Why is Sweden turning its back on climate justice and women’s rights? | See
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Sweden has historically been a nation that prides itself on being at the forefront of issues related to gender equality, climate justice and international aid. It has contributed the highest level of international aid per capita in the world and was the first nation to implement a feminist foreign policy. The country has always looked outward and not inward. Until now.
In recent years, polarization among Sweden’s people has increased and the political climate has hardened. The election of a new coalition government made up of several right-wing parties last month reinforced the image that there are political winds blowing that protect the local over the global and put gender equality much further down the agenda.
What is clear about this new government is a major deprioritization of issues that should warrant the highest degree of concern – girls’ and women’s rights and climate justice.
Dismantling Sweden’s feminist foreign policy
Sweden was the first country in the world to introduce a feminist foreign policy in 2014. The example has been followed by several other nations, including Spain, Germany and Mexico.
Feminist foreign policy has, among other things, contributed to Sweden taking a leading role in elevating the role of women and girls in peace processes and pushing difficult issues such as women’s right to abortion in international talks. Here in Sweden, the policy has directed more resources to gender equality work and to local organizations that fight for the rights of women and girls in the global south. As a member of the European Union, Sweden was a leading force in the adoption of Gender Action Plan III 2020 by the Council, the EU-level equivalent of a feminist foreign policy. More broadly, gender and women’s rights have been at the center of their priorities at EU level in terms of budget and trade, and have been instrumental in efforts to mainstream a gender perspective across EU policies.
When the new government took office, the newly appointed Foreign Minister Tobias Billström’s message was that the feminist foreign policy should be scrapped. This means that Sweden is now losing its first clear political framework for improving gender equality not only in this country but in the rest of the world.
Reduced focus on the climate
Climate disasters are destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide and we urgently need our governments to act now.
Despite the urgency and its serious effects, the new government has for the first time in 35 years chosen to close the Ministry of the Environment and instead put it under the Ministry of Industry, which strongly points to how the climate issue is being de-prioritised.
As we approach the UN climate summit COP27 next month, this is a shameful step backwards in showing our country’s commitment to people, especially women and girls, in the Global South who are on the front lines of the climate crisis and who are increasingly affected the most. frequent and serious climate disasters despite doing the least to cause them. While the EU Parliament just voted for additional finance for losses and damages, the Council, made up of member states, has so far been reluctant and the change of government in Sweden will not help build a progressive majority at the EU level.
Reduced aid budget
Sweden has always been a pioneer in its aid budget and committed to keeping the figure above 1%. But the introduction of the new government will see a reduction in the amount of international aid it provides. According to the agreement, aid is to be frozen at SEK 56 billion (EUR 5 billion) over three years. This means a reduction of SEK 1.4 billion (EUR 0.12 billion) compared to a year ago. Swedish aid then lands at 0.885% of GNI in 2023 (and even less in the two following years). This is devastating news because aid plays such a critical role in working for girls’ and women’s rights in the Global South.
Dangerous consequences
All these priorities risk having far-reaching and serious consequences, both in Sweden and globally.
Sweden’s voice for global equality, regardless of political influence, has long been among the strongest in the world. But with the new political agenda, there is a risk that Sweden’s role as a progressive nation fighting for climate justice, gender equality and global solidarity could change over the next four years. For women and girls in the global south who are fighting for their survival in the wake of climate change, poverty and conflict, Sweden’s choice of path may be among the worst that can happen.
This piece was written jointly by Jennifer Vidmo, Secretary General ActionAid International Sweden and Javier Garcia de la Oliva, Head of Country Engagement and Transformation at ActionAid International.