Updated 14.50 | Published 14.29
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The Swedish climate goals must remain – but should be updated in light of the EU’s climate legislation. That is what government investigator John Hassler suggests.
– All climate targets are proposed to remain, says Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L).
– It is important that the Swedish climate goals rhyme with the EU’s. No radical changes are needed, but new policies are needed so that we reach the goals, says John Hassler at a press conference where his investigation is presented.
The environmental goals committee “should be tasked with updating the Swedish climate goals so that they are based on the goal structure used within the EU’s regulatory framework,” the report states.
– It is quite clear that with the policy we have decided so far, Sweden will not meet the EU’s demands on us, nor the Swedish climate goals, says Hassler, who is a professor of economics.
– And if the Swedish climate goals were to be reached, it does not guarantee that the EU’s requirements would be met, among other things due to the difference in target structure.
Many suggestions
The investigator has 46 proposals for a Swedish climate strategy in his report. This includes, among other things, the introduction of a Swedish system for emissions trading for at least all emissions outside the current emissions trading and a climate bonus for all households.
Hassler also suggests that the stage goal for 2030 should be reworked so that it “rhymes with” the EU’s demands on Sweden within the framework of the non-traded sector (ESR).
– My firm opinion is that it does not have to lead to a reduced level of ambition when it comes to emissions in Sweden. And if you want a higher level of ambition, we can overperform in this system, he says.
Hassler also wants to see an update of the national transport target for 2030. According to Hassler, an increased focus on electrification of the transport sector would lead to a tightening of the target.
– The current design of the transport sector target is problematic. It pushes policies that are not good, he says.
Sweden’s climate goals are part of the climate policy framework that was approved by all parliamentary parties except the Sweden Democrats in 2017. This summer, Hassler was tasked with reviewing Swedish climate policy in light of the fact that the EU has tightened its policy with the “Fit for 55” climate package.
“Tough goals”
The investigation is to form a basis for the government’s climate policy action plan, which is supposed to be presented in November.
– With the EU’s new climate package, we get new tough targets and emission requirements for all sectors. If all member states achieve their commitments, the EU will reach the 1.5-degree target in the Paris Agreement and make the EU the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, says Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari.
– Sweden must be more ambitious than that and become climate neutral five years earlier.
Sweden’s long-term goal is to reach zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045, with several milestones along the way. But none of the climate goals will be reached with the current policy, which will lead to increased emissions by upwards of 10 million tons until 2030, states the government in its autumn budget.
FACT Sweden’s climate goals
The long-term goal is for Sweden to have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045 at the latest and to reach negative emissions thereafter. The goal means that the emissions of greenhouse gases from Swedish territory must be at least 85 percent lower by the year 2045 than the emissions in 1990. The remaining emissions down to zero can be achieved through supplementary measures.
In order to reach the long-term goal, there are milestone goals: in 2030, emissions should be 63 percent lower than in 1990 and in 2040 at least 75 percent lower than in 1990. Parts of the goals can be achieved through supplementary measures. Emissions covered by the EU emissions trading system are not included in the milestone targets.
There is also a special stage goal for transport. According to it, emissions from domestic transport, apart from domestic flights, must be reduced by at least 70 percent by 2030 at the latest compared to 2010.
Source: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Read moreFAKTASverige’s climate policy framework
In 2017, Sweden adopted a climate policy framework consisting of a climate law, climate targets and a climate policy council.
The Climate Act imposes a responsibility on governments to pursue a policy based on the climate goals and to report regularly on developments. The government must present a climate report in the budget bill every year and a climate policy action plan every four years.
Sweden’s long-term climate goal means that Sweden must have no net emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by 2045 at the latest, in order to achieve negative emissions thereafter. There are also several milestones.
The Climate Policy Council is an expert body that assists with an independent evaluation of whether the government’s policy is compatible with the climate goals.
Source: Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
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