Hedvig Lindgren - Climate Spokesperson for LUF
15.00, 20th of April
Interview by: Karl and Jakob
Location of interview: Zoom
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Background
Hedvig Lindgren is the Climate and Educational Spokesperson for the Liberal Youth Party (LUF) in Sweden and is currently on the board for the association. She is an educated environmental scientist. No connection to diving.
Current
Currently, Hedvig is working on a report on the sustainable use of land, including the sea and lakes. The widespread use of water and seas is a challenging issue because it is crucial for millions of people and businesses every day. Water surrounding Sweden is essential for the country's prosperity and strength.
Water and politics
In Sweden, the use of land, including seas, is regulated by laws that govern various forms of use. Most of these laws originate from decisions made by the EU, and they are automatically implemented in Sweden. Hedvig notes that the EU is good at making decisions that generally fit well, but some may cause conflicts of interest.
One such decision is the water directive set by the EU, which has a significant impact on Sweden. The directive includes a net-based way of handling emissions, where a company that has an impact on the environment can manage it by putting resources elsewhere. However, Sweden has adopted the laws in a stricter way, implementing a quota in emissions that regulates companies. Hedvig argues that these rules make it harder for companies to be innovative and wants to change them.
According to Hedvig, Sweden needs to adopt EU laws in a better way in the future. Companies that make even the smallest changes to their land use need to go through a time-consuming process. A better system is required for a brighter future.
Overfishing and overfertilization
Hedvig tells us that overfishing in Swedish seas is a significant problem that requires stricter regulations, and one way to do that is to implement marine reserves. Currently, there are a few marine reserves, but only one can genuinely count as a reserve.
Differences from the main party (L)
LUF is advocating for stricter regulations and taxes than the main party, the Swedish Liberals, especially regarding methane and carbon emissions. However, it is challenging to implement environmental taxes because different substances have different half-life times and different long-term effects, some of which could be unknown.
Regarding subsidizing companies, LUF believes that businesses need to implement sustainable methods in their operations, and while subsidies can be good or bad, they should not stand in the way of sustainable practices.
The process of politics
As the Climate and Educational Spokesperson for the Liberal Youth Party, Hedvig Lindgren often finds herself in the position of having to take a stance on various issues and propose solutions. To do so, she consults with lawyers, scientists, and other politicians.
Hedvig explains that the decision-making process is similar to that of the Swedish Minister of Climate (currently a Swedish Liberal), with one key difference being the scale of operations. While the Minister has a large staff composed of objective scientists and lawyers, as well as party members with their own opinions, politicians must ultimately adjust their proposals to secure the support of the majority in parliament.
Data and decision making
Hedvig stresses the importance of data in the decision-making process. She believes that more data is needed, and that real-time data is especially crucial. Fresh data can inform opinions and broaden the general understanding of politicians and society as a whole.