Patrick KronqvistHögern should not be sneezed at Sweden as a model

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In march 1989, the officer Mats Olsson, of the department of the environment on busy days in the city of London. The year before, Sweden was the first country in the world, has implemented a complete ban on cfcs which damage the ozone layer.

Now, at the international congress of cfc – plucked all of the swedes, who had drawn up the proposal. One of them is, as was noted most frequently was a congressman, Al Gore, in less than three years later, he became the U.S. vice president.

the politician said that Sweden will ”go there” in any case, it would be easy, as fluffy and idealistic. However, in the recently published book, the Miljöframgångar from freonförbud to the climate change act, write, S-mark, Mats Engstrom, with a background in the ministry of the environment, on a number of occasions over time through the wisdom of the reforms actually paved the way for global improvement.

a carbon tax would be an example. As in Sweden, which is one of the first countries in the world, to put it in the context of the 1991 skatteomläggning, it went largely under the radar. However, when the treasure turned out to be a cost-effective, emission-reduction and technology development, formed in the school. Today, more than 50 countries have introduced similar taxes, and still be invited the representatives of the ministry of finance submitted to various conferences in order to tell them of the environmental taxes.

the Climate change, the environment has begun to be seen as a "burden" that Sweden should not have to bear too much of the.

congestion charges are one example. Stockholm introduced road tolls for 2006 as well as any other city in the world after London's. As canadian cities and towns later, the congestion charges they copied the English, the idea is to first introduce them on a trial basis. Just like in Stockholm, it turned out to be an effective way to get public opinion to swing.

in The past year, the opposition has changed the tone in the Swedish debate. The focus has been shifted from Sweden to the problems of other countries ' shortcomings, mainly in China. The climate change and environmental action have begun to be seen as a "burden" that Sweden should not have to bear too much of the. It is significant that the Conservatives now want to cut in petrol rates, and that the party leader, mr Ulf Kristersson, so often repeat, that the English proportion of the world's carbon dioxide emissions are a paltry thousand.

It is of course true. However, such an approach ignores the possibility that, in Sweden, through their actions, also have an impact in other countries. So often politics. It is easier to copy other people's actions, but to start from scratch. It is difficult to argue that the proposal is not realistic, if it is carried out in a broad välfärdsland. In the same manner, should, of course, learn from other people's examples.

Sweden's role should be to develop a new 'smart' miljöreformer, not to jealously guard that we don't do ”too much”. Into the bargain, we can have healthier air, cleaner water and a more competitive business environment.

READ MORE: : China's emissions, there is no reason for us to do less of. READ MORE: Lastbilsjättarna is running on in the environment