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Exploring sufficiency in energy policy: insights from Sweden
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-5613-9923
Stockholm Univ, Stockholm Resilience Ctr, Stockholm, Sweden..
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3869-9729
IVL Swedish Environm Res Inst, Stockholm, Sweden..
2023 (English)In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy, E-ISSN 1548-7733, Vol. 19, no 1, article id 2212501Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Energy efficiency and renewable energy strategies have been insufficient in achieving rapid and profound reductions of energy-related greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Consequently, energy sufficiency has gained attention as a complementary strategy over the past two decades. Yet, most research on energy sufficiency has been theoretical and its implementation in policy limited. This study draws on the growing sufficiency literature to examine the presence of sufficiency as a strategy for reducing energy-related GHG emissions in Sweden, a country often regarded as a "climate-progressive" country. By conducting a keyword and content analysis of energy policies and parliamentary debates during four governmental terms of office (2006-2022), this research explores the extent to which sufficiency is integrated into Swedish energy policy, as well as potential barriers to its adoption. The analyses revealed a scarcity of sufficiency elements. Although some policies could potentially result in energy savings, they are infrequent and overshadowed by the prevailing emphasis on efficiency and renewable energy. Furthermore, Sweden lacks a target for sufficiency or absolute energy reductions. The main impediments to sufficiency implementation include the disregard of scientific evidence in the policy-making process and the perceived contradiction between sufficiency and industrial competitiveness. This study thus concludes that sufficiency at best remains at the periphery of Swedish energy policy. Given the reinforced ambitions within the European Union, this raises questions regarding the validity of Sweden's reputation as a climate-progressive country.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2023. Vol. 19, no 1, article id 2212501
Keywords [en]
Sufficiency, rebound effects, energy, climate policy, energy efficiency
National Category
Peace and Conflict Studies Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified Energy Systems
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-507439DOI: 10.1080/15487733.2023.2212501ISI: 001009888800001OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-507439DiVA, id: diva2:1781902
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2021-00416Available from: 2023-07-11 Created: 2023-07-11 Last updated: 2025-09-18Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Climate-motivated rationing: On the political feasibility of consumer-oriented climate policies
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Climate-motivated rationing: On the political feasibility of consumer-oriented climate policies
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

To avoid the worst consequences and risks of climate change, profound action is needed on both producer and consumer fronts. With regard to consumption, it is uncertain whether politicians have the will and capacity needed to pursue climate policies that limit individual consumption, and it has not been systematically studied whether individuals are willing to accept such policies. This thesis examines the political feasibility of climate policies that steer towards absolute consumption reductions, with a particular focus on public attitudes towards meat and fuel rationing. The study – using a variety of approaches, methods, and empirical data – paints a mixed picture of the possibility of introducing policies that limit individual consumption. On the one hand, absolute consumption reductions are given low priority in relation to technological development and increased efficiency in production in Swedish climate and energy policy. On the other hand, there is a significant variation in public attitudes towards rationing between individuals and countries. Higher levels of acceptability are observed among individuals from the middle-income countries India and South Africa, compared to the high-income countries Germany and the US. In high-income countries, acceptability is higher among those who are concerned over climate change, who lean to the political left, whose lifestyles would not be significantly affected by rationing, and among those who consider rationing fair and a reasonable limitation of personal freedom. Simultaneously, a significant proportion of individuals in the high-income countries Sweden, Germany, and the US express strong opposition towards the idea of rationing. This thesis enhances our understanding of the political feasibility of stringent consumer-oriented climate policies. By corroborating, generalizing, and deepening insights from prior research on climate policy attitudes, and by establishing causal relationships for how the specific design of rationing influences attitudes, this thesis strengthens our knowledge of why and when individuals are willing to accept stringent and restrictive consumer-oriented climate policies. These insights inform scientific and political debates on the limits and opportunities in pursuing stringent climate policy aimed at reducing the climate impact of consumption. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2025. p. 92
Series
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology, ISSN 1651-6214 ; 2593
Keywords
Rationing, Climate policy, Public opinion, Public acceptance, Public support, Attitudes, Climate mitigation, Carbon taxes, Consumption, Meat tax, Fuel tax, Climate change
National Category
Political Science (Excluding Peace and Conflict Studies) Other Earth Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-566921 (URN)978-91-513-2601-6 (ISBN)
Public defence
2025-11-10, Hambergsalen, Geocentrum, Villavägen 16, Uppsala, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Funder
Mistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, 2019/28Swedish Research Council Formas, 2021-00416Mistra - The Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research, 2023/8#329
Available from: 2025-10-20 Created: 2025-09-18 Last updated: 2025-10-20

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Lindgren, OskarKarlsson, Mikael

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