A quantitative target for energy efficiency

The plan wants climate goals to be tied to concrete, quantified proposals and environmental goals to be ambitious and monitored. A goal without measurable indicators cannot be managed and does not contribute to the transition's firm frameworks. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's demand for a complementary quantitative goal.

• quantified climate goalsdecisive»klimatmålen med konkreta, siffersatta förslag. Det gör det möjligt att« (party programme ↗)“climate goals with concrete, quantified proposals. That makes it possible to”
• monitored environmental goals»miljömål som följs upp med skarp lagstiftning och praktiskt arbete.« (party programme ↗)“environmental goals that are followed up with sharp legislation and practical work.”
• tightened governance»stärkt styrning utifrån nya, skärpta klimatmål behövs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthened governance based on new, tightened climate goals is needed”

The plan demands climate perspective at all levels of decision-making and that the climate policy framework, which rests on measurable targets, remains in place. A complementary quantitative target makes energy efficiency possible to monitor and guide towards, in line with the plan's desire to increase pace and keep energy costs down. The plan says nothing about the target's technical form, which is why the position is derived.

• climate steering in all decisionsdecisive»Klimatperspektiv på alla nivåer av beslut och beslutsfattande.« (party programme ↗)“Climate perspective at all levels of decisions and decision-making.”
• climate framework remains in place»Det klimatpolitiska ramverket ska ligga fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The climate policy framework must remain in place.”
• increased energy efficiency»Underlätta familjers energieffektivisering.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Facilitate families' energy efficiency.”
• low energy prices»Låga och rättvisa energipriser i hela landet.« (party programme ↗)“Low and fair energy prices throughout the country.”

The plan wants to see legally binding climate targets in line with research and an emissions budget that makes the targets verifiable, as well as forceful support for energy efficiency. A merely qualitative target provides no such guidance. The counter-proposal's requirement for a new quantitative and measurable target thus follows from the plan's target-steering line.

• binding climate targetsdecisive»juridiskt bindande klimatmål som ligger i linje med forskningen.« (party programme ↗)“legally binding climate targets that align with research.”
• prioritized energy efficiency»införa ett kraftfullt stöd för energieffektivisering till både hushåll och industrier.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“introduce forceful support for energy efficiency to both households and industries.”
• measurable climate commitments»ta fram en svensk utsläppsbudget som gör att vi når klimatmålen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“draw up a Swedish emissions budget that ensures we meet climate targets.”

The plan works itself with measurable energy targets and requires climate leadership that prioritizes effective measures over symbolic politics and passivity. A complementary quantitative and verifiable target for efficient energy use is therefore in line with the plan, while a purely qualitative target provides weak steering. The plan does not take a position on the target's technical design, so the conclusion is derived.

• effective measures, not symbolic politicsdecisive»Ett ledarskap som prioriterar effektiva åtgärder framför symbolpolitik eller passivitet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Leadership that prioritizes effective measures over symbolic politics or passivity.”
• resource efficiency as a goal»Sverige ska bli världens mest resurseffektiva land och ekonomin mer cirkulär.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden will become the world's most resource-efficient country and the economy more circular.”
• quantified energy targets»Vi vill fördubbla produktionen av utsläppsfri el, och rusta och bygga ut elnätet. Minst 50 TWh utsläppsfri el måste börja byggas nästa mandatperiod.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to double the production of emission-free electricity and strengthen and expand the electricity grid. At least 50 TWh of emission-free electricity must begin to be built in the next parliamentary term.”
• science-based climate goals»Klimatpolitiken ska utgå från vad vetenskapen visar är nödvändigt för att undvika farliga förändringar.« (party programme ↗)“Climate policy should be based on what science shows is necessary to avoid dangerous changes.”

The plan sets emission targets — net zero by 2045 within a growing economy — and wants to meet increased electricity demand with more production, not with a cap on use. Energy efficiency is in the plan a means, not a quantified target. The counter-proposal's demand for a new quantitative and measurable energy target therefore lacks foundation in the plan, which instead relies on general economic instruments.

• climate goals within growing economydecisive»Vi ska nå klimatmålen – inga nettoutsläpp av växthusgaser senast 2045 och därefter negativa utsläpp – inom ramen för en växande ekonomi.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We shall reach climate goals – no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2045 and thereafter negative emissions – within the framework of a growing economy.”
• efficiency as a means»Energisystemets miljö- och klimateffekter ska minskas genom energieffektivisering och en successiv introduktion av klimatneutrala produktionsformer.« (party programme ↗)“The energy system's environmental and climate effects shall be reduced through energy efficiency and a successive introduction of climate-neutral production forms.”
• more production instead of a cap»Ska vi få ner elpriserna krävs att vi bygger inte bara kärnkraft utan också mer sol- och vindkraft i hela landet, investerar i kraftsystemet och satsar på energilagring.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To get down electricity prices we need to build not only nuclear power but also more solar and wind power throughout the country, invest in the power system and invest in energy storage.”
• general instruments first»Generella och teknikneutrala ekonomiska styrmedel, såsom koldioxidskatt och breda system för handel med utsläppsrätter, är det mest effektiva redskapet.« (party programme ↗)“General and technology-neutral economic instruments, such as carbon tax and broad systems for trade in emissions rights, are the most effective tool.”

The plan's energy policy goals are qualitative and concern fossil-free energy, supply security and competitiveness, with demands for fixed rules of the game rather than new guiding targets. An additional quantitative efficiency goal is not what the plan is asking for. That the plan values energy efficiency highly qualifies the conclusion but does not carry it.

• three qualitative cornerstonesdecisive»De tre grundpelarna för den svenska energipolitiken ska vara fossilfrihet, leveranssäkerhet och en stark konkurrenskraft.« (party programme ↗)“The three cornerstones of Swedish energy policy shall be fossil-free energy, supply security and strong competitiveness.”
• fixed rules of the game»Sveriges energiförsörjning ska tryggas genom långsiktig energipolitik med fasta spelregler.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's energy supply shall be secured through long-term energy policy with fixed rules of the game.”
• protect competitiveness»Energiskatter och regelverk behöver utformas med hänsyn till förhållanden i omvärlden för att inte näringslivets konkurrenskraft ska urholkas.« (party programme ↗)“Energy taxes and regulations need to be designed taking account of circumstances in the world around us so that industry's competitiveness is not eroded.”
• energy efficiency pays off»Energieffektivisering är ett lönsamt och effektivt sätt att trygga energiförsörjningen och nå våra miljö- och klimatmål.« (party programme ↗)“Energy efficiency is a profitable and effective way to secure energy supply and reach our environmental and climate goals.”

The plan's energy policy goal is fossil-free and a substantially expanded dispatchable electricity production, since electricity demand more than doubles by 2045. A complementary quantitative target for efficient energy use is a form of detailed regulation that the plan does not demand and which risks counteracting electrification. Households' reduced electricity consumption should according to the plan be encouraged with tax deductions, not with measurable targets.

• fossil-free as energy targetdecisive»Ändra det energipolitiska målet från 100 procent förnybart till 100 procent fossilfritt« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Change the energy policy target from 100 per cent renewable to 100 per cent fossil-free”
• increased electricity demand»Fram till 2045 kommer Sveriges elbehov mer än fördubblas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“By 2045, Sweden's electricity demand will more than double.”
• efficiency via tax deduction»Göra det billigare för privatpersoner att minska sin elkonsumtion genom att förstärka och utvidga det gröna skatteavdraget« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Make it cheaper for private individuals to reduce their electricity consumption by strengthening and expanding the green tax deduction”
• no to symbol targets»Klimatpolitiken får aldrig reduceras till dyrbar symbolpolitik eller snäv klimatnationalism.« (party programme ↗)“Climate policy must never be reduced to expensive symbol politics or narrow climate nationalism.”

The plan wants to see targets for fossil-free energy and supply security in energy policy and cost-effective climate policy with a global perspective, not quantitative caps on energy use. The electricity tax should instead be reduced permanently to facilitate electrification, which presumes increased rather than decreased electricity use. The counter-proposal's demand for a new quantitative target is therefore rejected on the merits.

• targets for fossil-free energy and supply securitydecisive»Sätta upp mål för fossilfrihet och att ett mål för leveranssäkerhet införs« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Set targets for fossil-free energy and that a supply security target is introduced”
• cheaper electricity for electrification»Sänka skatten på elenergi permanent för att underlätta elektrifieringen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the electricity tax permanently to facilitate electrification”
• effective climate policy»Bedriva en effektiv klimatpolitik med ett tydligt globalt perspektiv« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Conduct effective climate policy with a clear global perspective”
• cost-effective climate policy»Svensk klimatpolitik är idag motsägelsefull och kan inte sägas leva upp till kraven på en kostnadseffektiv klimatpolitik som bidrar till att göra skillnad på global nivå.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Swedish climate policy is today contradictory and cannot be said to meet the requirements for cost-effective climate policy that makes a difference at the global level.”