King Carl Gustaf believes that countries outside the EU are “much, much worse” when it comes to global emissions.
This has caused climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari (L) to react.
– I do not share the conclusion, she tells DN.
On Monday, the UN climate conference COP30 begins in Belém, Brazil. Sweden is already represented in the form of the royal couple and EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz (M), who attended the two-day pre-meeting.
But the king sees it as unlikely that the meeting would result in a plan to reduce the record-high emissions of greenhouse gases.
– That all countries should be able to sign the same paper, that’s not possible. Everyone must take our own responsibilities and do the best we can, he told Ekot on Friday, continuing:
– And Europe, it is only 6 percent that Europe produces. And everyone complains about everything and that it’s too much. But the rest of the world is much, much worse.
Climate Minister “A considerable amount”
The statement has provoked strong reactions from climate minister Romina Pourmokhtari.
– I wish more people took the time to see what the emission levels look like in different countries, an incredible amount comes from China. But that does not mean that what the EU does does not matter, this 6 percent is a considerable amount, she tells DN and adds that he is not wrong “purely in terms of facts”.
According to Our World in Data, the EU, with its six percent, is the world’s fourth largest emitter globally, after China, the USA and India. Europe as a whole accounts for 13 percent.
But Pourmokhtari believes that it is the wrong way to look at the emissions issue.
– If all countries would think that their percentage does not matter so much, then this issue would only lie with China, the USA and India. That would not be good.
Political scientist: “It’s politics”
Katarina Eckerberg, professor emerita in political science, thinks it is positive that the king is there and shows his commitment to the climate issue.
But she believes that the comment is inappropriate, albeit for reasons other than the climate minister.
– Making a hypothetical statement about how the negotiations will land is not something the king should get involved in, because it is politics and it can affect the outcome, she tells Ekot.
