Net-Zero Government Initiative

At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27), the United States announced the launch of the Net-Zero Government Initiative, joining 18 other governments committed to leading-by-example and achieving net-zero emissions from national government operations by no later 2050. Net-Zero Government Initiative country participants are developing a roadmap by COP28 that outlines their pathway for achieving the net-zero commitment with interim targets, and publishing the roadmap upon completion. The United States will collaborate with these partner countries during the next year and reconvene at COP28 to share roadmaps, discuss approaches and exchange experiences.

To date, Australia, Republic of Austria, Kingdom of Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Singapore, Switzerland, and United Kingdom have joined the United States in this Initiative. Read the Net-Zero Government Initiative Declaration.

Goals of Net-Zero Government Initiative and How to Join

The Net-Zero Government Initiative seeks to expand the number of national governments committed to net zero operations and create a forum to highlight national governments' ambition, targets and achievements. By joining the initiative, countries are for the first time – on a global scale and in coordinated fashion – underscoring the critical role of governments to lead by example in catalyzing economy-wide climate actions and supporting their countries' achievement of broader climate targets.

In joining the initiative, national governments commit to:

• achieving net-zero emissions from national government operations by no later than 2050;
• developing a roadmap by the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) that outlines the pathway for achieving the net-zero commitment, considering the country’s individual context, and identifies interim targets as appropriate; and,
• publishing the roadmap upon completion.

National governments are frequently the largest employers, electricity consumers, vehicle fleet owners, real estate holders, and purchasers of goods and services in their countries. Governments committing and acting to reduce their own emissions can play a catalytic role in accelerating economy-wide actions, driving zero-carbon technologies and markets, and lowering decarbonization costs across all sectors.

Many countries are already taking steps to green their government operations by transitioning to clean vehicle fleets, advancing energy efficient and sustainable government buildings, expanding carbon-free electricity for government operations, pursuing resilience and nature-based solutions, and advancing sustainable public procurement policies.

All countries are invited to participate in the Net-Zero Government Initiative. Interested countries are invited to contact sustainability@ceq.eop.gov for more information.