Swedish Election result: ´ The climate issue permeates all sectors of society´

Commenting on the swedish election result, Sverker Carlsson Jagers, Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg, says it is likely that a new government will swiftly re-establish a Ministry of the Environment. He adds that Sweden may well end up with both an Environment Minister and a Climate Minister.

^{Text: Marika Griehsel}

Marine issues, not least the prospect of the Baltic Sea’s recovery, may also come into focus. This is partly because all parties in the Parlament are keen to see the issue on the agenda, and partly because the European Parliament has adopted the Baltic Sea report.

´What unites the red-green coalition is primarily their opposition to the Sweden Democrats. After that, it is issues relating to the environment and climate that bring them together. This means it will be reflected in policy,´ says Sverker Carlsson Jagers.

The task of forming a government will now, in all likelihood, fall to the Social Democrats’ leader, Magdalena Andersson, who will attempt to bring together the Left Party, the Green Party and the Centre Party. Their 176 seats against the Tidö Parties 173 seats presents challenges.

The Social Democrats have lower voter support than ever before, and in order to form a government and push through a future budget, their potential coalition partners – who have a clearer environmental and climate profile than the Social Democrats – must both be awarded ministerial posts and see parts of their policies implemented.

´However, it might be a good idea to separate environmental and climate issues under different ministers. The climate affects all sectors of society – employment, industry and emergency preparedness. This can sometimes clash with environmental aspects where biodiversity must be safeguarded,´according to Sverker Carlsson Jagers.

^{Sverker Carlsson Jagers, Professor of Political Science at the University of Gothenburg. Photo: Staffan Ekholm}

Sverker Carlsson Jagers’ research focuses on environmental policy, people’s environmental behaviour and perceptions of the environment, and environmental policy instruments. He believes that this summer’s wildfires in southern Europe and the glacier collapse in Nepal may have had some effect on voters, but it is economic considerations that primarily determine whether people choose environment and climate-friendly alternatives.

Sverker Carlsson Jagers believes that a new government can, through public education, open up a whole ‘toolbox’ to explain and implement measures to strengthen environmental and climate action.

´There are various forms of policy instruments: information, subsidies and, of course, taxes. The latter are the least popular. But if citizens see that a tax is levied because they are incurring a cost to society or affecting the climate, then there is greater acceptance of such a tax. If, for example, VAT is then reduced on vegetables and goods and services that have a smaller carbon footprint, this will have further positive effects,´ concludes Sverker Carlsson Jagers.