The fossil gas partially leaked into Sweden’s economic zone, and will therefore be included in Sweden’s reporting of total emissions of greenhouse gases to the EU and the UN, the Environmental Protection Agency writes in a press release.
“The final statistics that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency publishes on December 14 will thus be significantly higher when the gas leak from Nord Stream is included,” writes the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.
The gas leak in the Baltic Sea from Nord Stream photographed from the Coast Guard’s aircraft. Archive image.
In total, this is an additional 5.8 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents, in other words the amount of gas that affects the climate in the same way as 5.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. The figure is to be added to the preliminary figures for Sweden’s emissions in 2022, which amounted to 45.2 million tonnes.
“It would be very unfortunate if it leads to Sweden having to pay fines to the EU,” says Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) in a written statement.
Together with Denmark, Sweden must contact the EU Commission to find a solution.
“My attitude is that when sabotage has taken place on another country’s gas pipeline, it would be worrying if Sweden is expected to foot the bill and that the emissions must be registered as ours,” continues Pourmokhtari.
The largest part of the gas that leaked from Nord Stream 1 and 2 consisted of methane, which has a major climate impact.