In an interview with Dagens Arena, Björn-Ola Linnér, Director of Mistra Geopolitics and Professor at Linköping University, commented on the election results.

“Tax reductions and lower greenhouse gas reduction mandate for petrol and diesel will make it more difficult to achieve Sweden’s climate goals. They should aim for compensating people in sparsely populated areas, rather than lowering the fuel price for everyone,” said Björn-Ola Linnér.

Nuclear power and reduced prices for petrol and diesel have been among the main messages in the election campaign for many of the parties in the winning bloc. Several surveys, including the ones performed by Supermiljöbloggen and the Researcher’s desk network, point out the election-winning parties as the worst in the class, in terms of climate and environmental policy.

“The climate goals for 2030 are under threat,” writes Mattias Goldmann on Supermiljöbloggen. According to his election review of the parties’ climate and environmental policy, all parties on Kristersson’s side want to lower the greenhouse gas reduction mandate* to the EU’s minimum level and lower the tax on petrol and diesel “more than the EU allows.”

Björn-Ola Linnér wishes that the discussion will now, after the election, be broadened regarding the need for broad initiatives for climate change.

“There is a parliamentary majority to maintain the Swedish climate goals. But when the European Commission is talking about a societal transformation that includes all areas of society, in Sweden, it becomes more of a question of nuclear power compared to the EU and the rest of Europe,” said Björn-Ola Linnér.

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Linköping University

Professor Björn-Ola Linnér

Björn-Ola Linnér is the Programme Director of Mistra Geopolitics and Professor at the Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research at Linköping University. He analyses how the political processes and actors affect conditions for social changes towards sustainable development in different parts of the world. He has a long experience in research dialogues with various societal actors, such as the climate convention’s secretariat, governments, businesses and environmental organizations.

SEI

Ylva Rylander

Ylva Rylander is a Communications Officer at SEI. As a core member of SEI’s communications team and previous Press Officer of SEI, Ylva writes and edits press releases, develops communication plans and creates news stories. With 15 years of experience in public relations, awareness raising and external communication, she also provides strategic advice to SEI and Mistra Geopolitics researchers to help them maximize the impact of their research.

Telephone:+4673 150 33 84

Media interview with Professor Björn-Ola Linnér, Director of Mistra Geopolitics, by Dagens Arenda. Translation and editing by Ylva Rylander, Communications Officer for Mistra Geopolitics at SEI.