The Swedish Climate Policy Framework

The Swedish climate
policy framework
In June 2017, Sweden’s Riksdag decided
by a large political majority to introduce
a climate policy framework with a
climate act for Sweden. This framework
is the most important climate reform
in Sweden’s history and sets out
implementation of the Paris Agreement
in Sweden. By 2045, Sweden is to have
zero net emissions of greenhouse gases
into the atmosphere.




The framework contains new                   and an independent climate policy
ambitious climate goals, a climate           council will review how well the
act and plans for a climate policy           overall policy meets the climate goals.
council. The framework aims to               The reform is a key component of
create order and stability in climate        Sweden’s efforts to comply with the
policy. It will provide business and         Paris Agreement.
society with the long-term conditions
to implement the transition needed           Climate Act
to address the challenge of climate          From 1 January 2018, the Climate
change. For the first time, Sweden           Act establishes the following:
will also have an act under which            • The Government’s climate
each government has an obligation                policy must be based on the
to pursue a climate policy based on              climate goals and how work is to
the climate goals adopted by the                 be carried out.
Riksdag. Each government must                • The Government is required to
provide clear reports on how work                present a climate report every
to achieve the goals is progressing,             year in its Budget Bill.

2   Ministry of the Environment and Energy
•   Every      fourth     year,    the        overall helps to reduce the
    Government is required to draw            amount of greenhouse gases
    up a climate policy action plan to        in the atmosphere. That is, the
    describe how the climate goals            amount of greenhouse gases
    are to be achieved.                       emitted by Sweden is less than
•   Climate policy goals and budget           the amount of greenhouse gases
    policy goals must work together.          reduced through the natural
                                              ecocycle, or through climate
New climate goals                             projects pursued by Sweden
The framework contains several new            abroad. However, emissions
climate goals for Sweden.                     from activities in Sweden must
1. By 2045, Sweden is to have zero            be at least 85 per cent lower
    net emissions of greenhouse               than in 1990. Based on current
    gases into the atmosphere                 population forecasts for Sweden,
    and should thereafter achieve             this means that emissions in