STOCKHOLM - Approximately 10,000 individuals are anticipated to participate in a significant climate demonstration in Stockholm this Sunday, as reported by Swedish police and event organizers. The march comes at a critical juncture, mere weeks before the general election on September 13, where climate policy has emerged as a pivotal issue for voters.
Since assuming power in 2022, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's right-wing government, supported by the populist Sweden Democrats party, has implemented policies that have raised concerns among environmental advocates. Notable measures include cuts to petrol taxes and reduced requirements for petrol suppliers to incorporate low-carbon alternatives.
Experts both within Sweden and internationally have cautioned that the government's climate policies threaten the nation's ambitious emissions-reduction targets. These goals include a 70 percent reduction in CO2 from transport by 2030, relative to 2010 levels, and the achievement of net-zero emissions by 2045.
Kristersson's administration has notably dismissed a government-appointed commission's recommendations aimed at meeting the 2030 target. These recommendations included phasing out fossil fuels through increased taxes on petrol and diesel. Beatrice Rindevall, head of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, which is co-organizing Sunday's demonstration, emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis.
"The climate crisis is very real, and it is here," Rindevall stated. "It is time to implement a climate policy that reduces emissions immediately," she added, highlighting the recent heatwaves across Europe as a stark reminder of the crisis.
The upcoming demonstration is expected to draw participation from over 200 non-governmental organizations and associations. The march, scheduled to commence at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT), will unite researchers, youth and sports associations, trade unions, outdoor and rural organizations, religious communities, and rights groups.
According to a Verian opinion poll published by public broadcaster SVT, 37 percent of respondents identified the climate as their top priority in the election, ranking it behind only healthcare, education, crime, and elderly care. The government maintains that the phase-out of fossil fuels must be gradual to preserve Sweden's competitiveness and strengthen its companies.
