Sweden reports economic growth alongside declining emissions

Data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) for the second quarter of 2026 indicates a decoupling of economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. During this period, Sweden's GDP increased by 3.8 percent in constant prices, while total greenhouse gas emissions fell by 1.5 percent to 12.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents compared to the same quarter in 2025.

This trend resulted in a 5.1 percent decrease in emission intensity, which measures emissions relative to economic value created. The reduction is attributed to several factors, including the energy transition toward fossil-free sources, industrial improvements in manufacturing efficiency, and the expansion of electric vehicle fleets and renewable fuels in the transport sector.