In 2010, Sweden emitted 66,2 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. Emissions were 9 per cent below 1990 levels. Compared with 2009, it is an increase by 6,5 million tonnes. The emissions increased due to very cold winters, both in the beginning and in the end of 2010, and the recovery in the industry from the economic downturn.
Over the period 1990–2010, emissions ranged between 60 million tonnes (2009) and 78.4 million tonnes (1996). Variations between years are largely due to variation in precipitation and in temperature in the winter months (need for heating) and the state of the economy. However, emissions have shown a slight downtrend since 1999. The trend in emissions from 1990 is a result of decreasing emissions from the residential and service sector, the agriculture sector, the waste sector and since 2007 the transport sector. Emissions in 2009 were even lower as a consequence of the economic downturn.
During the autumn of 2008, an economic downturn began which was deepened during 2009 and has affected a number of sectors. The recession has meant that many industrial sectors have reduced production considerably, with diminished emissions as a consequence.
Trends in emissions
Emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases vary over time. The trend since 1990 is decreasing for methane and nitrous oxides and carbon dioxide while those of fluorinated greenhouse gases are increasing.
- Carbon dioxide, which are released from the combustion of fossil fuels, is the dominant gas and accounts for just under 78 per cent of total emissions.
- Nitrous oxide comes from agriculture, waste and industrial processes and accounts for around 12 per cent of total emissions.
- Methane comes principally from agriculture and landfills and contributes around 8 per cent of total emissions.
- Fluorinated gases (HFC, PFC and SF6) come solely from industrial processes and account for around 2 per cent of total emissions.
Reduced emissions from housing, agriculture and waste
Emissions of greenhouse gases from different sectors of society developed in different directions over the period from 1990 to 2010. The greatest reductions in emissions over the period took place in the residential and service, agriculture, waste sectors.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the residential and service sector have deceased since 1990 due to a change-over from individual heating with oil to district heating, heat pumps and biomass fuels. The principal reason for the decrease in emissions in agriculture is reduced livestock numbers, and the decrease in emissions from the waste sector is explained partly by the collection of landfill gas and in part by a reduced quantity of landfilled material as a result of prohibitions on landfilling, the levying of a landfill tax and municipal waste plans. The waste that was previously sent to landfill is now largely incinerated for district heating production.
Emissions from the transport sector have had an increasing trend during the period 1990–2005 before stagnating and then decreasing somewhat in 2008–2010, as a result of an increased share of renewable fuels and reduced fuel consumption in combination with the economic downturn in 2008–2009.