Swedish Government Under Fire For Reducing Ecological Programs Budget

Emissions are predicted to rise in response to reductions in climate funds and gasoline levies. 

The Swedish government has been criticized for releasing an emissions-increasing budget.

Budget savings of 259m krona (£19m) and reductions in taxes on gasoline and diesel were part of the plan revealed on Wednesday morning. However, government choices implemented between 1 July 2022 and 1 July 2023 are projected to raise emissions by 5.9 million to 9.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents by the year 2030.

Sweden is likely to fall short of its transport goals for 2030, despite long-term projections of a 1.8-million-ton reduction in emissions by 2045.

Mattias Goldmann, Sweden’s 2030 secretariat, said: “It’s a gasoline-soaked budget fuse.” He told the Dagens Nyheter that while there were some good developments, these “cannot compensate for the powerful reduction of the tax on fossil fuels and the reduction of the reduction obligation which works to achieve the goal of a fossil-free vehicle fleet by the year 2030 must be achieved”.

Reducing taxes on gasoline and diesel might slow the widespread adoption of electric cars and raise emissions by as much as 500 million metric tons.

According to Per Bolund, a representative for the Green Party, the current government doesn't seem to care about the climate catastrophe, because emissions reductions are an annual need, as shown by several studies.

Government officials have admitted that current policies would lead to significant increases in emissions that fall short of Swedish legal requirements and EU standards.

Moderate Party leader and Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson also defended the budget. When asked about climate change preparations, she said, "You will have to wait and have patience."

Pensioner tax reductions, increased funding for the judicial system (including proposed jail construction), decreased taxes on snus tobacco, increased charges on cigarettes, and the elimination of a plastic bag tax were also included in the spending plan. Unemployment is expected to rise in the next two years, and Svantesson anticipated that inflation would be high as well. According to her, many people will experience a difficult economic winter."

She characterized the present moment in Sweden as "extremely challenging," citing rising internal security concerns, child shootings, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. She assured the public that the government will combat inflation and assist families by providing greater resources for welfare and tax reduction.

 

Source: theguardian.com