(cont.) The National Audit Office's report on the state's work with underlying data and evaluation within the climate policy framework (cont. MJU20)
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the Swedish National Audit Office's review of the state's work with underlying data and evaluation within the climate policy framework. M argues that climate policy must rest on knowledge and sound analyses so that every tax krona does good 1. M emphasizes that climate policy should be built on growth and innovation rather than making people poorer 1. KD welcomes the review and argues that clear figures and honest pictures of uncertainties are fundamental for good climate decisions 2. KD suggests sensitivity analyses to make the decisions more robust 2. L welcomes the review and argues that it is an important task to improve the quality and clarity of the governance 3.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Helena Storckenfeldt (M)
Climate policy is one of the most important issues of our time. But we will not succeed by pitting the environment against the economy or by making people poorer and companies weaker. On the contrary, climate policy must be built on growth, innovation, and competitiveness. It is when companies invest, new technology is developed, and jobs are created that emissions can be reduced for real and in a sustainable way.
Sweden is already showing that this is possible. Today, we have the lowest emissions per capita in the EU, and that is something to be proud of. We have succeeded in combining high climate ambitions with growth and increased prosperity. That means that Sweden is not just a country that sets requirements; we are a country that leads the way and shows that the transition works in practice.
That is why Sweden has a special role to play. When we lead the way with fossil-free electricity production, climate-smart industries and technical solutions while simultaneously maintaining good growth, we show the way for other countries. We show that the climate transition does not need to mean reduced prosperity but on the contrary can create new jobs and new opportunities.
Madam Speaker! The EU is our most important climate policy platform. It is through Europe that we can scale up the solutions that work. When Sweden pushes for ambitious and effective policy instruments, common rules of the game, and strengthened competitiveness in the EU, our ideas gain real traction. Then European companies can grow, investments can increase, and emissions can decrease across our entire union.
It is also in this way that we strengthen Europe's position in the world. In a time when the USA and China are competing fiercely, the EU must be a leader in the green transition. Sweden shall be the force that shows that climate responsibility and economic strength go hand in hand.
Now we are debating the Swedish National Audit Office's report on the state's work with underlying data and evaluation within the climate policy framework. It is an important review. Climate policy must rest on knowledge, facts, and sound analyses. If we are to make the right decisions, reliable underlying data, clear follow-ups, and an accounting that makes it possible to evaluate which measures actually work are required.
Every tax crown spent for the climate must do the greatest possible good. Therefore, it is crucial that we know which reforms provide the most emission reductions, which policy instruments are most cost-effective, and how different decisions affect households, companies, and the economy. Without a good basis, there is a risk that resources will be used incorrectly, measures will become inefficient, and confidence in politics will decrease.
The National Audit Office's review is important and contributes to our ability to continue developing the work with underlying data and follow-up within climate policy. A serious policy must be able to withstand scrutiny, and as politicians, we should at all times be prepared to improve what can be done better. After all, that is the job.
The work with the annual climate reports also needs to continue to be developed. It is fundamentally about openness and clarity. Citizens, companies, and we here in the Riksdag should be able to follow the development and understand why different decisions are made. At the same time, we must be honest that forecasts and scenarios always contain uncertainties. Future emissions are influenced by things such as technological development, energy prices, economic cycles, international decisions, and how people ultimately choose to act. Therefore, there are no exact answers.
That is why it is important to be clear about which assumptions are made, which uncertainties exist, and how the results can change if the conditions change. It strengthens the quality of the decisions, improves the follow-up, and increases confidence in the climate policy.
Madam Speaker! This is the core of a Moderate climate policy: high ambitions but also order and discipline, results before symbols, efficiency before waste. We shall use the taxpayers' money responsibly and focus on the measures that provide a real effect.
That is exactly what we are doing. Emissions are calculated to be at approximately the same level as 2022 this year, despite the fact that we have lowered the fuel taxes and the reduction obligation. It shows that our policy works. Emissions are decreasing and will continue to decrease thanks to a policy that has moved from symbolism to practice. That is how we succeed in the long term. We are already in the lead. Now it is time for us to bring the rest of Europe along with us.
Magnus Oscarsson (KD)
Madam Speaker! We are now debating the Swedish National Audit Office's report on the state's work with evidence and evaluation within the climate policy framework.
Let me start simply. If we are to make good climate decisions, we must have good underlying data. It is that fundamental. That is why we welcome that the National Audit Office has reviewed how the state produces these underlying data. It was needed, because without clear figures, reasonable assumptions, and an honest picture of uncertainties, climate policy risks becoming more guesswork than governance.
Madam Speaker! Sweden has high climate ambitions. It is not enough to want to do the right thing. We must also know that we are doing the right thing. The Government shall every year report on how it is going and present action plans. In that case, the underlying data must hold up. Here, both the Swedish National Audit Office and the Government point out something important: We must become better at being clear about what we actually know and what we do not know. Many of the analyses are based on assumptions about the future: how technology develops, how people and companies act, and how prices change. In that case, it is reasonable to also openly report the uncertainties.
Madam Speaker! A majority in the committee agrees, just as the Christian Democrats do, that the government is on the right track and that transparency has improved. But there is more to be done, for example regarding the emission scenarios. They need to become clearer. What are they based on? How sensitive are they if something changes? Here is a concrete proposal: Supplement with sensitivity analyses where needed – that is, show what happens if reality does not turn out as intended. It makes the decisions more robust.
At the same time, we must not complicate things unnecessarily. The climate reports must be readable and understandable. Not all details can be included; instead, one must refer to the authorities' more technical underlying documents. It is a reasonable balance.
Madam Speaker! It is also positive that the government is continuing to work on this together with agencies such as the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Swedish Energy Agency, and that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has been tasked with concretely improving the clarity and accuracy of the scenarios. It is precisely that type of practical improvement work that is needed – less talk and more workshop.
Madam Speaker! In summary: We are on the right track, but we are not there yet. We need clearer underlying data and greater openness regarding uncertainties, and we need to constantly work on becoming better. The Christian Democrats, however, do not see that any new decisions from the Riksdag are needed in this situation, and therefore I move for the rejection of the reservation.
With this, I propose that the Riksdag places the communication in the records.
Elin Nilsson (L)
Madam Speaker! As a previous speaker said here, it is a rather dry product we are debating. I intended to keep it brief and focus on just that product, without any major digressions.
As a long-time civil servant, I welcome the Swedish National Audit Office's review of the state's work. It is an important piece of the machinery. It is important to have a review of the state's work with a basis and evaluation. It is easy to agree with parts of the Swedish National Audit Office's description of problems. Review is an important part of the work to develop the governance and efficiency in the state's efforts, and it is an ongoing process.
The review shows that the government has to a large extent ensured that the agencies' tasks in instructions and regulatory letters, special assignments and similar, where the purpose is to produce underlying material within the climate policy framework, are clear. That is good.
At the same time, it is pointed out that the authorities' underlying data have some deficiencies, including when it concerns the authorities' work in producing data for the government's climate reports and climate action plans. It is assessed, for example, that there is a risk that the government underestimates the need for measures and so on.
The conclusions that can nevertheless be drawn are that the review is an important part of our work moving forward. Ongoing work is being conducted to evaluate and develop the underlying materials within the climate policy framework. The purpose is, in fact, just as previous speakers have said, to improve the quality and clarity. It is a constantly ongoing work.
A good example of that this has been considered is in the budget for 2026, where Naturvårdsverket has been tasked to analyze how transparency, clarity, and accuracy in the emission scenarios can be improved.
Naturvårdsverket has also been tasked with carrying out improvements regarding, for example, reporting assumptions and uncertainties in the underlying data. This is important and something that the agency itself views positively. There is always room for improvement. This is important for the government and for us here in the Riksdag.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.