Sweden proposes new vehicle emission rules

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, March 10 (UPI) -- The Swedish government has proposed new rules on vehicle emissions that includes linking a tax to vehicle emissions.

"It should be expensive to drive with fossil fuels," Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren said at a press conference, The Local reported Tuesday.

Green party spokeswoman Karin Svensson Smith was skeptical of the proposals she termed "far too weak," and a Swedish farming group was outraged by a proposal to raise diesel fuel taxes four cents per liter, the Local said.

The Federation of Swedish Farmers called the higher fuel tax a "declaration of war."

A spokesman for the group, Lars-Goran Pettersson, said the taxes would amount to a $110 million burden per year for Swedish farmers.

But, Carlgren said a fuel tax was an efficient way of reducing carbon emissions. The tax increases would also be "compensated by tax cuts for companies through lower social and payroll taxes," Carlgren said.