Sweden Targets 30% Cut in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2020

Scandinavian country sets strong targets exceeding EU goal

Sweden is targeting at least a 30% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, beating the European Union goal of a 20% reduction (see previous post), according to Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren.

Carlgren told the Swedish newspaper, Svenska Dagbladet, that since Sweden had pushed hard in the recent EU negotiations on the reduction target, that it would be unacceptable for the country to accept a lower goal.

Sweden has already cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 7% from 1990 levels in it's efforts to meet Kyoto Protocol targets.

The country's willingness to self-impose even more aggressive emissions reductions targets than those discussed by the EU contrasts with the positions of China (see previous post), India (see previous post) and the United States (see here) who remain opposed to mandatory reduction targets.

Sweden has previously pledged to try to eliminate all fossil fuel use by 2020 (see previous post), although the likelihood of accomplishing that goal is uncertain.

[A hat tip to Green Car Congress]