The government has reformulated the rules on state support for fossil exports. The new rules pave the way for Sweden to start promoting fossil gas energy in other countries again through the Export Credit Board, after previously promising to phase out this type of support.
Energy company Siemens Energy AB has long been running a lobbying campaign to persuade the government to relax regulations, DN revealed on Friday.
According to several experts, the decision to rewrite the rules contradicts Sweden’s promises in the climate negotiations.
Now MP, C and V are criticizing strongly against the government’s actions in this matter. Green Party spokesman Daniel Helldén accuses the moderates of selling out Swedish climate policy.
– I am very upset about the government’s actions regarding fossil fuel exports. Dousa’s actions appear to follow a pattern among moderates, where climate policy is for sale. It is clear that they are listening more and more to the fossil industry, says Daniel Helldén.
Development Aid and Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa previously told DN that the government believes the amended guidelines are in line with Sweden’s climate commitments.
– This is about both reducing carbon dioxide emissions and improving air quality in poor countries, as well as creating new jobs in Sweden, he said.
The Center Party’s climate policy spokesman, Rickard Nordin, also reacted sharply.
– This is madness. The government in Sweden is increasing emissions and missing climate targets – and now it wants to subsidize other countries to do the same. It is extremely damaging to both the Swedish economy and reputation, but above all to climate goals, he says.
The climate policy spokesman for the Left Party, Kajsa Fredholm believes the government must reverse the decision.
– Repeat and do it right. This upsets you very much. Ultimately, we should adapt and not rely on exports to support more fossil fuels, she says – and believes the government appears to be listening too much to lobbyists.
– This is not the first report on the same topic. We recently saw in the Swedish Forestry Agency’s electricity investigation that there appears to be revolving doors between the government and lobby organizations.
Both V, MP and C promise to work to have the decision overturned if they win the election in the autumn.
– For us it is self-evident that the efforts of the Swedish state must be aimed at achieving the set goals, both internationally and in Sweden. This contradicts that. We shouldn’t subsidize the fossil fuel industry, says Rickard Nordin.
The Social Democrats also criticize the government for the changed regulations, although their criticism is milder than that of the other opposition parties.
– The government must ensure that it does not violate international obligations. Then the goal should generally be to sell green technology for export, says the party’s energy policy spokesman Fredrik Olovsson.
If you win the election, will you overturn the decision?
– You have to see the context. We can also imagine the use of gas turbines in Sweden if they run on biogas. But we neither want to spend taxpayers’ money nor take risks on large-scale investments in fossil fuel plants abroad.
Read more:
The government is opening up to increased fossil exports – after a lobbying campaign by energy companies
