The Church of Sweden: It is time to move from words to action, climate minister
DEBATE. In the end, after long negotiations, all the countries that participated in the UN climate summit COP28 in Dubai were able to agree on a text to sign.
But the text is vaguely worded, with loopholes for oil-producing countries and without strong writings about climate finance for developing countries. There is still no reason to celebrate.
Representatives of the Church of Sweden were on site to observe and dialogue with the negotiators. We in the delegation welcome the historic agreement that can contribute to the phasing out of fossil fuels.
Sweden has been one of the countries that pushed for stronger formulations, but leadership in words must be translated into leadership in action.
In an interview, before the decision was made, climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari emphasized that the countries that opposed writings about fossil phase-out should instead be as ambitious and leading as Sweden. She further said that the parties must agree on a direction in order to live up to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5-degree target.
In order for Romina Pourmokhtari to be credible in what she says, it is now required that Sweden takes on the leadership jersey internationally and lives as we teach. The minister pointed out that many countries like to talk about their high ambitions to stop global warming, but in practice, they make decisions that protect their own national economic interests. Sadly, this also applies to Sweden’s climate policy.
It is not enough for the minister to speak of Sweden as a leading country and push for a phase-out of fossil fuels in international contexts, when the government’s own climate policy is not ambitious enough to reach set climate targets and commitments.
Therefore, it is important that Sweden takes responsibility for its current and historical emissions, by financially compensating the most affected countries.
An important step is that Sweden contributes to the fund for climate-related damages and losses, which was established on the first day of the meeting. It is important that Sweden, as a rich country with historically high emissions, shows leadership and sets a good example and provides financial support to the fund, which was not actually done during COP28.
We agree with the minister that Sweden should be a leading country. But pursuing a climate policy that leads to increased carbon dioxide emissions is a disaster. Not being able to make any promises to the fund for damages and losses is not credible.
The Church of Sweden’s delegation at COP28 wants to see that the Swedish government’s climate policy action plan, which is expected before the end of the year, is in line with the minister’s message during COP28. The action plan must show how the emissions gap is to be addressed. If this is not done, her words about Sweden as an example will ring hollow.
The Church of Sweden looks forward to conducting a dialogue with the minister regarding the government’s continued work to contribute to an ambitious and fair climate transition, both internationally and domestically. Now is the time to raise ambitions, not lower them. It is time to move from words to action.
Bishop Marika Markovits
Church of Sweden, Diocese of Linköping
Margareta Koltai
Policy Advisor Climate Justice, Act Swedish Church
Hanna Soldal
Opinion-former Climate Justice, Act Swedish Church
Bassem Maher
Regional representative Middle East, Act Church of Sweden
Sophie Ohlsson
Action volunteer and climate ambassador, the Swedish Church’s youth and Act Swedish Church
Michael Nausner
Doctor of Theology, researcher, Church of Sweden
Tewaney Seifesellassie
Aid coordinator Orthodox Church in Ethiopia, partner to Act Swedish Church
Julia Rensberg
Member and indigenous representative in the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches