Statement
Ministry of the Environment 05 February 2009
Andreas Carlgren, Minister for the Environment
Andreas Carlgren comments on the energy and climate policy agreement
"The national target of a 40 per cent reduction in emissions makes Sweden uniquely ambitious in Europe in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are also setting a target whereby Sweden will have no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The agreement gives me an incredibly good basis on which to lead the EU in the final negotiations on a new global climate agreement in Copenhagen in December," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren.
. The 40 per cent target applies to the non-trade sector and involves a reduction in climate gases of 20 million tonnes compared with the 1990 level.
. Two thirds of the target is to be achieved in Sweden and the other third in the form of investments in other EU countries or green investments in developing countries.
. Emissions reductions in Swedish companies covered by EU emissions trading are not counted in the target.
. Nationally adopted economic policy instruments will reduce emissions by 2 million tonnes.
. Targets are being set whereby, by 2030, Sweden should have a fleet of vehicles that is independent of fossil fuels, and Swedish industry will be world-leading in the transition, through the development of hybrid vehicles, electric cars, biofuels and other innovations.
"The strategies to achieve the climate target will be presented in the Climate and Energy Bill in March. One major area will be initiatives in the transport sector, which is where a large part of emissions reductions will be made through the use of effective economic instruments that reduce emissions. Initiatives for renewable energy and energy efficiency will also be important elements," says Mr Carlgren.
"With this agreement, the Alliance Government has presented a tangible way out of dependence on fossil energy. We are becoming world-leaders in creating a climate-adapted society. I hope to see broad support in the Riksdag for the climate target and the initiatives required to achieve it," says Mr Carlgren.
Background
The Government´s climate target of 40 per cent reductions is based on input from the Scientific Council on Climate Issues, the all-party Climate Committee and the Government´s dialogue with civil society and the business sector on the energy and climate negotiations, as well as the recently adopted EU climate and energy package.
In the Climate Bill of spring 2006, the previous government estimated that greenhouse gas emissions needed to be reduced by 25 per cent.
Contact
Mattias JohanssonPress Secretary to Andreas Carlgren
