Climate commission remains split

Despite a common position by parties in the ruling Alliance government, the parliamentary commission on climate policy failed to find agreement on an emissions reduction goal.

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The opposition parties plan to register their dissenting opinion in the commission’s final report.

Hans Jonsson, former head of the Federation of Swedish Farmers (LRF) and current chair of the climate policy commission presented the report in an afternoon press conference on Tuesday.

“The possibility of me bringing the two camps together is zero. Therefore I’m making my presentation today. We are in agreement on 300 pages worth of text. There is a half-page left on which we cannot find agreement. It has to do with Sweden’s emissions targets for 2020,” said Jonsson.

As a result, the main findings of the report will consist of the opinion of the Alliance parties, which hold a majority in the commission.

The dissenting opinion of the opposition parties will be registered in an appendix to the findings.

Sweden's governing centre-right parties had reached a common position on an emissions target following a weekend a meeting, raising expectations that the commission could overcome last week's disagreement over the goal.

The Alliance parties had suggested that Swedish emissions be brought down to levels equivalent to 38 percent of 1990 levels by the year 2020. They also believed that 7 to 8 percent of the 38 percent goal could be credited to measures in place in other countries.

The opposition parties want an emissions reduction of 40 percent, with the entire goal met through measures taken in Sweden.

The EU Commission suggested an emissions reduction goal for Sweden of 17 percent compared with 2005 emission’s levels, which is the equivalent to a 24 percent reduction from 1990 levels.

Despite the lack of unity on the short term emission’s target, the commission agreed on goals for the medium and long term.

The commission holds that emissions be reduced by 75-90 percent compared with 1990 levels, and reduced to zero by 2100.

To reach the goals, the commission suggests a concerted effort to support technology development and increased energy efficiency.

In addition, it suggests a 50 percent hike in railway capacity, as well as a fuel tax increase of 70 ore (11 cents). The latter would be raised in parallel with Sweden’s overall economic development.

The commission also wants to have a per kilometer tax on heavy transport vehicles, higher emissions standards on new cars, as well as a 9 ore per kilogram increase in the carbon dioxide tax.