It would happen quickly, according to the government's directive to Sida. In just a few years, Swedish climate assistance would double.
In 2024, it amounted to SEK 11.1 billion – an increase of approximately 29 percent compared to when the government took office in 2022.
The largest part, SEK 5.7 billion, is channeled through Sida.
To be classified as climate assistance, projects must have emission reduction or climate adaptation as either the main goal or a sub-goal. If it is a sub-goal, 40 percent of the amount is counted as climate assistance.
But when TT reviews Sida projects classified as climate assistance, it turns out that several lack a connection to climate and the environment.
Mistakes and misinterpretations
The climate markings have been placed there by mistake, despite ongoing checks and reviews, says Louise Herrmann, representative for climate and environment at Sida.
In one of the cases, the administrator simply happened to tick the climate mark, in two other cases the Sida employee misinterpreted the project descriptions.
"You haven't read the statistics manual well enough. Then you can misinterpret it," says Herrmann.
For example, this concerns 36 million kronor that RFSU has received for projects in Georgia that will improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The Swedish Migration Board's project to investigate the possibilities for increased cooperation on migration with Iraq is also highlighted as having climate as an intermediate goal.
An effort, where just over six million has been allocated to place a national expert in donor coordination for Ukraine in Brussels, also partly counts as climate aid.
Avoid unnecessary air travel
According to Louise Herrmann, there is no risk that the sharp increase in climate aid has led to a decrease in accuracy at Sida. The agency has sufficient resources, she says.
But as soon as we find out that something is incorrectly marked, we fix it immediately. It's unfortunate that it's like that, but it's the way it is.
In some cases, climate work is described as avoiding unnecessary air travel.
Several other multi-million projects are classified with climate adaptation as an intermediate goal, although the climate connection is very vague, according to TT's review.
Weak connections
One such organization is the work of IMS to support independent media in the Middle East and North Africa. Sida writes in a report that the integration of climate issues in the work “remains weak.” Nevertheless, 169 million is paid out.
That project is not mislabeled, says Herrmann, because journalists there are trained to pursue the issue of efficient aquaculture.
Sometimes it can be weak, and then it is written more to try to strengthen the effort in that area. That does not mean that it does not have, for example, climate adaptation measures.
Sophie Tanha/TT
Facts: Swedish climate assistance
TT
Sweden's climate assistance is often described as an important part of Swedish climate policy.
In recent years, climate aid has been scaled up significantly and last year amounted to SEK 11.1 billion. The largest part consists of bilateral efforts that are channeled through Sida in the form of support for individual efforts and projects in countries.
The aid will go towards both emission reduction and climate adaptation. However, the government has emphasized emission reduction in its statements. This has been criticized by some organizations, as less aid risks going to countries that are already highly vulnerable to climate change.
Large parts of Sweden's climate assistance also go to development banks, especially the World Bank, global climate funds linked to the Paris Agreement and the UN Climate Convention. Large sums also go to Swedfund's investment activities.
Source: Government, Concord.
