Stockholm climate march puts pressure on Sweden ahead of September election
An estimated 10,000 protesters in Stockholm accused the government of weakening emissions standards, with Greta Thunberg warning that no party is proposing science-aligned policies.
Approximately 10,000 people marched through Stockholm on Sunday to demand stronger climate action, arriving just weeks before the country’s general election scheduled for 13 September. The demonstration, co-organised by youth and sporting groups, unions, rural associations, and rights groups, centred on accusations that the current administration is failing to meet Sweden’s ambitious environmental targets.
Climate campaigner Greta Thunberg addressed the crowd, stating that no political party in Sweden is proposing policies aligned with scientific requirements to avoid climate disaster. Thunberg told AFP that if current trends continue, the country will see collapse, arguing that signs of this decline are already visible. Her remarks underscored the urgency felt by organisers, who cited this summer’s devastating European heatwaves as evidence of the immediate crisis.
The protest targets specific policy decisions made by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing government, which has been in power since 2022. Critics point to the administration’s decision to cut petrol taxes and reduce requirements for petrol suppliers to include low-carbon alternatives in their fuel mix. These moves are seen by opponents as a dilution of the regulatory framework necessary to achieve national goals.
Sweden’s climate targets include reducing CO2 emissions from transport by 70 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. The government recently rejected a commission’s recommendations to phase out fossil fuels by increasing taxes on petrol and diesel. Officials argued that a gradual phase-out is necessary to preserve economic competitiveness and support Swedish companies, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from environmental experts both domestically and abroad.
The political stakes are high, with the right-wing bloc currently trailing in opinion polls. A Verian opinion poll published by public broadcaster SVT on Thursday indicated that 37 percent of respondents consider climate change a top priority for the upcoming election. This data suggests that environmental policy is a significant factor in voter sentiment as the campaign intensifies.
Beatrice Rindevall, head of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, which co-organised the demonstration, emphasised the need for immediate policy changes. “The climate crisis is very real, and it is here,” Rindevall said in a statement. “It is time to put in place a climate policy that reduces emissions right now.” The rally serves as a final push for environmental groups to influence the parliamentary outcome before the September vote.
