Setting Sweden’s route to Paris: designing policy instruments for climate mitigation in forestry

The role of forest ecosystems in mitigating climate change has gained increasing prominence in international climate negotiations, particularly within the Paris Agreement and in the strategies and regulations of the European Union. This paper aims to enhance ongoing policy discussions on how Swedish forests can support climate mitigation goals by identifying which policy instruments, incentives, and climate strategies forest stakeholders prioritize, while advancing social science understandings of governance, stakeholder participation, and the socio-political conditions shaping forest management. Specifically, we examined the acceptance of, and perceived need for, alternative policy instruments designed to accelerate the climate transition through three novel mitigation scenarios for Swedish forestry. These scenarios explore the allocation of responsibility for achieving climate targets – whether it rests primarily with the state, the market, or individual landowners. Our findings draw on two participatory workshops involving 27 stakeholders and rightsholders engaged in Swedish forest management. The results reveal significant challenges in management and policy, particularly regarding responsibility for climate mitigation, justice claims, and power sharing. Furthermore, they underscore the need for stronger policy integration across sectors and administrative levels, as well as innovative policy instruments to facilitate the implementation of forest-climate objectives. We call on policy makers to reassess the current forest policy framework, extend policy instruments targeting climate mitigation, and support landowners who are prepared to contribute to the objectives outlined in the Paris Agreement.