Sweden Sets up Roadmap of Zero Green House Gas Emission by 2050

Sweden has started to work on a goal of realizing zero net green house gas emission by 2050, Minister for Environment Lena Ek said on Tuesday.

"We have set up the goal of reducing green house gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020, in the traffic with non-fossil fleet by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050," said Ek at a joint press conference in Stockholm with Jos Delbeke, European Commission's chief in Climate Directorate.

Ek Tuesday opened the work with a special group for dialogue on the government's goal of "A Sweden without net emission by 2050".

"We will do this in a much open way which reminded us of the Agenda 21 which was carried out in Sweden, meaning that there will be a dialogue with academia, scientists, researchers, industry of all kinds and of course also the civil society or NGOs," Ek said.

This will be an inclusive work gathering resources from both the reference group and from the participating companies. She believes that it will be a unique possibility for innovators to compete with energy and climate smart technologies.

Delbeke said "The target is really the sign that Sweden is taking the leadership of realizing the ambitious goals setting up by the heads of states in Europe."

He said that the European Union will target transport and energy by 2030 and make it energy efficient and fossil free.

"We know the challenges ahead, but we are confident that new technologies and investment will make it work," Delbeke said.