51 percent of Swedes believe that Sweden’s emissions have increased in the last 30 years, that fossil-free products are very expensive and that the technology’s potential is low, according to a Novus survey conducted by Fossil-Free Sweden.
But emissions in Sweden have actually decreased by 30 percent since 1990, which only eight percent of the respondents believe. The survey shows that climate change in Sweden has come further, costs less and has greater potential, which is what many people believe.
– It is really surprising that the Swedish people have such a bad idea, says climate professor Thorsten Mauritsen.
He says that for a long time the emissions increased in step with the economic development, but around the year 2000 the emissions began to level off instead.
– You might have expected that they would continue to rise, but according to the curve, they have succeeded in creating prosperity without increasing emissions, which bodes well for the future.
Emissions of carbon dioxide from Sweden have decreased since the 1990s, but in order for the climate goals to be reached, the changes must take place globally.
– In order to stop global warming, you need to reduce emissions to close to zero all over the world. Those emissions are increasing on a global level, says Mauritsen.
Have managed to break the curve
The technical innovations that have been significant in breaking the curve include cheaper wind power, solar cells and electric cars.
– It has become cheaper because the demand is there and the companies dare to invest in the development, according to Mauritsen.