Friday, September 17, 2010

Climate is a small issue in Swedish elections

Coming Sunday the Swedish election for a new parliament will take place.
Unfortunately Climate Change is not a big issue. The discussions about climate is mostly about what to do in Sweden. Railways or taxes, windmills or nuclear. But the moral view and the global consequences of climate change is not on the table at all.
It is remarkable to see that one year ago everyone interpreted every small shift in the weather as a result of climate change and was pointing to UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen. Today with on of the largest weather related catastrophes ever in Pakistan with millions of people affected and the heatwave and wildfires in Russia last months no one relates to this as what will be more common in the future due to climate change.
The Swedish government are just bragging about that they have the best climate policy in the world. Something that is not true.
The rich countries of the world have the obligation to start the exodus of the fossil based society, not to say that developing countries should do something first. Those who have build their prosperity on fossils should also take responsibility to at the same time change to renewable energy on a large scale and at the same time help developing countries to take a leapfrog over the fossils. But I can´t hear anything in that direction in the political debate today. I guess we need a shift of mindset. Act locally and think globally!

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