Klimamål

Klimamål are targets set by governments, organizations, or businesses to address climate change. They typically specify a scope (national, regional, sectoral), a baseline year, a target year, and the metric used to measure progress, often greenhouse gas emissions in CO2-equivalents. Klimamål can be legally binding or voluntary and may be revised as circumstances change.

Targets are usually categorized as mitigation goals, which aim to reduce or limit emissions, and adaptation goals, which seek to reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. Many klimamål aim for net-zero emissions by mid-century, meaning any remaining emissions are balanced by removals. In the international arena, temperature-related targets such as limiting warming to well below 2°C or pursuing 1.5°C guide national ambitions and policy design.

Setting and implementing klimamål involves international frameworks and national action. The Paris Agreement relies on nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that describe each country’s planned actions. Countries translate these into laws, regulations, and programs across sectors such as energy, transport, industry, and land use. Policy tools commonly used include carbon pricing, subsidies for renewables and efficiency, performance standards, and planning for sustainable infrastructure.

Monitoring and accountability are essential components. Emissions inventories, progress reporting, and independent reviews help track advancement toward targets and inform revisions. Interim milestones (for example, 2030 or 2040) are often set to ensure alignment with long-term goals, and transparency is key to credibility. Klimamål reflect broader efforts to decarbonize economies while addressing adaptation needs in a changing climate.