Leader
Ulf Kristersson
Climate policy is governed by magical thinkingAnders Lindberg
Political Editor-in-Chief
Aftonbladet's editorial page is independent social democratic.
Published 2024-03-30 06.00
It is important to think about the climate Illustration: Robert Nyberg
Sweden must have zero net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045. The politicians have decided that. And the consequences of climate change are already here: extreme weather, floods, famine and conflict.
But these goals will not be achieved. When the climate policy council reviewed the government's policy, it got the thumbs down. It simply does not deliver what it promises.
Magical thinking
Instead, we have been given a kind of magical thinking. Where increased emissions today lead to lower emissions in the future. Hocus pocus filiocus.
When P1 morning this week, in prime time, discussed climate policy,the question was: "Debate: Are the climate policy council's climate goals unreasonable?"
Basically everything is wrong with that angle. It is not the "climate policy council's goal" but Sweden's. All parties except SD stand behind it. But the most interesting thing is the starting point: that the fault lies in the climate goals, not in politics or in reality.
Instead, we have been given a kind of magical thinking. Where increased emissions today lead to lower emissions in the future. Hocus pocus filiocus.
When P1 morning this week, in prime time, discussed climate policy,the question was: "Debate: Are the climate policy council's climate goals unreasonable?"
Basically everything is wrong with that angle. It is not the "climate policy council's goal" but Sweden's. All parties except SD stand behind it. But the most interesting thing is the starting point: that the fault lies in the climate goals, not in politics or in reality.
Lies
The right's total power over the debate cannot be illustrated more clearly than that. The government has climate targets, Sweden has a climate law and we have signed the global agreements that exist.
But the burden of proof is placed on those who demand that the targets, the law and the agreements be followed. Not with those who ignore them.
And the researchers' conclusions? They become one opinion among others in the "debate". Everyone is entitled to their own facts.
- There are different opinions, as Ulf Kristersson himself said about the criticism.
The right's total power over the debate cannot be illustrated more clearly than that. The government has climate targets, Sweden has a climate law and we have signed the global agreements that exist.
But the burden of proof is placed on those who demand that the targets, the law and the agreements be followed. Not with those who ignore them.
And the researchers' conclusions? They become one opinion among others in the "debate". Everyone is entitled to their own facts.
- There are different opinions, as Ulf Kristersson himself said about the criticism.
Fewer children
There was also another piece of news last week. That fewer children are now being born in Sweden than ever since 1749. The reason for the trend is said by researchers to be increased concern for the future. On average, a Swedish woman gives birth to 1.45 children. It would, if it continues, lead to a real crisis in the population issue.
According to Statistics Sweden, the development is clear throughout the country and both among women born in Sweden and abroad. Birth rates started falling like this in 2010 and it is perhaps not so strange if young people lose hope for the future.
There was also another piece of news last week. That fewer children are now being born in Sweden than ever since 1749. The reason for the trend is said by researchers to be increased concern for the future. On average, a Swedish woman gives birth to 1.45 children. It would, if it continues, lead to a real crisis in the population issue.
According to Statistics Sweden, the development is clear throughout the country and both among women born in Sweden and abroad. Birth rates started falling like this in 2010 and it is perhaps not so strange if young people lose hope for the future.
Future hope
A few years ago, we had a broad debate about climate anxiety and about what an increasingly dark future is doing to us. This was dismissed by the right and in the media. Today the right winds are blowing stronger than ever.
I think the government's real problem is that no one really believes in magical thinking. We know that science doesn't work like that. And it is noticeable in such an important matter as having children.
Maybe it sounds banal like this on Easter Eve, but politics' strongest force is faith in the future. The hope that there is a tomorrow. That everything will get better.
And this is precisely what the politicians are now neglecting.
A few years ago, we had a broad debate about climate anxiety and about what an increasingly dark future is doing to us. This was dismissed by the right and in the media. Today the right winds are blowing stronger than ever.
I think the government's real problem is that no one really believes in magical thinking. We know that science doesn't work like that. And it is noticeable in such an important matter as having children.
Maybe it sounds banal like this on Easter Eve, but politics' strongest force is faith in the future. The hope that there is a tomorrow. That everything will get better.
And this is precisely what the politicians are now neglecting.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar