Auteur moral

Auteur secondaire

Résumé

"The environmental objectives system provides a central, common platform for key players in Sweden's environmental efforts. The Government and the Riksdag have strengthened and further developed the environmental objectives system, bringing a clearer focus to bear on implementation and measures to meet current environmental challenges."

Editeur

Ministère de l'environnement

Descripteur Urbamet

environnement ;climat ;changement climatique ;politique publique ;recherche ;BIODIVERSITÉ

Descripteur écoplanete

Thème

Texte intégral

The Swedish environmental objectives system January 2013 INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT The environmental objectives system provides a central, common platform for key players in Sweden's environmental efforts. The Government and the Riksdag have strengthened and further developed the environmental objectives system, bringing a clearer focus to bear on implementation and measures to meet current environmental challenges. Structure and organisation of the environmental objectives system In 1999 the Riksdag adopted a number of environmental quality objectives to give clear structure to environmental action. This has led to what we now call the environmental objectives system: · A generational goal defining the direction of the changes in society that are needed within a generation in order to achieve the environmental quality objectives. · Environmental quality objectives describing the state of the Swedish environment that environmental action is to result in. · Milestone targets directing the way to the changes in society needed to achieve the environmental quality objectives and the generational goal. The objectives set in the system send a long-term signal to all actors in society on what the Government and the Riksdag want to achieve through the environment policy and how this interlocks with other policy areas. From an international perspective, the Swedish environmental objectives system is unique. Actors from every area of society are involved in what is sometimes called Sweden's largest cooperative project. The generational goal The Riksdag has adopted a generational goal, which is the overarching objective of environment policy and guides environmental action at every level of society. The goal is to pass on to the next generation a society in which the major environmental problems have been solved, without increasing environmental and health problems beyond Sweden's borders. Policy instruments and measures to solve environmental problems in Sweden must be designed to ensure that Sweden does not export environmental problems. Environmental quality objectives The Riksdag has adopted 16 environmental quality objectives. These objectives express the state of the Swedish environment aspired to. One of the environmental quality objectives is `Clean air'. The air must be clean enough to avoid damage to human health, and to animals, plants and the cultural heritage. Each environmental quality objective is accompanied by a number of specifications to give the objective substance. They are intended to clarify the implications of the environmental quality objectives and describe the environmental status that is to be achieved. INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT The 16 environmental quality objectives - Reduced climate impact - Clean air - Natural acidification only - A non-toxic environment - A protective ozone layer - A safe radiation environment - Zero eutrophication - Flourishing lakes and streams - Good-quality groundwater - A balanced marine environment, flourishing coastal areas and archipelagos - Thriving wetlands - Sustainable forests - A varied agricultural landscape - A magnificent mountain landscape - A good built environment - A rich diversity of plant and animal life The specifications associated with the environmental quality objectives are also intended to serve as criteria in assessing whether the objectives are being achieved and provide guidance for environmental efforts by all actors ­ government agencies, county administrative boards, municipalities and others. The environmental quality objectives must be ambitious but not unachievable. When assessing whether the objectives are being achieved, we need to take into account that environmental recovery processes are long and that environmental problems are transboundary; in other words, Sweden is not in sole control of the action that needs to be taken. administrative boards, government agencies, municipalities and the business sector on important priorities for continuing environmental action. Agencies responsible for the environmental objectives system A total of 25 government agencies have explicit responsibilities in the environmental objectives system. Within their own operational areas, they are all required to promote the achievement of the generational goal and the environmental quality objectives and to propose measures to further develop environmental action where necessary. Eight of these agencies, moreover, are specifically responsible for following up and evaluating one or more of the environmental quality objectives. All 25 agencies also have to consult with and assist the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency on the data needed for following up and evaluating the objectives. Environmental Objectives Forum The Environmental Objectives Forum has come into being to create direct dialogue between relevant agencies and the Minister for the Environment. The Forum is made up of the heads of the 25 agencies with responsibilities in the environmental objectives system and a county governor to represent the regional level. The Forum, which plays an advisory role to the Minister for the Environment, discusses environmental issues spanning multiple policy areas, conflicts between different interests, and potential for cooperation and interaction. Cross-Party Committee on Environmental Objectives Parliamentary support and broad political consensus are central to environmental work. The Cross-Party Committee on Environmental Objectives, in which seven of the parties in the Riksdag are represented, advises the Government on how the environmental objectives can be achieved and, in cooperation with agencies in the environmental objectives system, delivers proposals on strategies including milestone targets, policy instruments and measures in priority areas. Linking policy instruments and measures to the strategies and milestone targets makes environmental action more operational and effective. The Cross-Party Committee on Environmental Objectives focuses on issues that are characterised by conflicts between the objectives of different interests Milestone targets The Government decides on milestone targets, but if there are special reasons the Riksdag can take such decisions. A milestone target can be relevant to one or more environmental quality objectives and is intended to direct action towards the changes in society that are needed in order to achieve the environmental quality objectives and the generational goal. The milestone targets are intended to show what options are open to Sweden on a specific issue and to pinpoint focus areas for action. The milestone targets and environmental quality objectives are to function as guidance to county in society or that are particularly complex and therefore require overarching and long-term political priorities. The Committee consists of a chair and a number of members of the Riksdag representing both the parties in government and opposition parties. It also includes experts from county administrative boards, municipalities, the business sector and stakeholder organisations. of our cultural heritage. The municipalities are also responsible for much of the supervision conducted in accordance with the Environmental Code. The formal education system has an important role to play in equipping children, young people and adults with the knowledge and will to work for sustainable development and the achievement of the environmental quality objectives. Regional responsibility for environmental objectives The county administrative boards have an overarching and coordinating role in regional work on the environmental objectives. They work on the environmental quality objectives in their counties, together with other regional agencies. Many county administrative boards develop regional environmental objectives and action programmes in collaboration with county councils, regional cooperation bodies, municipalities, the business sector and non-governmental organisations. The county administrative boards also have the role of providing input to municipalities and helping them to formulate local objectives and action programmes. In addition, they are responsible for following up work on the environmental objectives in their own county. Responsibility of municipalities for environmental objectives To achieve the environmental quality objectives, it is essential that the municipalities are actively involved and work together with businesses, organisations and other actors. Municipalities influence environmental efforts through political decisions in a range of areas. Municipalities work extensively on the environmental objectives and almost all of them have their own objectives. Translating national and regional environmental objectives into local objectives and measures makes the environmental objectives effective tools in local policies. For example, many municipalities have introduced environmental management systems, environmental annual accounts, green indicators and coordination of various forms of environmental plans and municipal comprehensive plans. The environmental objectives can also be used in the municipalities' infrastructure planning and traffic systems development, development and conservation of open spaces, energy and water supplies, building and housing developments, or protection and preservation Role of the business sector for the environmental objectives Corporate environmental action is vital to achieving the environmental quality objectives. Many companies currently engage in structured environmental action that is of great significance for the environment. Increasingly, the environmental objectives are integrated in corporate environmental management systems by identifying significant direct and indirect environmental aspects or when companies set their own environmental objectives. Companies also contribute to the generational goal and the environmental quality objectives by developing products and services in which new technologies are combined with better environmental performance, by working on resource management, and taking measures to reduce pollution in all stages of production. The business sector can contribute through measures demonstrating that systematic environmental action is profitable for both society and businesses. Involvement of non-governmental organisations important The environmental commitment and action of nongovernmental organisations and the general public is important for achieving the environmental quality objectives. Organisations can make great contributions by communicating environmental issues as part of efforts to achieve a sustainable society. Non-governmental organisations are also an important actor in compiling environmental information that can be used for information purposes and follow-up of the environmental objectives. Follow-up ­ are we headed in the right direction? The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, SEPA, has a key role in environmental work, as a proactive, supportive and cohesive force in implementing environmental policy. INFORMATION SHEET FROM THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT The Agency also has an overall responsibility for follow-up of the environmental objectives, in collaboration with other relevant agencies and the county administrative boards. Every year, the SEPA presents an overall assessment of the possibilities of achieving the environmental quality objectives and the milestone targets. The assessment is made by agencies responsible for assessment of an environmental quality objective and coordinated by the SEPA. At least once in each term of government, the SEPA also presents an in-depth evaluation of the possibilities of achieving the environmental quality objectives. The generational goal The overall goal of environmental policy is to be able to pass on to the next generation a society in which the major environmental problems have been solved, without increasing environmental and health problems beyond Sweden's borders. This calls for an ambitious environmental policy ­ in Sweden, in the EU and in international contexts. The generational goal means that the conditions for solving environmental problems are to be met within one generation and that environment policy should be directed towards ensuring that: · ecosystems have recovered, or are on the way to recovery, and their long-term capacity to generate ecosystem services is assured, · biodiversity and the natural and cultural environment are preserved, promoted and used sustainably, · human health is exposed to minimal negative environmental impact, while the positive impact of the environment on human health is promoted, · ecocycles are resource-efficient and as far as possible free from hazardous substances, · natural resources are managed well, · the share of renewable energy increases and use of energy is efficient, with minimal impact on the environment, and · patterns of consumption of goods and services cause the least possible problems for the environment and human health. Environmental monitoring Monitoring and investigating the state of the environment is an important part of environmental efforts. Monitoring enables those responsible to assess threats, supply input for measures, follow up measures adopted and provide data for use in analysing the national and international environmental impacts of various sources of emissions. The actors conducting or otherwise contributing to environmental monitoring and environmental stocktaking include agencies at national and regional level, municipalities, higher education institutions, consulting companies, research institutions, associations and individual people. The findings are made available to all interested parties by publishing data, compilations and analyses in reports and on the Environmental Data Portal, as well as on miljömål.se Research and innovation Research is vital for finding solutions to environmental problems and an important factor in moving environmental efforts forward. Research can help to identify knowledge gaps that create obstacles to achieving the environmental objectives. Research findings are also important for formulating objectives, evaluating environmental efforts and providing a basis for revising the objectives. More about the environmental objectives You can read more about the work on environmental objectives at miljömål.se Produced by: Ministry of the Environment Illustrations:Tobias Flygar Printed by: Grafisk service, Elanders Stockholm, January, 2013 Article no. M2013.01 103 33 Stockholm · Tel: +46 8 405 10 00 www.regeringen.se/miljo