The Minister of the Environment defends reduced climate aid

This week, Sweden will host a major UN meeting on climate change when the UN chief, 100 heads of government and climate ministers will come to Stockholm.

It is 50 years since the first ever UN environmental meeting was held in Stockholm in 1972.

Annika Strandhäll believes that Sweden's actions in environmental issues also affect other countries.

- Yes, I would say that it does, we have a long history of having pushed environmental issues vigorously.

The UN's first environmental conference took place in Stockholm in 1972, that is what we are paying attention to with the UN conference Stockholm + 50 this week.

At the same time, Sweden is currently making major cuts in climate aid.

UN climate funds lose billions and aid for sustainable development is reduced by 47 percent.

The government has chosen to redistribute and finance a large refugee reception from Ukraine with aid money.

Annika Strandhäll is not for other countries to follow Sweden and reduce climate aid.

- No I do not think so.

Sweden sticks to the one percent target, when other countries reduce aid, says Annika Strandhäll.

"Is an exceptional location"

She believes that the government's commitment to give 1 percent in development assistance and to double climate assistance by 2025, within this framework, remains unchanged.

At the climate summit in Glasgow last autumn, Stefan Löfven called on all countries to increase their efforts for climate assistance.

That the world's rich countries have not fulfilled the promise of $ 100 billion in aid by 2020 was "shameful".

Is it then "shameful" when Sweden reduces climate aid?

- No, I do not think so.

It is an exceptional situation, with Russia's war against Ukraine.

But is the war reducing the need for climate action from the UN Climate Fund, or aid organizations in Africa?

- No, it does not, but we are still one of the countries in the world that provides the most per capita in climate aid, she says.

How then does Annika Strandhäll think that it affects organizations that can get budget cuts of 39 percent, four months into a rolling budget year?

- It is clear that it affects and can be difficult.

I also know that there are discussions going on here between organizations and the ministry, says Annika Strandhäll.