Decarbonization
Race to Net Zero: Carbon Neutral Goals by Country
The following content is sponsored by the National Public Utilities Council
Race to Net Zero: Carbon Neutral Goals by Country
This was originally posted on July 8, 2021, on Visual Capitalist.
The time to talk about net zero goals is running out, and the time to put them into action is well underway.
At the U.S. Climate Summit in April 2021, U.S. President Biden pressured countries to either speed up carbon neutral pledges, or commit to them in the first place.
It’s a follow-up to the Paris Agreement, which keeps signatories committed to reaching carbon neutrality in emissions in the second half of the 21st century. But 2050–2100 is a wide timeframe, and climate change is becoming both increasingly present and more dire.
So when are countries committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions, and how serious is their pledge? This infographic from the National Public Utilities Council highlights the world’s carbon neutral pledges.
The Timeline of Carbon Neutral Targets by Country
The first question is how quickly countries are trying to get to net zero.
137 countries have committed to carbon neutrality, as tracked by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and confirmed by pledges to the Carbon Neutrality Coalition and recent policy statements by governments.
But the earlier the pledge, the better, and most of the commitments are centered around 2050.
Country | Target Year |
---|---|
Bhutan | Achieved |
Suriname | Achieved |
Uruguay | 2030 |
Finland | 2035 |
Austria | 2040 |
Iceland | 2040 |
Germany | 2045 |
Sweden | 2045 |
Afghanistan | 2050 |
Andorra | 2050 |
Angola | 2050 |
Antigua and Barbuda | 2050 |
Argentina | 2050 |
Armenia | 2050 |
Bahamas | 2050 |
Bangladesh | 2050 |
Barbados | 2050 |
Belgium | 2050 |
Belize | 2050 |
Benin | 2050 |
Brazil | 2050 |
Bulgaria | 2050 |
Burkina Faso | 2050 |
Burundi | 2050 |
Cabo Verde | 2050 |
Cambodia | 2050 |
Canada | 2050 |
Central African Republic | 2050 |
Chad | 2050 |
Chile | 2050 |
Colombia | 2050 |
Comoros | 2050 |
Cook Islands | 2050 |
Costa Rica | 2050 |
Croatia | 2050 |
Cyprus | 2050 |
Czechia | 2050 |
Democratic Republic of Congo | 2050 |
Denmark | 2050 |
Djibouti | 2050 |
Dominica | 2050 |
Dominican Republic | 2050 |
Ecuador | 2050 |
Eritrea | 2050 |
Estonia | 2050 |
Ethiopia | 2050 |
European Union | 2050 |
Fiji | 2050 |
France | 2050 |
Gambia | 2050 |
Greece | 2050 |
Grenada | 2050 |
Guinea | 2050 |
Guinea-Bissau | 2050 |
Guyana | 2050 |
Haiti | 2050 |
Hungary | 2050 |
Ireland | 2050 |
Italy | 2050 |
Jamaica | 2050 |
Japan | 2050 |
Kiribati | 2050 |
Laos | 2050 |
Latvia | 2050 |
Lebanon | 2050 |
Lesotho | 2050 |
Liberia | 2050 |
Lithuania | 2050 |
Luxembourg | 2050 |
Madagascar | 2050 |
Malawi | 2050 |
Maldives | 2050 |
Mali | 2050 |
Malta | 2050 |
Marshall Islands | 2050 |
Mauritania | 2050 |
Mauritius | 2050 |
Mexico | 2050 |
Micronesia | 2050 |
Monaco | 2050 |
Mozambique | 2050 |
Myanmar | 2050 |
Namibia | 2050 |
Nauru | 2050 |
Nepal | 2050 |
Netherlands | 2050 |
New Zealand | 2050 |
Nicaragua | 2050 |
Niger | 2050 |
Niue | 2050 |
Norway | 2050 |
Pakistan | 2050 |
Palau | 2050 |
Panama | 2050 |
Papua New Guinea | 2050 |
Paraguay | 2050 |
Peru | 2050 |
Portugal | 2050 |
Romania | 2050 |
Rwanda | 2050 |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2050 |
Saint Lucia | 2050 |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 2050 |
Samoa | 2050 |
Sao Tome and Principe | 2050 |
Senegal | 2050 |
Seychelles | 2050 |
Sierra Leone | 2050 |
Slovakia | 2050 |
Slovenia | 2050 |
Solomon Islands | 2050 |
Somalia | 2050 |
South Africa | 2050 |
South Korea | 2050 |
South Sudan | 2050 |
Spain | 2050 |
Sudan | 2050 |
Switzerland | 2050 |
Tanzania | 2050 |
Timor-Leste | 2050 |
Togo | 2050 |
Tonga | 2050 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 2050 |
Tuvalu | 2050 |
U.S. | 2050 |
Uganda | 2050 |
United Kingdom | 2050 |
Uzbekistan | 2050 |
Vanuatu | 2050 |
Vatican City | 2050 |
Yemen | 2050 |
Zambia | 2050 |
China | 2060 |
Kazakhstan | 2060 |
Ukraine | 2060 |
Australia | 2050 – 2100 |
Singapore | 2050 – 2100 |
As far as early achievers go, Bhutan and Suriname are the only two countries that have achieved carbon neutrality and are actually carbon negative (removing more carbon than they emit). Uruguay’s 2030 target is the earliest to try and match that feat, followed by Europe’s Finland, Austria, Iceland, Germany, and Sweden, who are all targeting 2045 or earlier.
Over 90%, or 124 of the 137 countries tracked above, set a target of 2050 for reaching carbon neutrality. This is largely due to membership in the Carbon Neutrality Coalition, which asks member states to target 2050 for their goal but leaves commitment up to them.
Only five countries have net zero pledges set for after 2050, including Australia and Singapore, which haven’t set a firm target yet. Targeting 2060, in addition to Ukraine and Kazakhstan, is the world’s largest emitter, China. The country’s recent pledge is significant, since China accounts for an estimated 25% of global emissions.
In fact, according to the Climate Action Tracker, 73% of global emissions are currently covered by net zero targets.
How Seriously Are Countries Committing to Carbon Neutrality?
Setting a goal is perhaps the easiest step towards carbon neutrality. But the real challenge is in solidifying that goal and starting to make progress towards it. That’s why it’s important to consider how deeply committed each country’s carbon neutral pledge truly is.
The most rigid commitments are enshrined in law, followed by official government policy, though the latter can change alongside governments. Likewise, proposed legislation shows forward momentum in making pledges a reality, but proposals can take a long time to become enacted (or get derailed).
As it turns out, the vast majority of carbon neutral targets are only under discussion, with no formal action being taken to act on them.
Country | Target Status |
---|---|
Bhutan | Achieved |
Suriname | Achieved |
Denmark | Law |
France | Law |
Hungary | Law |
New Zealand | Law |
Sweden | Law |
United Kingdom | Law |
Andorra | Policy Document |
Australia | Policy Document |
Austria | Policy Document |
Brazil | Policy Document |
China | Policy Document |
Costa Rica | Policy Document |
Finland | Policy Document |
Germany | Policy Document |
Iceland | Policy Document |
Ireland | Policy Document |
Japan | Policy Document |
Kazakhstan | Policy Document |
Marshall Islands | Policy Document |
Norway | Policy Document |
Panama | Policy Document |
Paraguay | Policy Document |
Portugal | Policy Document |
Slovenia | Policy Document |
South Africa | Policy Document |
Switzerland | Policy Document |
U.S. | Policy Document |
Ukraine | Policy Document |
Uzbekistan | Policy Document |
Vatican City | Policy Document |
Canada | Proposed Legislation |
Chile | Proposed Legislation |
European Union | Proposed Legislation |
Fiji | Proposed Legislation |
South Korea | Proposed Legislation |
Spain | Proposed Legislation |
Afghanistan | Under Discussion |
Angola | Under Discussion |
Antigua and Barbuda | Under Discussion |
Argentina | Under Discussion |
Armenia | Under Discussion |
Bahamas | Under Discussion |
Bangladesh | Under Discussion |
Barbados | Under Discussion |
Belgium | Under Discussion |
Belize | Under Discussion |
Benin | Under Discussion |
Bulgaria | Under Discussion |
Burkina Faso | Under Discussion |
Burundi | Under Discussion |
Cabo Verde | Under Discussion |
Cambodia | Under Discussion |
Central African Republic | Under Discussion |
Chad | Under Discussion |
Colombia | Under Discussion |
Comoros | Under Discussion |
Cook Islands | Under Discussion |
Croatia | Under Discussion |
Cyprus | Under Discussion |
Czechia | Under Discussion |
Democratic Republic of Congo | Under Discussion |
Djibouti | Under Discussion |
Dominica | Under Discussion |
Dominican Republic | Under Discussion |
Ecuador | Under Discussion |
Eritrea | Under Discussion |
Estonia | Under Discussion |
Ethiopia | Under Discussion |
Gambia | Under Discussion |
Greece | Under Discussion |
Grenada | Under Discussion |
Guinea | Under Discussion |
Guinea-Bissau | Under Discussion |
Guyana | Under Discussion |
Haiti | Under Discussion |
Italy | Under Discussion |
Jamaica | Under Discussion |
Kiribati | Under Discussion |
Laos | Under Discussion |
Latvia | Under Discussion |
Lebanon | Under Discussion |
Lesotho | Under Discussion |
Liberia | Under Discussion |
Lithuania | Under Discussion |
Luxembourg | Under Discussion |
Madagascar | Under Discussion |
Malawi | Under Discussion |
Maldives | Under Discussion |
Mali | Under Discussion |
Malta | Under Discussion |
Mauritania | Under Discussion |
Mauritius | Under Discussion |
Mexico | Under Discussion |
Micronesia | Under Discussion |
Monaco | Under Discussion |
Mozambique | Under Discussion |
Myanmar | Under Discussion |
Namibia | Under Discussion |
Nauru | Under Discussion |
Nepal | Under Discussion |
Netherlands | Under Discussion |
Nicaragua | Under Discussion |
Niger | Under Discussion |
Niue | Under Discussion |
Pakistan | Under Discussion |
Palau | Under Discussion |
Papua New Guinea | Under Discussion |
Peru | Under Discussion |
Romania | Under Discussion |
Rwanda | Under Discussion |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Under Discussion |
Saint Lucia | Under Discussion |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Under Discussion |
Samoa | Under Discussion |
Sao Tome and Principe | Under Discussion |
Senegal | Under Discussion |
Seychelles | Under Discussion |
Sierra Leone | Under Discussion |
Singapore | Under Discussion |
Slovakia | Under Discussion |
Solomon Islands | Under Discussion |
Somalia | Under Discussion |
South Sudan | Under Discussion |
Sudan | Under Discussion |
Tanzania | Under Discussion |
Timor-Leste | Under Discussion |
Togo | Under Discussion |
Tonga | Under Discussion |
Trinidad and Tobago | Under Discussion |
Tuvalu | Under Discussion |
Uganda | Under Discussion |
Uruguay | Under Discussion |
Vanuatu | Under Discussion |
Yemen | Under Discussion |
Zambia | Under Discussion |
Uruguay’s 2030 target might be the earliest, but it is not yet set in stone. The earliest commitment actually enshrined in law is Sweden’s 2045 target.
Including Sweden, only six countries have passed their carbon neutral targets into law. They include Denmark, France, Hungary, New Zealand, and the UK.
An additional five countries have proposed legislation in the works, including Canada and South Korea, as well as the entirety of the EU.
Meanwhile, 24 countries have their climate targets set as official policy. They include Brazil, China, Germany and the U.S., some of the world’s largest emitters.
99 of the 137 pledges are only under discussion at this time, or more than 72%. That means that they have no official standing as of yet, and are harder to act on. But as time starts to pass, pressure on countries to act on their carbon neutral pledges is beginning to grow.
The National Public Utilities Council is a collaborative body of industry experts coming together to solve decarbonization challenges in the power sector and the proud sponsor of the Decarbonization Channel.
Decarbonization
Visualized: Carbon Pricing Initiatives in North America
We map out all of the national and subnational carbon pricing initiatives in North America using data from the World Bank.

Visualized: Carbon Pricing Initiatives in North America
Carbon pricing mechanisms are a vital component of an effective emissions reduction strategy. But these initiatives currently cover just 15% of total North American carbon emissions.
To discover which initiatives are currently contributing to this coverage, this graphic sponsored by the National Public Utilities Council maps out all of the national and subnational carbon pricing initiatives across North America using data from the World Bank.
Let’s begin by looking at types of carbon pricing.
Carbon Pricing Explained
Carbon pricing is a market-based policy tool that assigns a cost to carbon emissions, incentivizing reductions through the use of economic signals.
While there are several ways to go about carbon pricing, the most commonly used types of carbon pricing strategies include:
- Emissions Trading Systems (ETS)
ETS establishes a market for trading emissions allowances among companies. A cap on total emissions is set, and all companies receive tradable emission units. Those exceeding their limits can buy allowances from those with a surplus. - Carbon Taxes
Carbon taxes impose a direct price on carbon emissions. Their goal is to disincentivize carbon-intensive activities, such as burning fossil fuels, by making them financially less attractive.
In 2022, carbon pricing strategies generated $5 billion in the U.S. and $8 billion in Canada. These funds were primarily allocated toward green investments and support for low-income households.
Carbon Pricing Initiatives By Country
The U.S. is currently the only country in North America without a national carbon pricing initiative. Both Canada and Mexico, on the other hand, have implemented federal ETS and carbon tax programs.
Beyond federal initiatives, many regions on the continent have also implemented or are considering their own carbon pricing initiatives. These subnational initiatives are listed in the table below:
Region | Carbon Pricing Initiative | Status |
---|---|---|
🇨🇦 Alberta, Canada | ETS | Implemented, 2007 |
🇨🇦 British Columbia, Canada | Carbon tax and ETS | Implemented, 2008 and 2016 |
🇨🇦 Manitoba, Canada | Carbon tax and ETS | Under Consideration |
🇨🇦 New Brunswick, Canada | Carbon tax and ETS | Implemented, 2020 and 2021 |
🇨🇦 Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | Carbon tax and ETS | Implemented, both 2019 |
🇨🇦 Northwest Territories, Canada | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2019 |
🇨🇦 Nova Scotia, Canada | ETS | Implemented, 2019 |
🇨🇦 Ontario, Canada | ETS | Implemented, 2022 |
🇨🇦 Prince Edward Island, Canada | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2019 |
🇨🇦 Quebec, Canada | ETS | Implemented, 2013 |
🇨🇦 Saskatchewan, Canada | ETS | Implemented, 2019 |
🇺🇸 California, U.S.A. | ETS | Implemented, 2012 |
🇺🇸 Hawaii, U.S.A. | Carbon tax | Under Consideration |
🇺🇸 Massachusetts, U.S.A. | ETS | Implemented, 2018 |
🇺🇸 New York, U.S.A. | ETS | Under Consideration |
🇺🇸 North Carolina, U.S.A. | ETS | Under Consideration |
🇺🇸 Oregon, U.S.A. | ETS | Implemented, 2021 |
🇺🇸 Pennsylvania, U.S.A. | ETS | Under Consideration |
🇺🇸 Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)* | ETS | Implemented, 2009 |
🇺🇸 Washington, U.S.A. | ETS | Implemented, 2023 |
🇲🇽 Durango, Mexico | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2023 |
🇲🇽 Guanajuato, Mexico | Carbon tax | Scheduled, 2023 |
🇲🇽 Jalisco, Mexico | Carbon tax | Under Consideration |
🇲🇽 Queretaro, Mexico | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2022 |
🇲🇽 State of Mexico, Mexico | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2022 |
🇲🇽 Yucatan, Mexico | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2022 |
🇲🇽 Zacatecas, Mexico | Carbon tax | Implemented, 2017 |
The RGGI was the first mandatory ETS initiative in the U.S. and applies to power plants in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.
Since its inception, emissions in the RGGI region fell by more than 50%—twice as fast as the nation as a whole—and raised nearly $6 billion to invest in local communities.
Are All Carbon Pricing Initiatives Created Equal?
In the landscape of carbon pricing initiatives, one critical factor stands out—the price of carbon itself.
According to The High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices, achieving alignment between carbon pricing strategies and the Paris Agreement temperature target requires a price of US$40–80/tCO2 by 2020 and US$50–100/tCO2 by 2030.
Unfortunately, many North American initiatives fall short of these prices, especially in the U.S. and Mexico, where carbon prices reach as low as US$12/tCO2e. Conversely, most Canadian initiatives set a price of US$48/tCO2e.
It’s also important to note that the broader impact of these initiatives depends on a multitude of other factors, including the industries they cover, their flexibility in accommodating changing economic conditions, and the manner in which generated revenue is invested back into sustainable practices.
Within the balance of these various elements lies the potential to steer all industries—including the power sector—toward the necessary emissions reductions.
Learn more about how electric utilities and the power sector can lead on the path toward decarbonization here.
Decarbonization
The 3 Building Blocks for a Decarbonized Power Sector
How can the U.S. achieve a 100% clean power sector? See the three key pillars of a decarbonized power sector in this infographic.

The 3 Building Blocks for a Decarbonized Power Sector
As part of the Paris Agreement, the U.S. has set goals to achieve a 50-52% reduction in emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
To lay the foundation for these targets, the Biden Administration’s goal is to create a 100% clean power sector by 2035.
This infographic from the National Public Utilities Council shows why a clean power sector is essential for net-zero emissions and highlights the three building blocks needed to achieve it. This is part 2 of the Road to Net Zero series of infographics.
The State of U.S. Energy Use
Today, fossil fuels like oil and gas provide most of the energy used in the U.S. for transportation, heating, and industrial purposes.
For example, due to the prevalence of gasoline vehicles, petroleum accounts for 90% of the transportation sector’s energy consumption, with electricity making up less than 1% of the total.
Similarly, around 80% of the industrial sector’s energy needs are met with natural gas and petroleum. Meanwhile, the residential and commercial sectors use large amounts of natural gas for their space heating needs, along with electricity for other appliances.
With fossil fuels widespread in the U.S. energy mix, the fastest path to net-zero emissions is to electrify and decarbonize energy use in all sectors. This involves replacing technologies that use fossil fuels with those powered by electricity and a clean grid.
For instance, electric vehicles could transform the transportation sector’s energy consumption and reduce emissions. Additionally, electric heat pumps could replace oil and gas boilers in residential and commercial buildings.
However, for electrification to be effective in reducing emissions, decarbonizing the power sector and generating clean electricity is essential.
The Path to a Decarbonized Power Sector
Decarbonization calls for a transformation of the power sector, from one where fossil fuels generate 60% of total electricity to one dominated by clean energy and backed by an upgraded grid.
There are three foundational building blocks for the road to 100% clean electricity:
#1: Accelerate Clean Energy Deployment
With renewable energy now cheaper than fossil fuels, expanding solar- and wind-powered generation is key to replacing fossil fuels and reaching zero emissions.
According to Princeton University, for net-zero emissions by 2050, the U.S. needs to add more than 50 gigawatts of solar capacity annually from 2022 to 2035. That is significantly higher than the 13 gigawatts installed in 2021.
#2: Support Clean Energy with Grid Expansion
With the U.S. power grid aging, new high-voltage transmission capacity is essential for transporting electricity from remote solar and wind farms to centers of demand.
From 2013 to 2020, U.S. transmission capacity grew by just 1% annually. To align with the net-zero pathway, the pace of expansion needs to more than double through 2030.
Here’s how transmission expansion could affect U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as modeled by Princeton:
Transmission Expansion Rate | Projected GHG Emissions in 2030 | % Change in Emissions vs. 2021 |
---|---|---|
1% per year | 4.6 billion tonnes | -18% |
1.5% per year | 4.0 billion tonnes | -29% |
2.3% per year | 3.8 billion tonnes | -32% |
Source: Princeton University – Zero Lab
With a 2.3% annual growth in transmission capacity, U.S. GHG emissions could achieve a 32% reduction from the 5.6 billion tonnes emitted in 2021.
#3: Invest in Nuclear Power and Battery Storage
The intermittent nature and low reliability of wind and solar power generation pose a challenge for the energy transition.
Battery storage systems and nuclear power can solve the intermittency problem by supplying clean electricity when wind and solar generation falls.
For example, storage systems can store excess solar power that is produced during sunny periods of the day, and supply it in the evening when solar generation dips. Meanwhile, nuclear power plants can supply electricity around the clock, acting as a clean baseload power source.
Towards a Carbon-free U.S. Economy
New renewable capacity, transmission expansion, and reliable backup sources are key to unlocking a carbon-free power sector.
Together, these three building blocks form the foundation for economy-wide emissions reduction and net-zero emissions by 2050.
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