In June, the national economist John Hassler was commissioned by the government to quickly investigate how the Swedish climate policy should be adapted to the EU’s climate package “Fit for 55”.
On October 18, he presented his 46 proposals, including that Sweden’s goal of reducing transport emissions by 70 percent by 2030 should be replaced with an electrification goal. Another of the proposals was a national emissions trading system.
Large parts of the investigation were met with strong criticism from the environmental movement. Among others, the Nature Conservation Society and the World Wildlife Fund WWF believe that changing the targets risks delaying the climate transition.
“Not impressed”
At a seminar on 25 October with the industry organization for propellants and fuel, Drivkraft Sweden, John Hassler himself commented on his work.
– I myself am not impressed with my report, says Hassler in a video clip from the seminar.
– I have really only written down what many others have pointed out before. I must have effectively put in three weeks of work.
When TV4 Nyheterna reaches John Hassler, he develops his reasoning.
– I am not usually so easily impressed by my own work. What I have suggested is not that remarkable, it is based on research. That was a joking way of saying it.
Are you satisfied with the report?
– I’m not impressed, because I don’t think what I’m proposing is that terribly remarkable. There are no radical things I bring. I think the report is okay.
John Hassler points out that the task he was given by the government was to do a quick investigation to summarize his view on the climate goals, not to produce new research.
– I have summarized what I found earlier and included some new things. I’ve used very broad brushes and looked at it superficially.
“Trying to get answers you want”
The Nature Conservancy’s climate manager David Kihlberg is not surprised by John Hassler’s statement.
– I understand that he says that. The investigation is just as John Hassler himself points out added in a very short time. We believe that it was also created on dubious grounds by the government in order to quickly investigate a total change in climate policy. The government is trying to find alternatives to its non-existing climate policy.
According to David Kihlberg, the government should focus on reducing emissions in the near term rather than renegotiating existing climate targets.
– I think they appointed John Hassler to get the answers they want. First they remove climate policy and increase emissions, then they add half-hearted investigations that cause us to lose even more time even though we are facing a real climate crisis.
Pourmokhtari: Many positives
Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari comments on John Hassler’s statement in a text message:
“Professor Hassler’s report is one of many documents for my work with the government’s climate action plan. He has compiled established policy proposals that many experts, authorities and industries have previously raised. This is also why so many have been positive about the proposals in his report”.