Sweden pledges to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045

Sweden in the second week of June 2017 committed to become a net-zero carbon emission emitter by 2045.

On 15 June 2017, Swedish lawmakers bound the country to reach net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions by 2045. Only one out of country’s eight political parties did not support the Climate Act in parliament.

Lawmakers voted 254 to 41 in favour of the proposal, accelerating the nation’s previous target to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The vote makes Sweden the first country to significantly strengthen its climate targets since the Paris Agreement in 2015.

The legislation will come into force from the 1 January 2018, and will also see the establishment of an independent Climate Policy Council in addition to a four-yearly cycle for updating the nation’s climate action plan.

The Climate Act:

• The government’s climate policy must be based on the climate goals.

• The government is required to present a climate report every year in its budget bill.

• Every four years, the government will draw up a climate policy action plan for how its climate goals will be achieved.

• The first climate report will be presented in the second half of 2018, and the first action plan will be presented in 2019.