Possible climate measures and instruments in a future rural development programme in Sweden
This evaluation examined Sweden’s 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP) to understand how agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced in a way that is profitable both for society and farmers.
- Sweden
- 2014-2022
- Environmental impacts
The study investigated how greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture can be reduced without leading to economic losses for society or farmers, but also discussed the use of policy instruments such as knowledge dissemination, changing norms, subsidies and certificates.
The evaluation assessed the effectiveness of 17 climate measures in the RDP and revealed that rewetting organic soils and reforestation of marginal or abandoned arable lands significantly decreased emissions, despite rewetting's substantial cost to farmers.
However, it was found that farmers often fail to implement these strategies due to underestimation of benefits, lack of knowledge or aversion to technological risks. Therefore, increasing knowledge dissemination, advisor services and technology demonstration can encourage adoption of such measures.
The study also recommends further subsidising measures that have a positive impact on the climate even if unprofitable for farmers as it could bring wider benefits to society.
Rural Development Programme: SE - National
Programming period: 2014-2022
Original publication date: 2021
Author(s)
Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Resources
Possible climate measures and instruments in a future rural development programme in Sweden
(PDF – 432.38 KB – 45 pages)