Swedish Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari has been reported to the country’s Parliamentary Constitutional Committee by left-wing opposition parties on Thursday (17 October) over her emission reduction scenarios.
The Social Democrats (S&D), Greens, and the Left Party have reported Liberal (Renew) Climate Minister Romina Pourmokhtari to the committee after an investigation by national broadcaster SVT showing that her government had chosen the most convenient scenario plans for reducing emissions.
Following the announcement by the opposition parties, Elin Söderberg, climate policy spokesperson for the Greens said, “They are covering up how emissions may develop in the future.”
Last month, the Swedish government announced an increase in the proportion of biofuels blended with fossil fuels and a reduction in fuel taxes, concerning a “main scenario” presented by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
According to Pourmokhtari and her colleague Energy Minister Ebba Busch, this move will reduce the country’s CO2 emissions by 2 million tonnes in 6 years, helping Sweden to meet the EU’s 2030 climate targets, avoiding billions in fines.
Public broadcaster SVT’s investigation, however, showed that there are more scenarios than the one presented by the government. In another scenario, Sweden is far from meeting its 2030 climate target.
“We do not call it the ‘main scenario’. Both are equally likely”, said Sara Almqvist from the Swedish Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to the Swedish press.
Pourmokhtari, however, claimed that she had only been presented with a “main scenario”.
“I have not sat with two scenarios and chosen the best one. The agencies have presented scenarios to the government, then the government has made its calculations,” she said.
‘Misleading’ the people
For the Swedish opposition parties, the climate minister chose the scenario that fitted her political purposes best.
“It is actually astonishing that the Minister for Climate and Environment chooses to mislead the Swedish people,” said Anna-Caren Sätherberg, climate policy spokesperson for the S&D.
According to her, it is a lucky calculation for the government to meet the EU’s 2030 climate target while uncertainties remain, including electrification and the sale of fossil fuels in the future.
“It is unacceptable for the Minister for Climate and Environment to engage in this kind of number-crunching and colourful calculations,” said Sätherberg.
Kajsa Fredholm, a lawmaker from the Left party, even wondered whether Pourmokhtari had been given the right information by the Ministry of Climate and Business Affairs.
In response to her critics written in a joint article in Dagens Nyheter Debatt, with Finance Minister Elizabeth Svantesson, Pourmokhtari pointed out that the opposition’s policies are not enough to achieve the climate goals.
The ministers wrote, “The tone was high. But when it came time to back it up, to move from words to deeds, reality caught up with the opposition.”
Nevertheless, according to the S&D climate and environment spokesperson, it is important that the Constitutional Affairs Committee now investigate the matter to shed light on the “serious shortcomings in the government’s handling of the issue.”
What is next?
According to Swedish law, if a sitting minister is reported to the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee, the committee will investigate the allegations, potentially holding public hearings. After the investigation, it will present a report to parliament, which may include criticisms or recommendations. While it cannot impose sanctions, its findings can lead to political consequences such as pressure to resign. In severe cases, the minister could face legal prosecution or, in rare instances, impeachment and trial by a special court. “We will see we will have to let the committee do its work, but I doubt this will endanger Mrs Pourmokhtari’s job,” a source close to the Swedish Liberals told Euractiv, adding that the move was mainly political.
Pourmokhtari will not face immediate sanctions, as a decision from the Constitutional Committee is not expected for several months and can be more if the case is complex or leads to legal action.
[Edited by Rajnish Singh]
Source: euractiv.com
