On March 21 surrendered Climate policy the Council without annual assessment av the government's climate policy. Reports has awakened reaction and several debaters has under it walked week discussed climate policyen i both Sweden and Europe.
Editorial writer Annie Croona writes in Dagens ETC that the council criticized the government's climate policy more than she had thought.
- I expected a sawing when the climate policy council would present its report for 2024, but not a sawing of that caliber, she writes.
According to Annie Croona, the council's criticism was basically aimed at all aspects of the government's climate policy. The council believes that the action plan is misleading, does not live up to the climate act and becomes prolematic as the emission reductions are postponed to the future.
An aspect of climate policy that was also discussed during the week was the aviation tax.
- Da Swedish flight tax is not a climate tax. No credible climate effect of it has been demonstrated, write Marcus Dahlsten and Fredrik Kämpfe from Transportföretagen on Svenska Dagbladet's debate page.
They believe that the flight tax makes prices more expensive without contributing to the adjustment of aviation. They refer to, among other things, fuel change and technical development as better strategies for aviation's transition.
However, Jonas Åkerman and Mattias Höjer from KTH and Jörgen Larsson from Chalmers do not agree.
- Our conclusion that it is wrong to lower the aviation tax remains. Alternatives to air travel are needed and the tax exemption for air travel should be phased out, they write in a closing remark Svenska Dagbladet's debate page.
The debaters agree that technological development and alternative fuels are necessary strategies to achieve a more sustainable climate policy, but they also refer to research which confirms that the Swedish flight tax has resulted in reduced emissions as a result of reduced flying.
- This means that the aviation tax or equivalent taxes – as long as aviation's climate impact remains large – would have to be increased, not lowered, they write.
"The transition can be anchored in the people"
Ulrica Schenström, CEO of Fores, and Anna Willman, climate policy expert, sign Svenska dagbladet's debate page that it may seem hopeless to present an ambitious climate policy that is accepted by citizens. The debaters believe that politics today has taken the easy way out to reduce dissatisfaction among its citizens.
- When fuel prices rise, it usually hits low-income and rural residents the hardest, which can create discontent and rebellion, they write.
At the same time, they believe that it is possible to present a sustainable climate policy that is also rooted in the people.
- A survey study conducted by researchers at the University of Gothenburg shows, however, that the majority of members of the Swedish Fuel Rebellion are actually worried about climate change and want to do something about it. They may even accept a carbon tax, provided the financial burden is shared equally.
Climate policy
The government's climate policy deservedly killed with lust
Annie Croona, editorial writer, Dagens ETC
"Reality has overtaken the flight tax"
Marcus Dahlsten, CEO Transportföretagen; Fredrik Kämpfe, branch manager Transportföretagen Flyg, Svenska Dagbladet debate
"Airplane's climate impact is too great"
Jonas Åkerman, research leader, strategic sustainability studies, KTH; Jörgen Larsson, policy researcher for sustainable consumption, Chalmers; Mattias Höjer, professor of environmental strategic analysis and future studies, KTH, Svenska Dagbladet debate
"The transition can be anchored in the people"
Ulrica Schenström, CEO, Fores; Anna Willman, climate policy expert, Fores, Svenska dagbladet debate
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