'Devastating consequences' as new Swedish government scraps environment ministry

Sweden's new right-wing authorities has sparked an outcry after scrapping the Ministry of Surroundings in a transfer the opposition has branded "devastating".

Beforehand, the ministry was a high-profile stand-alone division with a minister within the cupboard, however now it'll function as a part of one other ministry as a substitute.  

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson unveiled his new cupboard on Tuesday, and though he did appoint a Minister of Local weather and Surroundings -- 26-year-old Liberal MP Romina Pourmokhtari-- she is going to work underneath Christian Democrat chief Ebba Busch, the brand new Minister for Power, Enterprise and Trade, quite than lead her personal ministry.  

The chief of the Swedish Greens, Per Bolund, famous that for the primary time in 35 years Sweden would haven't any devoted atmosphere ministry. 

"It's unimaginable to explain extra clearly how little this authorities values ​​the atmosphere and the local weather. This can be a historic resolution with devastating penalties for environmental points", stated Bolund.  

Pär Holmgren, a Swedish Inexperienced Social gathering MEP, stated, "count on enormous cuts in inexperienced funding resulting in a devastating influence on local weather insurance policies that we, the Greens, labored so exhausting to place in place." 

Isabella Lövin, chairperson of the board on the Stockholm Environmental Institute and herself a former minister of atmosphere, stated that inexperienced points in Sweden had been "set again 35 years".

It isn't the primary time that environmental points in Sweden have been dealt with by different ministries. 

Earlier than the primary devoted atmosphere ministry was established in 1987, the Ministry of Agriculture after which the mixed Ministry of Surroundings and Power handled these coverage issues. 

The Swedish Environmental Safety Company, one of many first on the earth, was established again in 1967.

AP Photo
Sweden's Minister of Local weather and Surroundings Romina Pourmokhtari speaks to the media at a press convention, Stockholm, 18 October 2022AP Photograph

What's the new Swedish authorities doing in regards to the local weather disaster?

Within the Swedish authorities's new programme, unveiled final week, the atmosphere is flagged as one of many seven key precedence areas to sort out within the first yr of workplace, though many initiatives are extra intently linked with the vitality disaster. 

The coverage agenda, outlined in a 62-page doc, dedicated Sweden to fulfill present nationwide and worldwide targets - just like the Paris Settlement - on decreasing carbon emissions. 

The federal government has additionally earmarked extra money for nuclear energy, with €36 billion credit score ensures to construct new nuclear energy stations, and in addition plans to introduce guidelines to make it tougher to close down present nuclear crops.

And to make sure the protection of electrical energy provide within the shorter time period (and to maintain costs low), the federal government will examine whether or not it is viable to reopen two nuclear energy stations within the south of the nation which had been closed over the previous couple of years.

A worth cap for vitality payments, funded by the federal government, can be launched by November, and the nation's community of charging factors for electrical autos can be expanded.

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post