The public’s views on climate change

Swedes’ attitudes toward climate issues have been studied using roughly the same set of questions since 2002. The vast majority believe that Sweden is affected by climate change. In the most recent survey, 93 percent responded that they believe Sweden is, or in the future will be, affected by climate change. Many also believe that Sweden can take action to slow down climate change. Support for government-funded measures to mitigate climate change is high, and a majority of Swedes also state that they believe they can contribute themselves. 

The survey was commissioned by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Its purpose is to regularly examine public knowledge of and attitudes toward climate issues. The survey also includes questions about various measures to reduce climate impact. 

The most recent survey was conducted in 2024. The results are presented together with earlier surveys carried out by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency between 2002 and 2021.

The report can be downloaded here (swedish, pdf)

• An increasing number of people are willing to choose the train and spend their holidays closer to home instead of flying abroad (87 percent and 72 percent, respectively).
• More people than before are also willing to use public transport (72 percent). Many are also open to choosing the bicycle over the car for shorter distances (73 percent).
• Electricity grids, public transport, and plastic recycling are the measures that receive the highest support for government funding.
• A majority prefer to shop from companies that limit their climate impact, and more people are in favor of banning goods and services with large climate emissions—an increase from 63 to 71 percent.
• Sorting waste, reusing items, reducing food waste, and lowering household energy use are the most common actions Swedes report having taken themselves to reduce their climate impact.
• A majority say that more expensive climate-friendly alternatives and their own ingrained habits are obstacles to living more climate-consciously. A majority (65 percent) also see it as a barrier to their own transition that society as a whole is not doing more.
• A majority of Swedes believe that their quality of life would be better or unchanged in a fully climate-adapted society (71 percent).