Sweden’s decision to abolish a flight tax, despite admitting it will contribute to higher emissions, has sparked backlash from environmental groups. The tax, which was first introduced in 2018 to mitigate pollution from the aviation sector, is set to be scrapped by July 2025, according to the government’s newly presented budget.
With the tax removal, ticket prices for flights within Europe are expected to drop by 80 SEK (£5.93), while flights outside Europe will see reductions of 325 SEK (£24.09). The original tax had been introduced alongside the “flight shame” (flygskam) movement, championed by climate activist Greta Thunberg, to discourage air travel due to its environmental impact.
Environmentalists have condemned the decision, arguing it undermines Sweden's climate goals. Erika Bjureby of Greenpeace Sweden said, "The government appears to be dismantling critical climate measures, and this move will inevitably increase emissions." She also criticized the government for cutting taxes on fuel, while public transportation faces cuts and train services are being reduced.
