Consumers to receive environmental information about fuel by 2020

As part of efforts to end fossil fuel dependence and achieve Sweden’s goal of reducing transport sector emissions by 70 per cent by 2030, the Swedish Government adopted an ordinance prescribing that consumers receive information at fuel pumps about the climate impact and origin of fuels, such as petrol, diesel, gas and more.

It is important for consumers to be able to make informed decisions when they buy fuel. Making environmental information about fuel available will also make it clear which companies are at the forefront of efforts to reduce emissions.

"One basic principle of environmental policy is that it must be easy to do the right thing. When environmental information about fuel is made available, this principle will also apply when choosing fuel," says Minister for the Environment Karolina Skog.

Environmental information will be available at fuel pumps and will be overall information about the fuel's greenhouse gas emissions over its life cycle, its raw materials and their country of origin. More detailed information will be available on fuel suppliers' websites.

To avoid excessive administrative costs, small fuel suppliers are exempt from this information requirement. It will therefore be voluntary for suppliers of less than 1 500 cubic metres of liquid fuel or 1 000 000 cubic metres of gaseous fuel per year.

The Swedish Energy Agency will be authorised to issue regulations on the specifics of the required environmental information. The obligation to provide environmental information will apply from 1 January 2020.

SOURCE: government.se