Sweden aims to be the first fossil-free welfare society in 2045. To achieve this, among other things, ordinary people must change and pay carbon dioxide tax and higher gasoline taxes. The steel industry company SSAB, which accounts for the largest emissions, on the other hand, pays much less in terms of how much emissions are emitted. Among other things, the company is completely exempt from the carbon dioxide tax.
Business Minister Ibrahim Baylan (S) was asked whether it is reasonable for a Swedish private individual to pay for their emissions, while the steel industry hardly needs to do so.
- We want supranational systems because this is a global issue, we have a common system in the European Union, but it has not worked well enough. That is why Sweden has pushed for a tightening and now we have also got one. It is clear that when we together in the EU can put pressure and reduce emissions, it will have a completely different effect, he says.
"Working in arm hook with each other"Is it the right balance in this situation, when you want to phase out all fossil fuels at the same time?
- I am absolutely convinced that the best way to be competitive, is to change, says Ibrahim Baylan.
Doesn't the industry have to pay more for its emissions?
- The industry, together with the government, has developed roadmaps how we step by step get rid of emissions and become completely fossil-free. Basically, I think this is how you should work, arm in arm with each other and show the world that it is possible to make steel without using coal and in this way show that it is possible to build modern societies, without destroying the environment and climate. Then we also get more jobs and better growth, he says.
See the entire interview with Minister of Industry Ibrahim Baylan (S) in Agenda on SVT Play.