Iceland’s Climate Act establishes the legal framework for national climate policy. Its objectives are to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions efficiently, increase carbon sequestration, support adaptation to climate change, enable Iceland to fulfil its international climate obligations, and achieve carbon neutrality no later than 2040. The Act applies broadly to activities on land, in Icelandic airspace and within its exclusive economic zone that may affect greenhouse-gas emissions. It assigns overall responsibility to the Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, requires a national climate action plan to be reviewed at least every four years, provides for an adaptation plan, and establishes an independent Climate Council to advise and scrutinise government climate policy. State bodies, state-owned enterprises and municipalities must also adopt climate policies containing emissions-reduction and carbon-offsetting objectives. The Act also establishes systems for monitoring and accounting for greenhouse-gas emissions and removals, requiring the Environment and Energy Agency to maintain Iceland’s national emissions inventory and allowing it to obtain relevant data from public authorities, companies and other actors. It incorporates Iceland’s climate commitments for 2021–2030, including emissions reductions in sectors such as energy, industrial processes, agriculture and waste, as well as rules concerning land use, land-use change and forestry. The legislation also provides for Iceland’s participation in international and EEA climate mechanisms, including the national registry system and EU climate legislation implementing shared commitments under the Paris Agreement. In addition, it requires climate-related considerations in certain public procurement decisions, particularly regarding vehicle energy use and emissions.
Iceland · 2012-06-29