Approximately 10,000 demonstrators gathered in Stockholm on Sunday to protest against government climate policies, just weeks before the general election where environmental issues are a key concern for voters.
“We are so many people who care deeply about this crisis,” said 21-year-old student Kliff Lindberg, expressing relief at the strong turnout. “It’s empowering to see such unity.”
Experts have warned that the current administration’s approach undermines Sweden’s ambitious targets, including a 70% reduction in transport-related CO2 emissions by 2030 from 2010 levels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.
Since taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing government has slashed petrol taxes and eased requirements for fuel suppliers to incorporate low-carbon alternatives.
The government has also dismissed recommendations from a commission on meeting the 2030 goals, which proposed phasing out fossil fuels through increased taxes on petrol and diesel.
With the parliamentary election scheduled for September 13, the right-wing bloc is trailing in recent opinion polls.
The demonstration, organized by youth groups, sports organizations, unions, rural associations, and rights groups, featured prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg.
“No political party in Sweden is proposing policies aligned with scientific recommendations to avert climate catastrophe,” Thunberg stated. “Continuing on this path will lead to collapse—we are already witnessing it.”
‘Climate crisis is very real’
A Verian poll released by SVT on Thursday revealed that 37% of respondents prioritize the climate as a top election issue.
The government contends that transitioning away from fossil fuels must be gradual to maintain Sweden’s economic competitiveness.
However, protest organizers emphasize the urgency of immediate action. “The climate crisis is here and now,” noted Beatrice Rindevall of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, a co-organizer. “We need policies that cut emissions effectively, especially in light of this summer’s extreme heatwaves across Europe.”