Åsa Lindhagen Steps Down as Stockholm's Climate Commissioner

Åsa Lindhagen, Stockholm's Climate Commissioner and former minister, is leaving local politics. She criticizes her party's leadership for reducing ambitions on work hours and expects plans for new nuclear power to be overturned with a change in government.

Lindhagen has served as the environmental and climate commissioner in Stockholm since 2022. Alongside the leader of the red-green coalition, Finance Commissioner Karin Wanngård, she announces she will not seek re-election.

Instead, Lindhagen aims for a seat in the national parliament. The former Minister for Gender Equality does not rule out a future role in the government if there is a shift in power.

"I am incredibly grateful and proud of the work we have done in Stockholm, where we have been a clear counterbalance to the government's policies. We have worked to reduce emissions instead of increasing them and stood up for a city where everyone should feel welcome. Now I want to influence at the national level again, to take Sweden in a new direction," says Åsa Lindhagen.

According to the Green Party leader, leaving local politics was not an easy decision.

"But I also feel confident that we have skilled politicians in Stockholm who can continue to drive the green agenda. We have been in power for nearly twelve years, and the numbers currently suggest that we will continue to govern with the Social Democrats and the Left Party in the next term."

Lindhagen is particularly proud of efforts to protect more nature, with new nature reserves being established. She also highlights that the capital has received its first action plan against racism and anti-Semitism.

Backing Away from Election Promises

However, there is more to be done. Ahead of the Green Party's congress in October, Åsa Lindhagen is pushing the party on two issues: reduced working hours and more earmarked parental leave days.

She believes the party leadership has lowered ambitions, including backing away from the goal of a four-day workweek—a campaign promise launched by Amanda Lind and Daniel Helldén in an interview with DN last year.

In the proposal for the new party program, the four-day workweek is now described as a vision for the future, while a 35-hour workweek is seen as a first step.

"The wording is too weak, I think. We are backing away from what we previously said."

Åsa Lindhagen also criticizes the part of the party program dealing with parental insurance. Previously, the Green Party wanted to reserve one-third of the days for each parent, but now the proposal is much vaguer. It only states that the party wants to "take more steps for a more equal sharing of parental leave."

"We are a feminist party, and I want a party program where we advance our positions in these writings. Here, I think we should split the parental insurance equally."

Aiming to Overturn Nuclear Power Plans

In addition to convincing her own party, Lindhagen sees good chances to negotiate these issues with the Social Democrats in a future red-green government. However, she does not have much faith in the party's shift in view on state loans for new nuclear power.

"It is a complete misjudgment by the Social Democrats on what is right for Sweden. I also don't think Magdalena Andersson believes this. She was very clear in her inaugural speech."

Åsa Lindhagen points to when the Social Democratic leader was elected in the fall of 2021 and dismissed nuclear power as too expensive and slow.

"The same arguments still apply. I think the Social Democrats underestimate the opposition. Neither the Green Party's, the Center Party's, nor the Left Party's voters are interested in the bill of hundreds of billions of kronor falling on taxpayers."

Vattenfall recently announced plans to build modular nuclear reactors at Ringhals. Despite this, the Green Party leader is convinced that the plans will be overturned if the Tidö parties lose the 2026 election.

"These are very long processes. The issue will not be decided during this term," says Åsa Lindhagen.