Four political parties in Iceland oppose climate action ahead of parliamentary elections

Four political parties in Iceland are opposing climate action or neglecting to address the issue in their platforms as they campaign for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Notably, the Centrist and Democracy parties have taken strong stances against climate initiatives. The Centrist party has proposed to cut all government funding allocated for climate-related matters, claiming that this accounts for 30 billion ISK (Icelandic króna). Meanwhile, the Democracy party seeks to revise international commitments and eliminate carbon taxes.

Björg Eva Erlendsdóttir, the executive director of environmental organization Landvernd, expressed concern regarding the lack of attention from parties with significant public support. She highlighted that most platforms fail to address the pressing climate crisis adequately.

Among the opponents, the Centrist and People’s Party stand out, with the latter not including any climate-related concerns in their agenda. The Democracy party has deemed it unnecessary for the government to intervene in oil exploration efforts, which further complicates Iceland’s environmental stance.

Together, these parties account for around 25% of public support, as indicated by recent Gallup polls. Joined by the Responsibility Party and the People’s Party, they signify a considerable portion of the political landscape that dismisses climate issues.

Despite this, Björg remains hopeful about the future of climate discussions, especially in light of the Climate Conference set to begin in Baku. When asked about her surprise regarding the number of parties that overlook climate issues, she noted that while the figure is high, it appears that many parties haven’t thoughtfully considered their positions, suggesting potential for change.