Sweden announced a legislation that binds future governments to ultimately remove greenhouse gas emissions entirely by 2045. It also openly criticized the approach taken by the Trump administration to climate policy.
Stefan Löfven, the prime minister, stated, "The position we hear from the new [US] administration is worrying." The statement was made right after the announcement of the ambitious climate law which promised nil net greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2045.
Isabella Lövin, the Swedish climate minister, advised fellow European countries to uptake a leading stance in combatting climate change. She added "the US is not there anymore to lead". Except for the far-right Sweden Democrats, seven out of eight political parties decided to pass an obligatory law urging tougher goals for the future governments to reduce fossil fuel use every four years.
The law in question will be brought to action starting Jan. 1, 2018. The goal set by Sweden's government is to achieve an 85% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emissions from 1990's levels by 2045. The rest of the emissions would offset by growing more forests to intake carbon for instance.
By 2050, as a whole the European Union has placed a goal by 2050 of an 80-95% cut in greenhouse gas emissions. Lövin is optimistic about the approach and said, "2045 is a good year, I personally believe we could get there even earlier."
According to The Guardian, other EU nations have joined in the effort and passed passed climate laws. She added that these countries include Britain, Denmark and Finland who intend to create long-term policies that are difficult to overturn and also grant greater certainty to investors.
In contrast to EU, New York Times confirms that Trump has repeatedly stated that climate change is merely a hoax. Trump also displayed his interest in bolstering the fossil fuel and domestic coal industries.
Lovin said that Sweden intends to set an example in an era when "climate skeptics [are] really gaining power in the world again."
