WWF conducts an annual climate barometer survey which this year has shown that a majority of Swedes want politicians to take greater responsibility for climate and nature.
“There is an idea that there is a lack of popular support for these issues, but the majority thinks it is important,” says Em Petersson, a policy expert at WWF.
51 percent of those surveyed believe that politicians have the greatest responsibility for stopping climate change, while 9 percent point to private individuals. Just two years ago, 18 percent pointed to individual responsibility.
Em Petersson, the WWF policy expert, believes that this may be because many have realized that personal lifestyle choices are only effective to a certain extent and that the real power to effect change lies elsewhere.
“There is a certain limit to how much influence you can have as an individual, many decisions are still made at the political level. You can choose to ride a bike, but you have no power over how the roads are built – except when you go and vote,” she said.
Consistency across survey questions
The trend towards wanting politicians to take greater responsibility for climate issues was also seen in the answers to other survey questions.
Nearly six out of ten believe that politicians have the greatest responsibility for stopping the loss of biodiversity, while seven out of ten think that greater consideration should be given to the environment in political decisions about, among other things, agriculture, business, forestry and energy.
Seven out of ten also believe that strong nature conservation legislation in the EU is important and a majority want to see increased efforts to protect and restore nature in Sweden.
Just over half, 51 percent, responded that they are concerned about the logging of old-growth and natural forests, and just as many think that the protection of those forests should increase. Only five percent think that it should decrease.
An election issue?
Em Petersson of WWF sees this as a signal that Swedish politicians should pay attention to going into this year’s election.
“The fact that there is strong support for climate action and protecting and restoring nature is something for politicians to take with them into the election year,” she said, adding that the results of the WWF survey show that environmental policy issues should be moved higher on the political agenda in Sweden.
“It is interesting that environmental issues are often deprioritized. Many parties cannot even say ‘yes, we promise to try to reach these goals,’ when discussing their commitment to the minimum EU climate goal requirements,” said Petersson.
WWF’s climate barometer survey was carried out by the opinion institute Verian, through an online survey from the 9th to the 16th of December, 2025. The results are weighted to reflect the population. 2,049 interviews were conducted.
