Miljö till varje pris? Omorganiseringens påverkan på förnybar energi

Sammanfattning

Sweden has long been seen as a leader in environmental policy. However, after the reorganization of the Swedish Ministry of the Environment in 2023, concerns have been raised about how this change affects the country’s climate work. This study investigates how the merger of the Ministry of Climate with the Ministry of Enterprise has influenced the political priorities between renewable energy and economic growth. The study uses a qualitative method, combining document analysis with semi-structured interviews. Policy documents and budgets from the years before and after the reorganization were analyzed, along with interviews with politicians, experts, and environmental organizations. The results are interpreted using historical institutionalism, a theory that focuses on how earlier decisions and structures shape future political choices. The findings show that environmental questions, especially those related to renewable energy, are now more often presented as part of economic and industrial policy. Renewable energy is mainly discussed in terms of its potential to create jobs and strengthen competitiveness, rather than a way to reduce emissions. Several environmental policies, such as the aviation tax and biofuel targets, have been weakened or removed with reference to economic arguments. The study concludes that it is not only the reorganization itself that changes political priorities, but also the political ideology behind it. The change reflects a new way of thinking, where environmental policy is used to support economic growth. This has consequences for how environmental goals are valued and acted upon. This study contributes to the understanding of how political ideas and institutional changes together shape environmental policy, especially during a time when strong climate action is more important than ever.