Sweden's Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari faces criticism from the Green Party's Amanda Lind for failing to meet climate goals. The updated data from the Environmental Protection Agency reveals a significant shortfall in emissions targets, complicating government negotiations. Lind accuses Pourmokhtari of irresponsibility and demands concrete climate policies.
Swedish Climate Minister Criticized Over Rising Emissions
Swedish Climate Minister Criticized Over Rising Emissions
Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) is "furious" that Sweden is missing its climate goals by a larger margin than expected. However, the Green Party argues that the increase should not have been a surprise.
"Now she pretends to be surprised and shifts the blame. It's irresponsible," says spokesperson Amanda Lind.
Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari is "furious" because the Environmental Protection Agency's updated data shows that the government is far from reaching the climate goals by 2030.
According to the previous calculation, the deficit was 0.4 million tons of carbon dioxide. But when that figure was revised this summer, the deficit instead reached 5.8 million tons of carbon dioxide.
The significant difference worsens the climate minister's negotiating position when climate measures are to be negotiated within the framework of the Tidö Agreement, she says in an interview with Svenska Dagbladet.
"This severely complicates the government's ability to plan, negotiate, and implement climate policy," she says.
This explanation is not accepted by the Green Party's spokesperson Amanda Lind, who accuses Romina Pourmokhtari of shifting the blame.
"It has been obvious to everyone that we would not reach the climate goals with the government's policy. Now we have it in black and white. She must take responsibility and not blame the Environmental Protection Agency," says Amanda Lind.
Environmental Protection Agency: New Figures Emerged
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the initial forecast was based on the best available statistics at the time, but since then, new data has emerged from the Energy Agency.
This is what has caused the figure to be revised upwards, according to the agency.
"The difference in available statistics at different times turned out to be significant," writes the Environmental Protection Agency in a press release.
Lind: Pretends to Be Surprised
The agency has previously emphasized in reports that there are several scenarios with significant uncertainties. Amanda Lind argues that Romina Pourmokhtari has chosen to ignore this.
"She relied on the best-case scenario instead. It cannot be surprising for the climate minister to miss the climate goals. Now she pretends to be surprised and shifts the blame. It's irresponsible," says Amanda Lind.
There is too much talk about political games and too little about concrete policies for increased electrification and fair transition, Lind believes.
"The government must present the policies they intend to implement. They have dismantled Sweden's climate efforts. They have destroyed the conditions for those who want to transition. It's a major betrayal, and now a massive effort is required to get climate work back on track.
"The policy is inadequate, and we will see this in the upcoming figures," Amanda Lind predicts about the forthcoming climate report.