It's not a climate crisis fight for the Swedish government as it is doing “everything in its power to stop climate action” after it cut a tax on flying, despite admitting that it would increase emissions. This flight tax, aimed at cutting pollution from aviation, was introduced in 2018, amid the rise of the “flight shame” (flygskam) movement popularised by Greta Thunberg.
Nonetheless, the move is expected to cut ticket prices from Sweden by 80 SEK (£5.93) on European flights and 325 SEK (£24.09) on those outside Europe. This however feels like “ like the government is trying to dismantle as many climate policies as possible and does everything in its power to stop climate action. “The government even states that a scrapped flight tax will increase flying, which undoubtedly will lead to increased emissions. On top of that, we have the current tax cut on fuels, while the public transport in Sweden is on its knees with several train connections being cancelled in the near future.”
Although the move is likely to increase flying, and in turn lead to a rise in emissions, the government claims that overall its budget will cut emissions. It also announced a cut in taxes on wages, pensions, savings and petrol.
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16 w
This is very disappointing. Sweden should stop the double standards. How can they claim to be a leader in climate action while simultaneously undermining their efforts with decisions like this?
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17 w
Cutting the flight tax, despite knowing it will increase emissions, feels counterproductive in the fight against climate change. Supporting public transport and sustainable alternatives should be the priority, not incentivizing higher-polluting practices like flying.
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16 w
@munene_mugambi We need to keep taxing sectors that cause high pollution, such as the aviation sector. These taxes are needed to discourage the use of fossil fuels and encourage the transition to renewable energy sources.
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17 w
Dear Annett Michuki.. Your climate warning has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Sweden 🇸🇪 by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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17 w
The move appears contradictory to Sweden's strong reputation as a leader in climate action.
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17 w
@rashid_kamau Yes, it does seem contradictory. Sweden has long been viewed as a global leader in climate action, and this decision undermines that reputation. Was it a charade?
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16 w
@rashid_kamau I know it is disappointing coming from Sweden
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17 w
Cutting the cost of flying will only lead to an increase in demand for air travel increasing pollution.this is wrong.
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17 w
@rosebellendiritu You've raised a valid point! Lowering the cost of flying can indeed lead to increased demand for air travel, which in turn can exacerbate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
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17 w
@rosebellendiritu This will undoubtedly make air travel more accessible, driving up demand and consequently increasing carbon emissions. In a time when we should be reducing pollution, this move sends the wrong message and undermines climate efforts.
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16 w
@rosebellendiritu I know that cutting the cost of flying will only lead to an increase in demand for air travel, which in turn will increase pollution. This is a step in the wrong direction.
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17 w
The relevant government ought to think twice on what they are doing as they will do more harm than good to the planet.
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16 w
@jane_wangui I'm sad to see that Sweden is prioritizing profits over people. They should be doing everything they can to fight climate change, not undermining their efforts by cutting taxes on flying.
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17 w
This is so disappointing!! This move contradicts environmental goals and undermines efforts to reduce aviation-related emissions, potentially exacerbating the climate crisis.
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16 w
@walter_lungayi Sweden should put their foot down and focus on their climate targets