The Social Democrats are calling for Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari to resign, citing Sweden's failure to meet the EU's 2030 climate goals. The demand comes as the government prepares to present its autumn budget, which reveals a significant shortfall in emissions reductions. Pourmokhtari had previously promised to step down if Sweden's climate targets were not met.
S Demands Climate Minister Pourmokhtari's Resignation Over Missed EU Targets
S Demands Pourmokhtari's Resignation: "It's Her Promise"
The Social Democrats (S) are demanding that Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) resign. This is reported by TT. The reason is that Sweden appears to be missing the EU's climate targets for 2030.
According to S, the Climate and Environment Minister should submit her resignation by Monday, coinciding with the government's presentation of the autumn budget.
The demand is justified by the government's own climate report, which shows that Sweden will miss the EU's 2030 climate targets.
– It's her promise to the Swedish people, and one should stand firm, says S's environmental and agricultural policy spokesperson Anna-Caren Sätherberg to TT.
Promised to Resign
When the budget is presented on Monday, it includes an annex showing the climate impact of the government's policies.
It shows that the gap to the EU targets for transport and agriculture in 2030 is 5.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. However, if the measures proposed in the budget for 2026 are included, the gap reduces to 4.3 million tons by 2030, according to TT.
The government's proposals are therefore insufficient.
But Romina Pourmokhtari remains optimistic.
– If I don't stand by the policies we are to implement, it would be dishonest of me to remain, she told Svenska Dagbladet in 2022.
Two years later, she stated in another interview with Sveriges Radio's "Klotet" that she would resign if "we move further from Sweden's climate goals, and if emissions increase with me as climate minister."
S: Emissions Will Increase
Sätherberg tells TT that she expects the climate minister to keep her word.
– This is the government's last budget, and emissions are set to increase with this budget.
The Green Party's spokesperson and the party's climate and business policy spokesperson made the same resignation demand on Expressen's debate page last autumn.
"For a long time, Pourmokhtari has managed to evade follow-up questions on this, but as the government's policies take effect in reality, she can no longer escape her own promise," wrote Amanda Lind, Daniel Helldén, and Elin Söderberg then.
Expressen is seeking Romina Pourmokhtari.