Nettoutslippet

Nettoutslippet is the Swedish term for net emissions, a metric used to express the balance between emitted and removed greenhouse gases in a specific region or sector. It is calculated as total emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and other relevant gases minus the amount sequestered through carbon sinks such as forests, soil and ocean processes, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e). The concept underpins Sweden’s national climate accounting framework and is integral to the country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its climate policy targets.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) publishes nettoutslippet figures annually for sectors including energy, transport, agriculture, waste and industry. Data are gathered through a combination of self‑reported sectoral inventories, satellite observations, forest monitoring projects and national survey data. Calculations use standardised conversion factors from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) permits comparisons across countries and over time.

In Sweden, nettoutslippet has declined from around 80 million tonnes CO₂e per year in the early 2000s to just over 60 million tonnes in 2023, driven by electrification of transport, increased renewable energy generation and forest expansion projects. The government’s 2035 emission reduction target of 90% compared to 1990 levels relies on continued reductions in nettoutslippet to meet the net‑zero goal by 2045.

Nettoutslippet is also a key indicator for the Climate Adaptation Programme and informs the national greenhouse gas monitoring of the European Union. By tracking nettoutslippet, Sweden can evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures, adjust policy instruments and report progress to international bodies under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

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