomställning av Katarina Luhr m.fl. (MP)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2025/26:113 — Riksrevisionens rapport om statens insatser för jordbrukets klimatomställning
Source: The Swedish Parliament