November 13, 2025
Stockholm is taking global climate responsibility and aims to be climate positive by 2030 and fossil-free by 2040. Consumption-based emissions are to be halved by 2030. These are the goals set out in Stockholm City's Environmental Program 2030, which was adopted in 2024. In the work to achieve the ambitious goals of the environmental program and implement the measures that have been decided, including in the Climate Action Plan 2030, particular emphasis is placed on a fair and inclusive transition, where all residents and businesses have the opportunity to contribute.
In 2025, Stockholm is strengthening its organization and has appointed transition leaders to drive five specific areas of transition. These are the backbone of the city's action plan to achieve its climate goals. The work is integrated into the city's formal governance processes, and proposals for new measures are developed on an ongoing basis to make the transition faster and more dynamic. In 2025, Stockholm Exergi has decided on and begun construction of a large-scale facility for carbon dioxide capture. The facility will showcase a new and necessary technology that can take us towards a climate-positive society.
Communication with target groups, actors, and stakeholders who can contribute to achieving the goals is particularly important. To create the conditions for coordinated communication, there is a city-wide framework narrative and a graphic concept that can be used by all of the city's operations.
In the city's latest update, they talk about the work, the transition arena, the project portfolio and much more.
Björn Hugosson, Climate Manager for the City of Stockholm, bjorn.hugosson@stockholm.se
The city is happy to share methods and results with other actors.
One example is the procurement of electrified construction equipmentin the Slakthus area, where competitive dialogue led to a new collaboration with suppliers and the market launch of fossil-free technology. Sustainability criteria in the procurement include fossil-free transport, emission-free work machines, and certifications such as Breeam Infrastructure.
A communication initiative on the theme of food that attracted a great deal of attention was a collaboration with the band Bob Hund as part of the PLATE research project on sustainable meals. During the week of the event, a food truck was parked at Medborgarplatsen, serving food prepared according to the "PLATE principles," i.e., food that is healthy and has a low environmental and climate impact. The concept also included an exhibition at the Tranströmer Library.
The ÅBC (Återbrukscentral) project aims to establish a working method whereby recycled building materials are given a new lease of life in Stockholm, which in turn reduces the climate impact of construction. To implement the project, several of the city's operations have joined forces to set up a strong project organization. Together, they are mapping needs, identifying key issues, and developing routines and strategies for how reuse can become a natural part of the real estate industry of the future. In the short term, the focus is on developing an applicable working method, planning guidelines and governing documents, and creating a place to store dismantled products awaiting reuse. In the longer term, the goal is greater – to create a resource-efficient, resilient, and circular construction sector with Stockholm at the forefront.
Stockholm highlights two initiatives that they believe may be of particular interest to other municipalities to spy and apply. Contact the process leader to spy and apply.
Climate City Contract 2030 is a collective effort to achieve the climate transition that we need to implement in a short time to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees. It is an agreement between municipalities, government agencies and Viable Cities where all parties undertake to make a concrete contribution to increasing the pace of climate change.
To achieve deep change, we need to move from fragmented projects to an ecosystem of efforts that all pull in the same direction. Cities are doing this together with Viable Cities, funders government agencies and other partners, in different constellations and with different objectives. It is about moving beyond dealing with symptoms and instead focusing on underlying problems in our social structure. Here you will find the initiatives and studies within the city that have been granted funding under Viable Cities.
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Since 2023, Stockholm is part of the second cohort of pilot cities from twenty-one EU Member States and Horizon 2020 associated countries, selected to launch unprecedented climate action, through the NetZeroCities Pilot Cities program.
In October 2023, the City of Stockholm was one of ten European cities awarded the EU Mission Label for its work to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral and sustainable city.
Stockholm is part of the NetZeroCities 112 Mission Cities, selected since 2022 to pioneer the EU Cities Mission.
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