Overview
The Government wants to establish a new form of support for green areas in cities. This support will result in more measures for greener cities, peri-urban green areas, ecosystem services in urban environments and children's outdoor environments. Through this support, which is primarily intended for municipalities, the Government aims to strengthen the opportunities for cities to develop into dynamic, green, healthy and safe places where people meet. This support will amount to SEK 100 million in 2018, SEK 500 million in 2019 and SEK 550 million in 2020.
To improve the possibilities of commuting and travelling in a climate-friendly way, the Government is allocating SEK 350 million per year in 2018–2020 to an electric vehicle premium for the purchase of electric bicycles or electric scooters. This will give large groups of potential commuter cyclists access to electricity-powered vehicles and make it easier for them to choose not to travel by car. The premium will be valid retroactively from 20 September 2017.
The Government proposes establishing a national knowledge centre for research and education about bicycling, for which the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) will act as administrative host. More and safer cycling can help reduce the environmental impact of travel and improve accessibility in urban areas. It can also contribute to better public health.
Next year, the Government will invest an additional SEK 600 million in measures for clean seas. With this fresh funding, the Government wants to clean up environmentally hazardous ship wrecks, finance projects to combat eutrophication and strengthen protection of marine areas.
To increase the percentage of green vehicles and, in the longer term, help achieve the objective of a fossil-free vehicle fleet, the Government proposes that green vehicles with low carbon dioxide emissions receive a bonus of up to SEK 60 000. It also proposes that new vehicles with high carbon dioxide emissions be taxed at a higher rate for the first three years.