Sweden wants EU to switch to emission-free cars by 2030

Limits for nitrogen dioxide were introduced by EU law in 1999, and were supposed to be achieved by 2010

Sweden's environment minister on Saturday urged the European Union to ban petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2030. Speaking to the Aftonbladet daily, Isabella Lovin of the Green Party hailed a non-binding resolution adopted by Germany's upper house of parliament to switch to emission-free cars by 2030. "It's a really interesting proposition ... In order to achieve it, we will need to implement an EU-wide ban along the same lines," she said. "As the environment minister, I do not see any other way than to relegate vehicles powered by fossil fuels to the dustbin of history." The Swedish government aims to produce all of its power from renewable energy sources by 2040.