Climate goals of the transport sector

The plan requires that the government work with an emission budget that ties together climate goals with concrete, quantified proposals, and fixed frameworks to take Sweden out of fossil fuel dependency. The election manifesto requires that all political decisions take account of the acute climate crisis. The counter-proposal's requirement for clearer climate direction for how the transport sector's climate goals shall be achieved is exactly the steering the plan is seeking.

• emission budget with quantified goalsdecisive»Vi vill att regeringen arbetar med en utsläppsbudget som knyter ihop« (party programme ↗)“We want the government to work with an emission budget that ties together”
• out of fossil fuel dependency»Vi vill sätta fasta ramar för att ta Sverige ur fossilberoendet« (party programme ↗)“We want to set fixed frameworks to take Sweden out of fossil fuel dependency”
• climate consideration in all decisions»Omställningen behöver ske omgående och alla politiska beslut behöver ta hänsyn till den akuta kris som vi befinner oss i.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The transition needs to happen immediately and all political decisions need to take account of the acute crisis we are in.”
• strategy for transport transition»en sammanhållen strategi för elektrifiering av transporterna« (party programme ↗)“a coherent strategy for electrification of transport”

The election manifesto establishes that the climate policy framework is firm and the party programme demands climate perspective at all levels of decision-making. Making a clearer climate direction clear for how the climate target for domestic transport is to be achieved is a direct application of that commitment. The plan also wants to break dependence on fossil fuels and make Sweden the world's first fossil-free welfare nation.

• the climate framework is firmdecisive»Det klimatpolitiska ramverket ska ligga fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate policy framework shall be firm.”
• climate perspective in all decisions»Klimatperspektiv på alla nivåer av beslut och beslutsfattande.« (party programme ↗)“Climate perspective at all levels of decision-making.”
• break oil dependence»Stopp för svenskt beroende av fossila bränslen från andra länder.« (party programme ↗)“Stop Swedish dependence on fossil fuels from other countries.”
• fossil-free welfare nation»Sverige ska bli världens första fossilfria välfärdsnation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall become the world's first fossil-free welfare nation.”

The election manifesto requires a Swedish emissions budget that ensures that climate goals are reached and states that transport emissions must decrease if the goals are to be achieved. The party programme wants to see legally binding climate targets in line with research and for transport to become free from fossil fuels. A clearer climate direction for how the climate target for domestic transport is to be achieved is therefore precisely what the plan requires. The counter-proposal's requirement is supported.

• emissions budget for climate goalsdecisive»ta fram en svensk utsläppsbudget som gör att vi når klimatmålen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“draw up a Swedish emissions budget that ensures that we reach the climate goals.”
• reduced transport emissions»Trafikens utsläpp måste minska om vi ska ha en chans att klara klimatmålen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Transport emissions must decrease if we are to have a chance of achieving the climate goals.”
• binding climate targets»juridiskt bindande klimatmål som ligger i linje med forskningen.« (party programme ↗)“legally binding climate targets that are in line with research.”
• fossil-free vehicles»att den som behöver bil ska ha råd med ett klimatsmart alternativ, och att bara fossilfria bilar ska säljas från 2025.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that those who need a car can afford a climate-smart alternative, and that only fossil-free cars shall be sold from 2025.”

The plan establishes that transport emissions shall disappear and that new emission-free infrastructure shall be put in place, and demands a climate leadership that chooses effective measures over passivity. A clearer climate direction for how the climate target for domestic transport shall be reached is exactly such steering. The plan moreover explicitly wishes to reduce Sweden's oil dependence. Therefore the counter-proposal's demand is supported.

• zero emissions in the transport sectordecisive»Transporternas utsläpp ska bort och ny utsläppsfri infrastruktur ska komma på plats.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Transport emissions shall disappear and new emission-free infrastructure shall be put in place.”
• climate leadership over passivity»Allt detta kräver ett nytt ledarskap i miljö- och klimatfrågor. Ett ledarskap som tar klimatfrågan på allvar och som är fast beslutet att Sverige ska gå före och visa vägen. Ett ledarskap som prioriterar effektiva åtgärder framför symbolpolitik eller passivitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“All this requires new leadership in environmental and climate issues. A leadership that takes the climate issue seriously and is determined that Sweden shall lead the way and show the path. A leadership that prioritizes effective measures over symbolism or passivity.”
• the climate first»Centerpartiet sätter klimatet först, för att framtiden måste vara grön.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Centre Party puts the climate first, because the future must be green.”
• break oil dependence»Sänk skatten maximalt på biodrivmedel som blandas in i bensin och diesel. Det skulle sänka bilisternas kostnader, gynna klimatet, skapa jobb och minska Sveriges oljeberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce tax maximally on biofuels blended into petrol and diesel. This would lower drivers' costs, benefit the climate, create jobs and reduce Sweden's oil dependence.”

The election manifesto establishes that fossil emissions from the transport sector must be eliminated and climate goals must be reached, and the party programme wants to accelerate the electrification of the transport sector. A clearer climate direction for how the transport sector's climate goals should be reached follows from these commitments. Breaking oil dependence is moreover described as a security policy matter, which strengthens the conclusion.

• fossil-free transport sectordecisive»Fossilutsläppen från transportsektorn ska bort.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Fossil emissions from the transport sector must be eliminated.”
• net zero emissions by 2045»Vi ska nå klimatmålen – inga nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser senast 2045 och därefter negativa utsläpp – inom ramen för en växande ekonomi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall reach the climate goals – no net greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 at the latest and thereafter negative emissions – within the framework of a growing economy.”
• accelerated electrification»Elektrifieringen av transportsektorn ska påskyndas.« (party programme ↗)“The electrification of the transport sector shall be accelerated.”
• oil dependence as a security issue»Att bryta behovet av olja och gas är inte endast en miljöfråga utan i högsta grad en säkerhetspolitisk fråga.« (party programme ↗)“Breaking the dependence on oil and gas is not only an environmental matter but in the highest degree a security policy matter.”

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 election manifesto explicitly chooses to lower fuel prices through reduced blending of biofuel and states that the climate transition shall happen in a way that both works and is effective. The counter-proposal's demand for clearer climate steering of infrastructure planning to quickly break oil dependence goes further than that commitment. The party programme's goal of phasing out fossil fuels in the transport sector pulls the other way, but the election manifesto carries the most weight.

• lowered fuel pricesdecisive»Sänk bensin- och dieselpriserna rejält för alla, främst genom minskad inblandningen av dyrt biobränsle.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower petrol and diesel prices significantly for all, primarily through reduced blending of expensive biofuel.”
• effective 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 so in a way that both works and is effective.”
• phased-out fossil fuels»För att motverka klimatförändring krävs krafttag för att hejda utsläpp av koldioxid och andra växthusgaser. Fossilbränslena måste fasas ut från såväl energi- som transportsektorn.« (party programme ↗)“To counteract climate change requires forceful action to stop emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Fossil fuels must be phased out from both the energy and transport sectors.”
• transport sector's fossil fuel dependence»Transportsektorns stora beroende av fossila bränslen utgör en stor utmaning för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser.« (party programme ↗)“The transport sector's great dependence on fossil fuels is a major challenge in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

The plan establishes that emission reductions shall be made where they are most cost-effective and therefore redirects aid to climate measures abroad, while climate policy must never become expensive symbolic politics or narrow climate nationalism. The counter-proposal's demand for a clearer climate direction that guides infrastructure planning towards the domestic transport target goes against that prioritization. The plan embraces the transition, but through electrification and lower fuel prices rather than stricter target control.

• emission reduction where it is cheapestdecisive»Samtidigt är kostnaden för att minska utsläppen genom internationella klimatinsatser ofta mycket lägre än för att minska utsläppen i Sverige – därför kommer Moderaterna också att rikta om biståndet för att minska utsläppen i andra länder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time, the cost of reducing emissions through international climate measures is often much lower than reducing emissions in Sweden – therefore the Moderates will also redirect aid to reduce emissions in other countries.”
• against climate nationalism»Klimatpolitiken får aldrig reduceras till dyrbar symbolpolitik eller snäv klimatnationalism.« (party programme ↗)“Climate policy must never be reduced to expensive symbolic politics or narrow climate nationalism.”
• reduced fuel prices»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”
• electrification of transport»Vår politik syftar därför till att ställa om transportsektorn genom elektrifiering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our policy therefore aims to transform the transport sector through electrification.”

The election manifesto states that Swedish climate targets should be adapted to EU level and not pursued further at the expense of living standards and competitiveness, and that Sweden does not reduce emissions by making fuel more expensive. A clearer climate direction that should guide infrastructure planning towards a rapid break with fossil fuels goes against that line. The plan also believes that all transport modes, including cars and aviation, are needed.

• climate targets adapted to EUdecisive»De svenska klimatmålen bör anpassas till den klimatlagstiftning som finns på EU-nivå för att inte kraven på andra länder ska bli lägre som en konsekvens av att vi gör mer än nödvändigt på bekostnad av vår levnadsstandard och konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish climate targets should be adapted to the climate legislation that exists at EU level so that demands on other countries do not become lower as a consequence of us doing more than necessary at the expense of our living standards and competitiveness.”
• global perspective on emissions»Sverige bidrar exempelvis inte till minskade utsläpp genom att höja drivmedelspriserna, höja elpriserna och göra det mer kostsamt för företag att verka i Sverige om Kina samtidigt kan öka sina utsläpp varje år med mer än vad hela Sverige släpper ut.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden does not contribute to reduced emissions, for example, by raising fuel prices, raising electricity prices and making it more costly for companies to operate in Sweden if China at the same time can increase its emissions every year by more than what all of Sweden emits.”
• effective climate policy»Bedriva en effektiv klimatpolitik med ett tydligt globalt perspektiv« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct effective climate policy with a clear global perspective”
• all transport modes are needed»Sverigedemokraterna anser att samtliga transportslag, inklusive bil och flyg, är viktiga för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats believe that all transport modes, including cars and aviation, are important for society to function.”