The climatic influence on plant litter decomposition has been successfully correlated on a regional level by using estimated actual evapotranspiration (AET) and annual mass loss. This approach was applied to decomposition studies carried out in a transect along Sweden with litter incubated in four different forest types. A unified needle litter was used and among 14 Scots pine sites about 80% of the mass‐loss rate could be explained. A simple model was made on the influence of both climate and nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus) on mass‐loss rate. About 90% of the first‐year mass loss could be explained by this approach. As early decomposition stages were studied (<40%) no influence of lignin was observed.