The government is sharply reducing the allocation for MSB’s climate adaptation work in this year’s budget. Something that receives strong criticism in Åre, which was hit hard by storm Hans.
– I don’t understand how the government thinks. After the experience with Hans all over the country, how to prioritize like this, it doesn’t add up for me, says Martine Eng (S), municipal councilor in Åre.
Åre was one of the places in the country that suffered severe flooding during storm Hans.
Roads, buildings and other infrastructure were destroyed and experts pointed out that the risk is also high that similar events will happen again and that preventive climate adaptation measures are needed.
But when the government’s autumn budget was presented earlier this week, it was clear that the grants for MSB’s climate adaptation work will be reduced by almost a third, from 137 to 90 million.
Pointed out as a risk area
In Åre, which is singled out as a high risk area for floods and landslides, sharp criticism is now directed at the government and claims that the reduced funding risks having serious consequences.
– I don’t understand how people in the government think. After the experience with Hans all over the country, how to prioritize like this, it doesn’t add up for me, says Martine Eng (S), municipal councilor in Åre.
The announcement is also unexpected because the government’s own expert council previously signaled that significantly more money needed to be spent on this.
– The risk now is that we cannot take the measures needed to work with measures that prevent this from happening again. We need the support from MSB when it comes to analyzing our risks, but also to plan what we have to do going forward, says Martine Eng.