Climate becomes major Swedish election issue

STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s wildfires and drought have caused the environment to become the second most important issue after immigration for Swedes before the September 9 general election, a poll showed on Thursday.

The heatwave and drought triggered dozens of wildfires, from the south up to the Arctic Circle as the country registered the hottest month of July in two centuries, with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius (860 Fahrenheit).

The Nordic nation, where summer temperatures are usually closer to 230 Celsius, is not equipped to deal with this kind of natural catastrophe and asked for help from Italy, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Poland and France.

An opinion poll carried out by the Swedish consultancy Demoskop between August 2 and 7 showed that 16 per cent of respondents saw the environ- ment as the most important issue, replacing health care on 13 per cent.

“It’s a shame that drought and fires had to happen in order for the environment to become a major issue,” Michael Arthursson, Secretary General of the Centre party, told the Daily Expressen, which published the poll on Thursday.

According to Swedish officials, around 20,000 hectares of forests were burned.

The government last week announced 1.2 billion kronor ($137 million) in aid to help farmers hit hard by the drought.

Emergency services SOS Alarm said there were seven wildfires across the nation on Thursday. No casualties have been reported so far and foreign firefighters have left the country.

According to the Demoskop poll, immigration is still the most important issue for voters at 23 per cent in Sweden.