The Climate Policy Council has reviewed the government’s overall policy for 2023 and evaluated the climate policy action plan that was presented in December.
The report states that Sweden’s emissions increased in 2023, and that the government is taking Sweden down an “unnecessarily risky path”.
– Of course we will review everything in the report and I also look forward to having a good dialogue with the Climate Policy Council about how they view the government’s policy, says Pourmokhtari.
“Pull the legs away for electrification”
Romina Pourmokhtari says that the climate action plan developed by the government is based on emission forecasts, with the aim of reaching zero net emissions by 2045.
– I see it as leaving a risky path where we refused to include one of the fossil-free power types. In doing so, we pulled the plug on the electrification that needs to happen in Sweden in order for us to not only reduce emissions, but reach all the way down to net zero in 2045.
Pourmokhtari believes that a prerequisite for reaching the emissions target is to use all fossil-free power types to achieve increased energy production and electrification of the fossil and transport sectors.
– I am a big friend of nuclear power, I feel safe that the Swedish people also see the potential.
Pourmokhtari: Double message
The Environment Minister also expresses that there are ambiguities in the Climate Policy Council’s criticism.
– I note that in the draft it is first mentioned that the climate action plan has too much focus on expanded electricity production, only to hear at the end that it is good that we have a focus on expanded electricity production.
– I would like to see us take a closer look at what the problem is in our energy policy.