The Climate Policy Council presents its evaluation of the government’s overall climate policy annually. The government has faced strong criticism since presenting its budget last autumn due to its policy leading to increased emissions in the near future, mainly because of the lowered reduction obligation. The council’s report follows the UN climate panel IPCC’s call for all countries to speed up climate work and achieve rapid emission reductions. The report examines whether the government’s policy aligns with Sweden’s national climate goals to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045. The report is also expected to highlight goal conflicts such as the dilemma of carrying out climate measures that affect the environment and indigenous rights. The report will be presented at a press conference, attended by the Chair of the Climate Policy Council and Climate and Environment Minister. The article also includes information about Sweden’s climate policy framework and goals. There is a share section at the end of the article for Facebook, Twitter, and a copy link button.
Once a year, the Climate Policy Council presents its evaluation of the government’s overall climate policy – and today is the time for this year’s edition.
Ever since the government presented its budget last autumn, it has received strong criticism for pursuing a policy that leads to increased emissions in the near term. Above all, due to the lowering of the reduction obligation, i.e. the mixing of renewable fuel into petrol and diesel.
Increase the pace considerably
The council’s report comes just over a week after the UN climate panel IPCC presented its most comprehensive compilation of climate research to date, the so-called synthesis report. The decisions that the world’s leaders make in the coming years are crucial to meeting the 1.5 degree target, and large and rapid emission reductions are necessary, the IPCC states.
All countries must significantly increase the pace of climate work according to the IPCC, which calls on governments worldwide to move from words to action.
The Climate Policy Council’s report examines whether the government’s policy leads to the national climate goals, which state that Sweden must have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045. On the way there, there is, among other things, the milestone goal that emissions be at least 63 percent lower in 2030 compared to 1990.
So far, Sweden’s total emissions have decreased by 33 percent compared to 1990, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s figures.
Clearer goal conflicts
Today’s report is also expected to highlight the goal conflicts that arise when climate change needs to be accelerated. The goal conflicts are becoming increasingly clear and concern, for example, how climate measures should be carried out with regard to, for example, biological diversity and the rights of indigenous peoples.
Wind turbines or mines where there are minerals that are needed in climate change but that affect the surrounding environment and wildlife are some current examples.
The report will be presented during the morning at a press conference where, among others, the Chair of the Climate Policy Council Cecilia Hermansson and Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) will participate.
In 2017, the Riksdag adopted a climate policy framework for Sweden. The framework includes new climate targets, a climate act and the Climate Policy Council.
The Climate Policy Council is an independent interdisciplinary expert body that evaluates whether the government’s overall policy is leading towards the climate goals that the Riksdag and the government have decided on.
The council must also evaluate the knowledge base and models on which the government’s policy is based. The authority must also contribute to an increased societal debate on climate policy.
The council has eight members who must have high scientific competence in the fields of climate, climate policy, national economy, social science and behavioral science.
Source: The Climate Policy Council
No later than 2045, Sweden must have no net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, after which the emissions must be negative. To get there there are several milestones:
In 2030, emissions should be at least 63 percent lower than emissions in 1990.
In 2040, emissions should be at least 75 percent lower than in 1990.
Emissions from domestic transport, apart from domestic flights, must be reduced by at least 70 percent by 2030 compared to 2010.
Source: The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency