Background: How Sweden Got Here
The EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requires all member states to establish limits on the climate impact a new building may have over its lifecycle. Through the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning, Sweden has been tasked by the government with developing a concrete proposal, and that proposal has now been submitted to the government for further consideration.
The timeline is as follows: starting January 1, 2028, the entire life cycle must be reported for buildings larger than 1,000 m², and starting January 1, 2030, threshold values will apply to other buildings. The legislation is enshrined in the Planning and Building Act.
This is not, therefore, a matter of a future aspiration. It is a legal requirement that is about to be incorporated into Swedish law.
The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s timeline
The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s proposal: Differentiated limits—but how ambitious?
In May 2026, the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning submitted its proposal to the government and the Riksdag. The proposed limits vary by building type, ranging from apartment buildings (235 kg CO₂eq/m² gross floor area) to swimming pools (455 kg CO₂eq/m² gross floor area).
The report analyzed three alternative levels of ambition. The National Board of Housing, Building and Planning proposes the middle level, but the crucial question is which level the government and the Riksdag ultimately choose. That is the question that will determine the extent to which the industry actually needs to adapt.
In addition, questions remain regarding who will bear the cost of the transition and how to handle buildings where climate requirements are difficult to meet for structural reasons, such as civil defense shelters with thick concrete walls or swimming pools with large steel basins.
The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s proposal (PDF)
Sweden: The Reduction Roadmap is moving forward
In parallel with the political process, the industry initiative “Reduction Roadmap Sweden” is underway, advocating for national emission limits in line with the Paris Agreement. The initiative, developed by Wingårdhs, Krook & Tjäder, and Chalmers, demonstrates that there are industry players with clear ambitions and their own climate goals that go beyond what the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s proposal stipulates. Today, over 150 construction industry players support their campaign for national limits that will halve construction emissions by 2030.
Svenska Reduction Roadmap
Denmark: The initiative that actually changed the law
Sweden is not alone on this journey. Since 2022, the Danish Reduction Roadmap has brought together over 630 organizations and helped the Danish government actually tighten its national limits on the climate impact of buildings. That is the experience on which the Swedish Reduction Roadmap is based.
Now Denmark is taking it a step further with the report *Beyond the Roadmap*, which questions whether it is enough to simply mitigate harm when we are already in an ecological deficit. The report presents a framework for how the industry can become net-positive, not just net-neutral.
Danish Reduction Roadmap
Plants' seminar in Almedalen on June 24
On Wednesday, June 24, from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m., Plant is hosting a seminar in Almedalen where the issue will be discussed by the very people who make the decisions and bear responsibility for the transition.
The discussion features Members of Parliament David Josefsson (M), Rickard Nordin (C), and Joakim Järrebring (S), along with sustainability directors Anna Denell (Vasakronan), Sara Gorton (Skanska), and Maria Perzon (Castellum). The discussion also includes perspectives from building materials manufacturers and smaller players in the industry.
The discussion takes place in a dynamic format, with the participants seated in a circle and the audience standing around them. Pelle Tunell, CEO of Plant, moderates the discussion and invites the audience to share their perspectives.
Time: Wednesday , June 24, 4:00–4:45 p.m.
Location: Gotland Museum, entrance at Mellangatan 19, SVN Stage – Sävesalen
Learn more about Plant’s seminar in Almedalen
Frequently asked questions
What is life-cycle GWP?
GWPstands for Global Warming Potential, a measure of a building’s contribution to climate impact over its entire life cycle, from raw material extraction and the production of building materials to demolition and waste management. Life-cycle GWP is the metric on which the Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s limit values are based.
What is a climate declaration?
Aclimate declaration is a report on a building’s climate impact during the construction phase. Since 2022, it has been mandatory for most new buildings in Sweden. The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s proposal would expand the declaration to cover the entire life cycle.
What happens next with the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning’s proposal?
The National Board of Housing, Buildingand Planninghas submitted its proposal to the government. The next step is for the government to review the proposal and forward it to the Riksdag for a decision. It is at this stage that the question of the level of ambition—how strict the limits will actually be—will be finally decided.
What is Plant doing in this area?
Plant develops user-friendly software for climate calculations that helps the construction industry understand and reduce the climate impact of its buildings. We also support clients with climate calculations, consulting, and strategic work related to climate requirements and certifications. Threshold values are central to this type of work, and we are closely monitoring developments.
