Thousands rally in Sweden to protest climate policies ahead of general election

Around 10,000 people marched in Stockholm on Sunday for a protest against human-made climate change, just weeks ahead of a general election where the issue is among Swedish voters' top concerns. "We are so many people who are concerned about this problem," said 21-year-old student Kliff Lindberg, who added that he was "relieved" to see such a strong turnout. "That gives me a lot of strength and it's beautiful to see, I think." Experts in Sweden and abroad have warned that the government's climate policy jeopardises the country's emissions-cutting goals – to reduce CO2 emissions from transport by 70 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Since taking power in 2022, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing government has cut petrol taxes and reduced requirements for petrol suppliers to add low-carbon alternatives to their mix. The government has notably rejected a commission's recommendations on ways to meet the 2030 target, which included phasing out fossil fuels by hiking taxes on petrol and diesel. Swedes will elect a new parliament on September 13, with the right-wing bloc trailing in opinion polls. Read moreWinemakers across Europe face t...