Vänsterpartiet Logotyppå din sida
Klimatpolitiskt program:

We’ll tackle the climate transition together

Climate change is a serious and urgent crisis. At the same time, this crisis presents a historic opportunity to build a better, more equitable, and sustainable society. The transition must begin immediately, and all political decisions must be grounded in the serious situation we find ourselves in. Many of the solutions are right here and can be implemented locally. This gives us the opportunity to both reduce our climate impact and develop Västerås into a better municipality for everyone who lives here.

For decades, politics has been shaped by the belief that the market can solve society’s problems. One sector after another has been subordinated to private profit interests, but the market always prioritizes short-term profit over long-term sustainability. That is why it is not enough for individuals to try to do the right thing. The climate crisis cannot be solved through individual choices. An individual cannot build bike lanes, transform energy systems, or make their rental apartment more energy-efficient on their own.

However, we can do it together. That is why policymakers must take clear responsibility. This is achieved through climate investments and by building a municipality where it is affordable and easy for the residents of Västerås to make climate-smart choices, while at the same time making it expensive and difficult to continue using fossil fuels. Through many small and large decisions, the municipality can create the conditions for a green transition.

As we transition to a climate-friendly society, we must do so in an equitable manner. The Left Party is the only party that consistently links climate policy with redistribution policy. For us, it goes without saying that the public sector should bear the main responsibility for climate action. That is how we ensure that the costs of the transition are not passed on to those of us with the fewest resources.

Climate action requires major and far-reaching changes at all levels of society. We in the Left Party of Västerås see ourselves as part of the broad grassroots movement calling for a rapid climate transition based on fairness.

ACT TOGETHER

When we work together, we can improve people’s lives while reducing our carbon footprint. Public transportation is the clearest example. A well-developed public transit system reduces the need for private car ownership and benefits those who already travel most by bus: women, young people, and low-income earners. We want to see more frequent service on existing routes, more direct routes between residential areas and workplaces, and better public transportation in rural areas.

We also want to see lower bus fares and, in the long term, completely free public transportation. During the 2022–2026 term, the Left Party in Västerås helped reintroduce the 40-trip pass with the “gultian” discount for seniors, decided on free travel for children and young people during summer break, and lowered the price of the monthly pass for young people. A cross-city line connecting Erikslund, Finnslätten, and Hälla will launch in 2026, and a study on free public transportation is currently underway. We continue to push for a three-hour transfer window.

Traveling by paratransit should not be more expensive than traveling by public transit. That is why we want to lower and standardize paratransit fares so that they match the price of a bus ticket.

We want to promote non-profit car-sharing programs and encourage the municipal housing company Mimer to launch a pilot car-sharing program based on the same model used in the ETC buildings in Västerås.

There are many other ways in which shared solutions can both make everyday life easier and strengthen environmental efforts. We want to install more water fountains throughout the municipality. When people can easily refill their water bottles, the need for single-use plastic bottles decreases.

There are some things we only need on rare occasions. In such cases, it is neither sustainable nor economically feasible for everyone to own their own copy. The Left Party in Västerås wants to continue developing the Leisure Bank and the Culture Bank, initiatives that make it possible to reuse items and make them accessible to more people. We also want to see similar initiatives for tools, gardening, repairs, and crafts. This makes it possible to borrow what is needed when the need arises, without placing an unnecessary burden on personal finances or the environment.

THE LEFT PARTY IN VÄSTERÅS WANTS:

  • Introduce free public transportation
  • Develop the non-commercial sharing economy
  • Install more water stations

THE MUNICIPALITY'S RESPONSIBILITIES

The municipality is a major employer and purchaser and therefore bears significant responsibility for climate action. Through clearer guidance and monitoring—including the introduction of a dedicated climate budget—the municipality’s decisions will be systematically analyzed from a climate perspective.

The Left Party in Västerås recently helped pass a resolution setting two ambitious climate goals for the municipality. The first is that the City of Västerås, as an organization, must be fossil-free by 2030. The second is that Västerås, as a geographic area, must achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. For us, it is crucial that these goals do not remain mere fine words on paper. That is why we will push for concrete measures, clear follow-up, and political accountability, so that the goals are actually achieved.

The goal of achieving a fossil-free municipal organization by 2030 strengthens the municipality’s credibility and provides an opportunity to set requirements for the business community and other stakeholders. At the same time, the municipality needs to create the conditions that will enable all residents of Västerås to easily make climate-smart choices.

Transportation is a well-known environmental hazard. Therefore, business travel for employees of the City of Västerås should primarily be by train. Digital meetings should be encouraged, and air travel should only be approved in exceptional cases.

The municipality will also set high environmental standards in its procurement processes. Through purchases for schools and institutional kitchens, demand for organic, vegetarian, and locally produced food will increase. To reduce food waste, we want to facilitate the sale of meal boxes containing leftover food from schools and preschools.

A range of municipal climate investments will also be required—an effort that is already underway and in which the Left Party in Västerås has been a driving force. More solar panels need to be installed on suitable municipal buildings. In renovations, climate-smart material choices and energy efficiency improvements should be the norm. In many cases, climate investments provide opportunities for other improvements; for example, energy efficiency improvements in schools can be combined with an improved indoor environment.

The municipality shall also not support the fossil fuel industry. A sustainable procurement plan shall be developed to provide clear guidelines for municipal operations. Charging infrastructure shall be expanded in line with the increase in electric vehicles, and the proportion of electric machinery, tools, and vehicles in municipal operations shall increase. The municipality shall not hold shares in companies within the fossil fuel industry.

Efforts to reduce the spread of microplastics will continue, and toxic chemicals will be phased out, particularly in environments where children spend time.

THE LEFT PARTY IN VÄSTERÅS WANTS:

  • Push for Västerås to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
  • Introduce a municipal climate budget
  • Install more solar panels on municipal buildings
  • Reduce the spread of microplastics

URBAN DEVELOPMENT

We need to build a society where living in an environmentally conscious way is easy and second nature. When eco-friendly choices are also the most convenient and accessible options, both people and the climate benefit.

A sustainable society is built on proximity. When housing, services, and workplaces are located close to one another, the need for car travel decreases. Local centers should be strengthened and developed so that they can meet everyday needs. In this way, Västerås can develop into a city where a car is not a prerequisite for a comfortable life. Park-and-ride facilities connected to public transit need to be built in outlying areas to facilitate seamless transfers between modes of transportation.

Västerås should be a municipality where cycling is safe, easy, and attractive. So that we can proudly call Västerås the “City of Bicycles.” We want the bike paths to be well-maintained, well-lit, and easy to navigate. Bicycle service stations will be built and dedicated bike lanes introduced so that bicycle traffic does not have to compete with pedestrians or car traffic. To increase cycling, we also want to launch campaigns that highlight the bicycle as an efficient mode of transportation.

As the municipality becomes more climate-smart, it also becomes more people-friendly. Research shows that proximity, green spaces, and a sense of community contribute to better health and quality of life.

Västerås needs to be developed in a more cohesive manner, but at the same time, green spaces must be preserved and expanded. Achieving both of these goals requires smart urban planning, such as neighborhoods with courtyards and infill developments in existing areas. We also want to ensure compliance with the 3-30-300 rule. This means that everyone should be able to see at least three trees from their home, that thirty percent of the courtyard environment should be shaded by trees, and that the distance from your home to a green space should be no more than three hundred meters.

Strict requirements must be imposed on new construction to reduce energy consumption. Existing buildings also need to be upgraded with sustainable materials, solar panels, green roofs, more green spaces, and other climate-smart solutions. Connected green corridors should be promoted to strengthen biodiversity.

The Left Party has long advocated for the closure of Västerås Airport. It is unreasonable for the municipality to continue funding an operation that contributes to significant emissions and is used by few residents of Västerås.

THE LEFT PARTY IN VÄSTERÅS WANTS:

  • Build park-and-ride facilities in outlying areas
  • Develop the municipality's bike paths
  • Building bicycle service stations
  • Introduce bike lanes
  • Ensure compliance with the 30-30-300 rule
  • Close Västerås Airport

ENERGY

Västerås aims to have a stable electricity supply, efficient transportation, and reliable heating based on renewable energy sources. By leaving the fossil fuel economy behind, we reduce emissions, take responsibility for climate change, and at the same time build a more attractive municipality.

The municipality’s energy company, Mälarenergi, plays a central role and will remain under municipal ownership. The company enables the municipality to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the phase-out of fossil fuel systems. Solar panels can be advantageously installed by both the municipality and private entities to reduce costs and emissions.

It is essential that we conserve energy. Regardless of the energy source, resources are required, and this has an impact on the environment. Therefore, requirements for reducing energy consumption must be tightened for municipal buildings, private homes, and businesses.

Waste should be sorted at the source to a greater extent rather than incinerated. Waste incineration is a step away from more sustainable solutions and should be phased out over time.

THE LEFT PARTY IN VÄSTERÅS WANTS:

  • Keep Mälarenergi under municipal ownership
  • Introduce stricter requirements for reducing energy consumption in municipal buildings
  • Promotes increased waste sorting, rather than incineration

OUR UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT

Biodiversity is under serious threat. The municipality has significant opportunities to use its land to strengthen ecosystems and protect endangered species. Wetlands must be restored, wildlife crossings built, and habitats improved.

Forestry and agriculture need to transition to more sustainable practices. As a landowner and regulatory authority, the municipality must demonstrate that thriving forests can be reconciled with long-term management. Clearing and logging in the municipality’s forests and recreational areas must be carried out without clear-cutting, with minimal damage to the soil layer and remaining vegetation, and in a way that creates good habitats for insects, birds, and reptiles.

Consideration must always be given to the environment and wildlife when planning infrastructure, development, and housing construction. The municipality shall also work to ensure more land is available for recreation and outdoor activities in proportion to the number of residents in the area, and increase the proportion of meadowland. No projects may jeopardize the situation of red-listed species.

Local organic production should be supported, and farmland must be protected. New residential or industrial areas should not be built on arable farmland.

Access to clean drinking water must be ensured. Stormwater must be managed, contaminated water must be treated, and water quality in Lake Mälaren and other waterways must be improved.

THE LEFT PARTY IN VÄSTERÅS WANTS:

  • Combining thriving forests with more sustainable forestry and agriculture
  • Restoring wetlands in the municipality
  • Build more wildlife crossings
  • More land for recreation and outdoor activities

CONCLUSION

This program outlines how the Left Party in Västerås intends to take a comprehensive approach to climate policy. We place the primary responsibility on the public sector to coordinate and implement the transition. Once the necessary structures are in place, it will be easy for the residents of Västerås to make climate-smart choices.

Through clear goals, strategic investments, and collaborative solutions, we can steer both everyday life and the business community toward sustainability. The climate transition is a shared responsibility. Together, we can build a Västerås that faces the future with fairness and hope.

IN SUMMARY, THE LEFT PARTY OF VÄSTERÅS WANTS:

  • Introduce free public transportation
  • Create better conditions for everyone to make climate-smart choices
  • Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040
  • Restoring wetlands
  • Install more solar panels on municipal buildings
  • Develop the municipality's bike paths