Swedish forests absorb twice as much carbon dioxide as total Swedish emissions — more than 110 million tons. The parliament wants to take this into account in making Swedish climate policy.

In climate policy making the advantages of Swedish forests, i.e. their absorption capacity, has been almost totally neglected. The Swedish Forest Industries Federation says that with another approach Sweden could set much more ambitious climate goals and become an even more important example in international climate policy.

In April the Swedish Forest Industries Federation made a Gallup poll among 100 members of Parliament. 73 % of them want to take account of the carbon dioxide absorption capacity of Swedish forests in national climate policy. More than half of them want to make the forests' absorption capacity an element of future international climate convention.

Ms Marie S. Arwidson, managing director of the Swedish Forest Industries, emphasizes that forests are a key factor for controlling climate change: — We are very happy that the members of Parliament so clearly recognize the important role of forests as carbon sinks. We are convinced that the Swedish Government will take account of the parliamentarians' wishes and that the Government clearly emphasizes the importance of forests in its upcoming climate initiatives.