Local billion kronor investments reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than two million tonnes

The projects under the LIP and Klimp investment programmes are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1 million tonnes a year, equivalent to just over three per cent of Swedish greenhouse gas emissions. This is the conclusion reached in a report from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to the Ministry of the Environment.

– The investment programmes have given local environmental efforts a massive boost in the last ten years. It’s great to see so many municipalities making a commitment and the investments creating a ripple effect throughout the country, says Gunnel Horm, who is head of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s Investment Support Council.

Decisions have recently been taken on the fifth and last round of grants for climate investments (Klimp), and all the local investment programmes (LIP) have been implemented.

The environmental and climate investments in LIP and Klimp total SEK 24 billion, 6 billion of which is made up of government grants. Over the ten-year period 1998-2008 central government approved grants to 126 climate investment programmes and 211 local investment programmes with a total of around 2,700 projects.

Klimp and LIP projects are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 2.1 million tonnes a year, with Klimp accounting for 1.1 million tonnes and LIP for 1.0. This reduction is equivalent to almost three-quarters of the Swedish climate target for the period 2008-2012. In addition, the programmes contribute to fulfilling several other national environmental quality objectives.

The cost to central government of the reductions in greenhouse gas emissions made through Klimp totals around SEK 100 per tonne. The effectiveness of Klimp grants has doubled since the first round of applications in 2003. The projects are also estimated to reduce Swedish energy use by 1.2 TWh per year.

Most of the reduction in emissions in Klimp is taking place in waste, energy and transport. Around a third of the grants have gone to biogas-related measures. The involvement of companies has increased, and business has received more than a quarter of the grants.

LIP projects are estimated to reduce energy use by around 2.1 TWh a year, while around 3.2 TWh a year has been converted to renewable energy. Around a third of the projects in LIP are climate-related, which means that they reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. District heating projects account for the greatest reductions in emissions.

The Swedish Parliament (Riksdag) in 1998 earmarked SEK 6.2 billion in grants for environmental improvements in the municipalities under LIP. It is estimated that SEK 4.3 billion of this sum has been used. LIP was replaced by support for climate investments, Klimp, in 2002. Altogether around SEK 1.9 billion has been awarded in Klimp grants since 2003. The Investment Support Council at the Swedish EPA takes decisions on grants to LIP and Klimp projects.

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For additional information, please contact:
Gunnel Horm, Head of Investment Support Council, +46 (0)8-698 16 44,
+46 (0)70-819 16 44, gunnel.horm(a)naturvardsverket.se

Åsa Söderberg, Deputy Head of Investment Support Council +46 (0)8-698 14 43
asa.soderberg(a)naturvardsverket.se

Malin Lindgren, Press Contact, +46 (0)8-618 16 69, +46 (0)76-112 37 00, malin.lindgren(a)naturvardsverket.se