[ad_1]
The moderates are ready to negotiate a budget with the Swedish Democrats if Ulf Kristersson needs to become prime minister. In the climatic area, then, there are important contradictions to overcome. The disagreement is not just about money. The parties also disagree on the principles of politics.
The government and the coalition parties, the Center Party and the Liberals, have presented a record budget for 2021 in the area of environmental protection overhead, amounting to 16 billion Swedish crowns. This is where most direct climate initiatives are located. In terms of money, the moderates are on the same level.
Read more: Climate goals within reach of the government budget
The moderates emphasize that they spend one billion SEK each on two new appropriations, expanded charging infrastructure and support for green fuel. However, it must be weighed against M eliminating similar investments in the government budget. What is called Klimatklivet, a contribution to local green investments, will be eliminated entirely (SEK 2 billion), as well as a subsidy for electrified transport.
Jessica rosencrantzClimate Policy Spokesperson for The Moderates calls the government’s policy out of focus.
– We want to focus more clearly on what we think the state should do, that is, support investments in public charging infrastructure and the development of green fuels.
If the Swedish Democrats gain influence over climate policy, on the other hand, the budget would be exposed to a steel bath. Almost 6 billion will be lost under his budget proposal. Furthermore, SD has not supported the Swedish climate targets.
Moderator Jessica Rosencrantz is critical.
– We have completely different points of view here, it’s obvious, she says.
The largest DS intervention It is made on the bonus for those who buy a car with no or low emissions (SEK 3 billion) and Klimatklivet (SEK 2 billion). Martin Kinnunen, SD’s climate policy spokesman, refers to the criticism that has come, among others, from the National Institute for Economic Research and the National Audit Office against these measures.
– These supports are too general, they are mainly about burning as much money as possible, he says.
Another big difference between M and SD is the reduction obligation, also called a fuel switch, which means that more biofuel must be mixed with gasoline and diesel. The government and cooperating parties C and L agreed to strengthen the system in a way that means that the climate target for transport by 2030 is now within reach.
SD says no to this. Martin Kinnunen notes that it can be expensive for motorists and that there is a shortage of weather-resistant raw materials for biofuels.
– However, a moderate government will be behind the reduction obligation, promises Jessica Rosencrantz.
At other points it is M and SD agree, in contrast to the government and cooperation parties. The agreement applies, for example, to climate taxes, including a reduction in gasoline and diesel.
– We want to create alternatives so that people can adapt and dare to buy that electric car. But in the meantime, we need to make sure they reorganize their daily lives and can drive to work, says Jessica Rosencrantz.
M and SD also agree that more nuclear power is needed to reduce emissions. The moderates, like the Christian Democrats, have turned the matter around and pulled out of the five-party agreement that set the goal of phasing out nuclear power.
Now M, like SD and L, wants to stop the closure of Ringhals 1 and 2 and plan more reactors. Until now, investments in new nuclear energy have been assessed as unprofitable. However, moderates believe it is quite possible that new reactors could be put into operation soon enough to help bring Sweden’s net emissions to zero by 2045.
– Over and over for moderates is that we don’t stop fossil-free electricity production when we need more to be successful with climate change, says Jessica Rosencrantz.
Despite differences of opinion, Martin Kinnunen believes that SD and M are in a good position to agree.
– I think we have a similar view of the government’s ineffective policy, he says.
