Sweden's Responsibility Towards The Environment

Sweden Kingdom of Sweden [Country Profile Page]
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	3rd best
Capital	Stockholm
Land Area	410 340km21
Location	Europe, Scandinavia
Population	10.0m2
Life Expectancy	82.98yrs (2017)3
GNI	$54 489 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	SE, SWE, 7525
Internet Domain	.se6
Currency	Kronoa (SEK)7
Telephone	+468

Sweden ranks 62nd in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This is computed using 21 data sets. Sweden performs the best in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. It comes in the best 20 in its score on the Green Future Index₉ and in its environmental performance₁₀. But, things still need to improve in Sweden. Sweden does worse than average when it comes to the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₁₁, energy to GDP efficiency₁₂, reducing annual meat consumption per person₁₃ (still low for Europe) and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₁₄.

“In Sweden, we live our lives as if we had the resources of 4.2 planets. Our carbon footprint is one of the ten worst in the world. This means that Sweden steals 3.2 years of natural resources from future generations every year. Those of us who are part of these future generations would like Sweden to stop doing that.”

"No-One is Too Small to Make a Difference"
Greta Thunberg (2019)₁₅

1. Sweden's Responsibility Towards The Environment
2. Data Sets
   1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020
   2. Environmental Performance
   3. Energy to GDP Efficiency
   4. International Accords on the Environment
   5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment
   6. Meat Consumption
   7. Green Future Index
3. Links

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1. Sweden's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #the_environment

Compared to Europe (2025)16
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank16
1	Switzerland	45.0
2	Denmark	50.4
3	Liechtenstein	56.8
	...
13	Norway	66.9
14	Netherlands	71.1
15	Luxembourg	71.4
16	Sweden	71.8
17	Finland	71.9
18	France	72.8
19	Romania	73.8
20	UK	74.4
21	Turkey	75.0
	Europe Avg	86.45
q=48.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)16
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank16
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
59	Togo	71.1
60	Netherlands	71.1
61	Luxembourg	71.4
62	Sweden	71.8
63	Finland	71.9
64	Yemen	71.9
65	Pakistan	72.0
66	France	72.8
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

2. Data Sets

2.1. Forest Area Change 2000-2020

#biodiversity #deforestation #environmentalism #forests #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better14
Pos.		Total14
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
141	Solomon Islands	-0.6%
142	Western Sahara	-0.6%
143	Mongolia	-0.6%
144	Sweden	-0.7%
145	Gabon	-0.7%
146	Guyana	-0.8%
147	Suriname	-0.9%
148	French Guiana	-1.0%
	Europe Avg	8.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Sweden ranks 144th in the world with regard to its forested percent change 2000-2020.

Forests are carbon sinks, mitigating against climate change_17,18. Unfortunately, we are destroying over 70,000 km² of forest each year₁₉. In the last few thousand years, we've removed 30-40% of the Earth's forest cover_20,18, mostly to clear space for agriculture, and for logging_21,22. The produce from both is shipped from poorer countries to richer ones. Half-hearted government efforts and company obfuscation of supply chains makes it almost impossible for consumers to tell which foods and products are from sustainable sources, and which ones are encouraging irresponsible deforestation, meaning that there is little incentive for companies to relent.

The effects are catastrophic. 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation_23,21. It brings soil erosion from wind and rain which, over time, can almost-permanently stop any hope of growing food₂₄, and spreads desertification. Entire ecosystems are collapsing as a result, including ones that we depend upon₂₅. The water cycle is driven by forests, and their loss reduces ordinary rainfall, increases flooding, removes an abundant source of water filtration, and contributes to a rise in water levels.₂₆.

Some regions of the world are increasing their forest cover₁₈; the best from 2000-2020 are Scandinavia (13.8% ), The Balkans (11.0% ) and Baltic States (7.6% )₁₄. There is an overall trend that developed countries gathered their riches by using up their natural resources, and now, they pay poorer countries to use up theirs instead, whilst they can afford to slowly rebuild their natural environments. But it's not wholly that simple - some rich regions are still burning through what they've got. The regions clearing their forests fastest are Central America (-12.8% ), Africa (-9.1% ) and North America (-2.9% )₁₄.

For more, see:

• "Deforestation" by Vexen Crabtree (2024).

Averages by decade for Sweden (for the ranks, lower is better):

Forest Area Change 2000-2020	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Sweden:	-0.3%	-0.3%
World Rank:	142nd	⇣  153rd
World Avg:	0.6%	-0.7%

2.2. Environmental Performance

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Environmental Performance Higher is better10
Pos.		201810
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
4	Malta	80.9
5	Sweden	80.5
6	UK	79.9
7	Luxembourg	79.1
8	Austria	79.0
9	Ireland	78.8
10	Finland	78.6
11	Iceland	78.6
12	Spain	78.4
	Europe Avg	69.6
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Sweden comes 5th-best in the world when it comes to its environmental performance.

The Environmental Performance Index 2018 data includes 24 indicators including air pollution, water and sanitation, biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental health, combined into a single score by country, by the Yale University Center for Environmental Law & Policy.

2.3. Energy to GDP Efficiency

#energy #sustainability #the_environment

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better12
Pos.		2022 Avg12
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
111	Cuba	1.25
112	Thailand	1.26
113	Slovakia	1.26
114	Sweden	1.30
115	USA	1.36
116	Czechia	1.36
117	Liberia	1.37
118	Armenia	1.42
	Europe Avg	1.25
	World Avg	1.23
q=165.

Sweden comes 114th in the world when it comes to energy to GDP efficiency.

GDP per unit of energy consumption is often called 'Energy Intensity'. It's how efficient countries are at producing GDP in terms of primary energy use. It represents primary energy consumption using the substitution method, per unit of gross domestic product (GDP). A lower value means that less energy was used to maintain the country's GDP.

Averages by decade for Sweden (for the ranks, lower is better):

Energy to GDP Efficiency	1960s  Average	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Sweden:	3.04	3.07	3.08	2.63	1.87	1.46
World Rank:	51st	⇣  53rd	⇣  121st	⇣  123rd	⇡  112th	⇣  113th
World Avg:	2.05	2.13	2.10	2.15	1.60	1.30

2.4. International Accords on the Environment

#environmentalism #internationalism

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
4	Latvia	81%
5	Estonia	80%
6	Ukraine	80%
7	Finland	79%
8	Georgia	79%
9	Switzerland	78%
10	Nigeria	78%
11	Germany	76%
12	Belarus	76%
	Europe Avg	62.7%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197.

Sweden is best in the world with regard to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Each country is scored using a formula that takes the date each country took up major international environmental agreements, as a ratio of maximum possible days. The agreements covered are: (1) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, (2) the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides, (3) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, (4) the Waigani Convention (for those countries that are eligible), (5) the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), (6) the Kyoto Protocol and (7) its successor, the Paris Agreement, (8) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), (9) the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and finally, (10) the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.

For more, see:

• " Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Sweden was one of the 19 countries that signed the Basel Convention on its very first day and one of 18 countries who enacted Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in its first year (1975). It was also one of 8 who ratified the Vienna Convention on the ozone layer in 1986 and was amongst the first batch of countries who signed the Montreal Protocol on protecting the ozone layer in 1988, whilst most others delayed both until subsequent years.

“Sweden aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2045 (see trajectory in Figure 1) and to further reduce its emissions in sectors covered by the Effort-sharing Regulation. In 2023, Sweden accounted for 0.16% of the EU's net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It achieved a net emissions reduction of 72.6% from 2005 to 2023, well above the EU average reduction of 30.5%. In the same period, the country reduced emissions covered by the EU emissions trading system by 26.5%. Sweden's land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector has consistently performed as a large carbon sink.”

EU 2023 Climate Action Strategy₂₇

Averages by decade for Sweden (for the ranks, lower is better):

International Accords on the Environment	1970s  Average	1980s  Average	1990s  Average	2000s  Average	2010s  Average
Sweden:	45%	91%	71%	91%	99%
World Rank:	6th	⇡  4th	⇣  6th	⇣  15th	⇣  39th
World Avg:	8.5%	23.3%	45.0%	74.4%	90.7%

2.5. Rational Beliefs on the Environment

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better11
Pos.		2011 %11
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
110	Armenia	25.3%
111	Kazakhstan	25.0%
112	Iraq	24.9%
113	Sweden	24.3%
114	New Zealand	24.2%
115	Poland	23.8%
116	Belarus	23.7%
117	Afghanistan	23.6%
	Europe Avg	33.6%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Sweden ranks 113th in the world regarding the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population. In a 2023 survey, 73% of Swedes identified climate change as one of the four most serious problems facing the world₂₇. "60% consider tackling climate change a personal responsibility, this task is also seen as the responsibility of national governments (80%), the EU (74%), and business and industry (55%)"₂₇.

2.6. Meat Consumption

#animal_rights #animal_welfare #diet #food #health #meat #veganism #vegetarianism

Meat Consumption Lower is better13
Pos.		2021 kg13
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
117	Malaysia	65.3
118	Belgium	66.2
119	Gabon	66.3
120	Sweden	66.9
121	Romania	67.1
122	Malta	67.8
123	Switzerland	68.0
124	Micronesia	70.4
	Europe Avg	71.1
	World Avg	52.5
q=185.

Sweden ranks 120th in the world in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person (still good for Europe).

There are five key arguments in favour of vegetarianism which accrue even from partial adoption: (1) Vegetarian diets have notable health advantages over carnivorous diets, especially for heart and cardiovascular issues_28,29,30. (2) It is morally better to avoid killing or harming animals. (3) Plant-based diets use much less water than carnivorous ones, to the extent that agricultural and water management scientists urge governments to encourage people to switch₃₁. (4) Vegetarian food production uses substantially less land_28,32,33. And, (5) vegetarianism is better for the environment than meat-production for emissions, sewerage, pollution and chemicals usage._28,32. A plant-based diet causes 75% less greenhouse gas emissions than a typical carnivorous diet₃₃. The global food industry causes about 1/3 of all planet-heating emissions, and so "to slow the worst climate effects, the United Nations has called for a drastic reduction in meat consumption"₃₃. Despite this, "reducing appetites for carbon-intensive meat and dairy is incredibly hard"₃₄ and as countries get richer, they tend to eat more meat.

In the 2010s, meat consumption per person in Sweden was well above the global average (of 49kgs per year), putting unnecessary strain on water supplies and the environment. It managed to reduce this by over 10kgs per year (only 17 countries managed the same).₁₃

On average throughout the 2010s, Sweden's rate was 75.9.

2.7. Green Future Index

#climate_change #energy #sustainability #the_environment

Green Future Index Higher is better9
Pos.		2023 Score9
1	Iceland	6.7
2	Finland	6.7
3	Norway	6.4
4=	Sweden	6.3
4=	Denmark	6.3
6	Netherlands	6.2
7	UK	6.1
8	S. Korea	6.0
9	France	6.0
10=	Spain	5.9
10=	Germany	5.9
12	Belgium	5.8
	Europe Avg	5.6
	World Avg	4.8
q=76.

Sweden ranks 4th-best in the world with regard to its score on the Green Future Index.

The Green Futures Index (GFI) has been running since 2021, and looks at 23 data sets for over 70 countries, with a focus on effectiveness, policy and planning 'for a low carbon future. It is complementary to existing goals and frameworks for sustainable development'. Datasets include qualitative appraisals and quantitative measurements on carbon emissions across multiple sectors, renewable and nuclear energy, recycling capabilities, green technologies used in building and construction, transport, scientific and industrial green innovations and patent quantities, climate action and climate policies. Each country is then ranked by their final score.₃₅.

The 2023 edition of the Green Futures Index scored Sweden 4th-best for its recent efforts to transition to clean energy sources, including a 3rd-best rating for its green transport achievements (after Norway and Iceland).₃₅