Från etik till ekonomi?: En analys av förändringar i svensk klimatpolicy 1990-2008

Abstract

This study analyzes how the Swedish climate policy has changed during the years 1990-2008. This is done through a comparative analysis of three climate bills that were developed during this period. With a constructivist approach, and theories about discursive indicators and discursive fields, discursive changes in the bills' content are identified. The results show that changes have occurred in how the problem is described, how the issue is framed, which problem solutions that are advocated, which legitimizing arguments and key concepts that are used and the extent of the knowledge that the bills are based upon. The conclusions drawn from the results describe a discursive change between the bills in the form of a shift from a discourse that in a greater extent advocates active policy responses, based on ethical arguments about fairness towards other countries and caution towards the environment, to a discourse that more often favor market actions based on arguments about the economic viability of Sweden.