Conclusion of the policy group on environmental and climate issues

The policy of the Socialist Party of Iceland on environmental and climate issues is ...

that environmental and climate issues be regarded as a humanitarian issue concerning the rights of future generations to life. It shall therefore be the duty of the authorities to protect nature and ecosystems, and the legislator shall be utilized for this in every respect.
that a climate emergency be declared, and Icelandic authorities shall respond to this problem quickly and effectively and in cooperation with the international community.
that there be a departure from the capitalist economy and neoliberal approaches to addressing environmental issues, and that holistic solutions be found where responsibility and emphasis are primarily placed on the state, municipalities, and businesses.
that nature and its ecosystems always take precedence in all decisions concerning them, and that the right of future generations to a healthy life always be placed above considerations of financial gain for individuals and businesses.
that all residents of the country be enabled to live an environmentally friendly life, regardless of economic status and residence. Furthermore, general and accessible education for the public on environmentally friendly and sustainable lifestyles shall be increased.
that food production in the local environment be supported through subsidies for electricity for greenhouse cultivation, and that the community's local lifestyles be aimed for.
that radical steps be taken to cease the use of single-use plastics and prevent plastic pollution and overpackaging by all available means.
that municipalities take responsibility and establish a sorting system that makes it easy for residents to sort waste at their homes, free of charge.
that frequent and efficient public transport be regarded as part of environmental protection and an essential service for residents throughout the country.
that air travel and shipping to the country be reviewed from an environmental perspective.
that further heavy industry be halted and oversight of existing large corporations be increased with the aim of reducing pollution.
that the land be revegetated, wetlands be restored, and tree cultivation be increased for the country's carbon offsetting.
that obligations be placed on companies and institutions to prevent waste of food and other usable goods and reduce landfilling.
that radical changes be made to fuel use and prevent the discharge of heavy fuel oil off the country's coasts.
that people's opportunities be increased to acquire or convert their vehicles into more environmentally friendly conveyances.
that the use of studded tires be limited as far as possible and all possible causes of particulate matter be limited.
that marine ecosystems be protected through species protection and a ban on overfishing and discards.
that stricter control be increased in water utilization and that wastewater be utilized where applicable. Furthermore, that companies pay an adequate fee for water utilization in the form of a resource fee, as water is one of the most valuable resources of the future.
that all construction of structures be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, simultaneously with regard to design, material use, and execution.
that environmental issues be regarded as the common interests of all inhabitants of the Earth by examining and considering global ecological footprints and the true cost of production and its impact on people and ecosystems in more distant countries, no less than in the local environment.

Further reading:

Environmental and climate issues are ethical and humanitarian issues that affect everyone, and we must take a clear stance on them. The global warming we face calls for a climate emergency to be declared and for revolutionary systemic changes to be made. A capitalist market economy, which encourages maximum production and maximum profit, is the biggest enemy of the ecosystem and the biggest contributing factor to the climate changes we face. The production methods of large corporations and the consumption habits of people today inevitably exploit nature, and this must be addressed with sanctions and powerful regulatory bodies. Solutions of so-called “green capitalism” and individualistic approaches in the spirit of neoliberalism do not work to combat the climate problem. It is important to raise public awareness about reducing consumption, utilizing, and recycling, but the real problem lies at the production end of the product. The emphasis of the regulatory framework needs to be on production and import, rather than “punishing” the consumer for consuming what has already been produced.

Domestic production shall be strengthened, and a more sustainable society aimed for. Import of goods that can be produced under domestic conditions shall cease. Domestic vegetable and fruit cultivation, as well as bean and grain cultivation, shall be strengthened through public subsidies for green energy. Efforts shall be made to reduce intermediaries as much as possible and give consumers easy access to food producers. Enjoying healthy, organic food has not been economically accessible to everyone. It is important that opportunities to live a healthy life and practice nature conservation do not depend on people's class or status in society.

Regulatory bodies shall fulfill their role, and laws and sanctions shall be effective and respected. The Environment Agency (Umhverfisstofnun) needs to be strengthened, oversight coordinated, and work processes ensured to be clear and transparent. Corporate “greenwashing” shall be combated, and it shall be ensured that carbon offsetting is not carried out on false premises. Information flow needs to be strengthened, and financial interests prevented from controlling the discourse. Furthermore, people's access to participation in environmental issues shall be strengthened, and policy-making and decisions made more democratic.

The state and municipalities should ensure that residents can manage responsible waste disposal. Sorting bins and compost bins need to be at every house in the near future. Plastic processing depletes our fossil resources and pollutes the ecosystem. Consumption habits need to change, and single-use consumption stopped as soon as possible. The use of glass bottles and other reusable materials shall be reinstated. Laws need to be enacted to prevent supermarkets, institutions, and companies from landfilling expired food and to establish a system that results in the utilization of these foods where they are needed, preventing overproduction and over-portioning. The entire operating environment around reuse and repairs shall be facilitated to reduce overproduction of goods such as electronics and clothing, and consumer protection increased regarding product durability and quality. This will promote better utilization and less landfilling.

Public transport needs to be greatly improved and operated with the view that it is an essential service for residents throughout the country and the key to reducing pollution, rather than with the goal of its operation being self-sustaining or generating profit. Oil production is a major problem, and the production of electric vehicles is also polluting and rapidly depleting Earth's resources. Exploitation and destruction of ecosystems are an inevitable consequence of this production, and it is difficult to avoid thinking about these issues in a global context. Therefore, replacing energy sources or switching to electric cars is not a complete solution; instead, a holistic approach is needed to make public transport a better option and the private car unnecessary for most, although people can also be facilitated in converting their vehicles to be more environmentally friendly, for example, with methane.

It is an important goal to reduce air travel, as it is a highly polluting mode of transport. However, it should be borne in mind that we live on an island at a considerable distance from most destinations, and there is a risk that restrictions on flights in the form of quotas and taxes will hit the less affluent hardest, who already have the most difficulty utilizing air travel. All restrictions on air travel must be considered with this in mind, and attention directed towards the airlines that fly here and the utilization of trips. Specifically, the traffic of military aircraft, private jets, sightseeing planes, and air traffic that pollutes proportionally much compared to the number of passengers needs to be limited.

“Heavy fuel oil” is a generic term for heavy and viscous oils that can contain a high proportion of sulfur, and heavy fuel oil is used, among other things, in shipping. It pollutes more than other fuels and releases a lot of soot into the atmosphere when it burns. Most cruise ships burn heavy fuel oil, and when it burns, a large amount of soot particles is released into the atmosphere. Such particles are harmful to human health, and air pollution of this type is considered responsible for the deaths of millions of people worldwide annually. Rapeseed can be cultivated for the production of biodiesel and used for our shipping fleet. We have the land area and the know-how to produce biodiesel. Furthermore, rapeseed offsets twice as much carbon as is produced during the combustion of biodiesel.

Exploitation and destruction of ecosystems in the “Global South” are interconnected with globalized capitalism, the climate crisis, and the environmental and resource crisis we face today. The exploitation by previous generations has increased the prosperity of Westerners, while the poorest countries often suffer the most. Over-cultivation and deforestation to create arable land for specific types of vegetables for consumers in Western countries have disrupted the lives and food security of people worldwide. The destruction of forests causes climate changes that manifest as droughts, floods, pollution, and disruption of the ecosystem, which in turn causes migration from areas that are no longer habitable. Therefore, it is not only our society that we need to consider, but also to scrutinize the production chain and consider all the people involved in it and the sacrifices it entails. These issues must always be considered in a global context, and we must recognize our privileged position and show full solidarity with people in other countries.