Tech industry solutions missing from climate report
Recently, John Hassler, an investigator for the Swedish government, presented his report on how Sweden's climate policy can be aligned with the EU's 'Fit for 55' climate plan. Reactions have been mixed - some positive, some more negative. Positive reactions often relate to proposals for faster electrification, increased predictability in the environmental permitting process and a sustainable transport infrastructure. Proposals that are crucial to achieving our climate goals. Critics often argue that it is unfavorable to tear up the Swedish climate targets that were adopted in 2017 with broad political consensus and that have led to companies having clear targets and making investments accordingly. The EU's targets may be good, perhaps better than the Swedish ones in the long run. But the fact that not all interim targets have been set and need to be decided by both the European Parliament and all Member State governments, and the uncertainty about how long this process will take, are also important uncertainty factors.
The content of the report, combined with a government that, among other things, is lowering the reduction obligation with increased emissions as a result and an internationally changed image of a Sweden that was previously considered a leading country in the climate and environmental field, further contributes to the scepticism about the abolition and change of climate targets. A changed view of and in Sweden should not be underestimated in terms of motivation and commitment to the important transition everyone must make. Ambiguity around political goals creates uncertainty about where we are heading and the importance of getting there together, where the risk of lowered ambitions in the business community is obvious.
If the government chooses to implement Hassler's proposed changes, and regardless of whether the outcome is ultimately good, we know that new investigations take time, that new agreements may take time, and that is time we do not have. Sweden must be a driving force in the climate field and focus on the opportunities, not least by showing the best examples of solutions for the transition. In the area of climate and the environment, there are great opportunities for a competitive Swedish business sector, including the tech industry.
But the link to tech and digital solutions as the important infrastructure and toolbox for the transition is missing from the report. The tech industry's solutions are perhaps more an answer to how we can implement a sustainable transition, but various digital technologies play a crucial role in succeeding in the climate transition while strengthening Sweden's competitiveness. I therefore hope that the government will pursue a future-oriented leadership and in its upcoming climate policy action plan take the opportunity to clearly make the link to digital solutions as an important tool for reducing climate and environmental impact and increasing energy efficiency.
TechSverige has made it easy for the government by proposing six proposals that can easily be included in the action plan and that can quickly help to achieve emission targets - regardless of what they are. For example, invest in AI for the climate in the long term, increase expertise on the link between digitization and climate in municipalities and regions, and introduce legal requirements for public actors to share open data linked to the environment and climate free of charge. In this way, smart and innovative solutions can be created and ultimately exported and contribute beyond our national borders.
We have a strong Swedish tech industry with a clear goal of contributing to reduced climate and environmental impact, so for the government not to make this connection would just be stupid. It is now up to us to prove that this government has any credibility in one of the most important areas of our entire existence and to regain the view of Sweden we have had in the climate and environmental area.
Frida Faxborn
Business policy expert
TechSverige's proposal for the action plan