A new survey reveals Swedish companies are eager to invest in decarbonisation, but political instability and unclear regulations are delaying progress, risking the country’s green ambitions ahead of 2026 elections.
Sweden’s industrial transition is being held back less by a lack of ambition than by uncertainty over the rules that will govern it, according to a new survey from UN Global Compact Sweden.
The business network said half of leading Swedish companies have delayed or scrapped investments in energy, new technology and decarbonisation over the past three years. The findings are based on responses from 333 company representatives across industry, energy, finance, transport, retail and technology.
The message from business is not that companies have lost interest. On the contrary, seven in 10 expect to increase investment in the years ahead. But the survey suggests many are waiting for clearer, more durable political conditions before committing capital.
Nine in 10 respondents said the policy environment for the transition feels unstable, while the same proportion said current rules are obstructing investment decisions. Six in 10 judged that political uncertainty poses a major or very major threat to their long-term competitiveness.
One company described the effect in blunt terms: “Fossila lastbilstransporter har blivit mer lönsamma än ellastbilar de senaste fyra åren. Därför har elektrifieringen stannat upp.”
For sectors trying to electrify operations, build new production capacity or scale low-carbon fuels, the concern is not abstract. It goes to the heart of whether projects clear investment committees, attract lenders and survive changing policy signals.
The issue is particularly sensitive in Sweden’s industrial decarbonisation landscape, where large-scale bets often depend on long lead times and stable regulation. In the biofuels sector, industry groups have repeatedly warned that frequent policy shifts undermine confidence among both producers and financiers. Wind power developers have voiced similar concerns, with industry reporting a sharp slowdown in new projects amid political uncertainty, weak power prices and surplus electricity in parts of the market.
The collapse of Northvolt, once the flagship of Sweden’s green industrial renaissance, has also sharpened attention on the fragility of transition economics. Its bankruptcy in March 2025, after years of production problems and funding strain, served as a reminder that even high-profile clean-tech ventures can unravel when market, operational and policy conditions fail to align.
Against that backdrop, UN Global Compact Sweden is urging parties ahead of the 2026 election to lock in cross-party climate agreements, avoid sending mixed signals when national and EU policy pull in different directions, and bring business into policy design earlier.
Philip Thormark, chief executive of UN Global Compact Sweden, said the findings show companies are ready to invest, but need long-term certainty over the framework that will shape the next phase of the transition.
- https://www.kristianstadsbladet.se/debatt/foretagen-vill-investera-men-politiken-bromsar/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.f3centre.se/en/fact-sheets/political-uncertainty-complicates-biofuel-investments/ – This article discusses how political uncertainty and frequent changes in policy measures hinder investments in the biofuel industry. It highlights that clear and long-term political conditions are crucial for the development of renewable fuels, and that uncertainty affects both industry and financiers. The piece also notes that without supportive policy measures, there is a significant risk that expansion plans will not be realised, and that political instability is a central barrier to the industry’s transition.
- https://www.newsminimalist.com/articles/companies-face-unstable-political-conditions-for-transition-impacting-investments-a5ff3f04 – This article reports that nine out of ten companies find political conditions for transition unstable, leading half to reduce investments. It states that political instability causes 47% of companies to delay or reprioritise investments in energy and technology, with 14% halting them entirely. The piece also mentions that companies urge political parties to establish long-term, cross-party agreements on climate goals and consistent policy signals to foster investment.
- https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2025/11/22/the-fall-of-northvolt-sweden-s-symbol-of-green-reindustrialization_6747719_19.html – This article chronicles the dramatic fall of Northvolt, once a flagship of Sweden’s green reindustrialisation movement. It details how mounting quality issues, delivery delays, and financial struggles led to its bankruptcy and closure in March 2025, marking the largest corporate failure in Swedish history. The piece also discusses the impact on local development in Skellefteå and the broader implications for Sweden’s industrial transition.
- https://www.dagensvastervik.se/debatt/e/319124/debatt-foretagen-vill-investera-men-politiken-bromsar/ – This opinion piece highlights that half of leading companies in Sweden have postponed or stopped investments related to energy, new technology, and transition over the past three years. It attributes this to uncertainty regarding political conditions, with nine out of ten companies perceiving the political framework for transition as unstable. The article also notes that nine out of ten companies consider current regulations a hindrance to investments.
- https://www.government.se/press-releases/2023/03/new-act-will-stop-investments-in-companies-by-foreign-actors-that-could-harm-sweden/ – This press release announces a new act under which investments involving security risks can be reviewed by a special screening authority and, if necessary, prohibited. It highlights the importance of foreign direct investments to Sweden’s business sector while acknowledging the risks associated with foreign actors investing in protected activities. The release quotes Minister for Justice Gunnar Strömmer, stating that while most foreign investments are valuable, some pose significant risks and must be subject to scrutiny.
- https://swedenherald.com/article/nobody-wants-to-build-wind-power-in-sweden-anymore – This article reports that investments in new wind power in Sweden have come to a complete halt, with last year being the worst year to date according to industry statistics. It cites electricity surpluses, low prices, and political uncertainty as reasons for this decline. The piece also notes that during three of the four quarters of last year, not a single order was placed for wind turbines, indicating a significant drop in interest since the early days of wind power.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article discusses a recent survey by UN Global Compact Sweden, indicating that half of leading Swedish companies have delayed or scrapped investments in energy, new technology, and decarbonisation over the past three years. This survey was conducted with 333 company representatives across various sectors. The findings were reported in a press release dated 15 May 2026. A similar report titled ‘Höj ambitionen!’ was published by UN Global Compact Network Sweden in 2024, highlighting that 55% of over 800 responding companies view political ambiguity and short-termism as significant obstacles to sustainability efforts. While the 2024 report addresses broader sustainability challenges, the 2026 survey focuses specifically on investment delays due to political uncertainty. The 2026 survey appears to be original and not recycled from previous publications.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes a direct quote from Philip Thormark, CEO of UN Global Compact Sweden, stating: ‘Svenska företag vill och kan leda den globala hållbarhetsrevolutionen, men de behöver tydligare och mer långsiktiga politiska riktlinjer.’ This quote is consistent with his previous statements in the 2024 report. However, the exact wording of the quote in the 2026 article cannot be independently verified online. The lack of independent verification raises concerns about the authenticity of the quote.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The article originates from Kristianstadsbladet, a regional newspaper in Sweden. While it is not a major international news organisation, it is a reputable source within its region. The information is attributed to a press release from UN Global Compact Sweden, an organisation with a credible track record in sustainability reporting. However, the reliance on a press release as the primary source may limit the independence of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article’s claims align with known challenges in Sweden’s industrial transition, particularly regarding political uncertainty affecting investment decisions. The 2024 report by UN Global Compact Network Sweden also highlighted similar concerns about political ambiguity hindering sustainability efforts. The specific figures and findings in the 2026 survey are plausible and consistent with the broader context of Sweden’s sustainability challenges.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents findings from a recent survey by UN Global Compact Sweden, indicating that political uncertainty is hindering industrial investments in Sweden. While the content is plausible and aligns with known challenges in Sweden’s industrial transition, the reliance on a press release as the primary source and the lack of independent verification for some quotes and data points reduce the overall confidence in the information’s independence. Therefore, the content passes the fact-check with medium confidence.
