Welcome to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Swedish Protection Agency

2 A good environment for human beings and all other living things Photo: Peter Lilja/N From breathtaking mountain landscape to flourishing life at the bottom of the sea. Resource-efficient waste management and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. All this is part of the Swedish EPA s task to promote a good living environment not only for current but also future generations. F rom breathtaking mountain landscape to flourishing life at the bottom of the sea. Resource-efficient waste management and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. All this is part of the Swedish EPA s task to promote a good living environment not only for current but also future generations. The Swedish EPA promotes the ecologically sustainable development of society. As Sweden s central environmental authority, our task is to ensure the efficient implementation and good development of environmental policy. The organisation spans a broad spectrum of issues and performs a very wide variety of working tasks, not only within Sweden s borders but also on the worldwide stage. Many environmental issues are of course global in nature and we take a dynamic role in the work done both by the EU and other international organisations to protect our world. We are fundamentally convinced that the world s environmental problems must be tackled now and not left as a burdensome legacy for future generations. To guide our work, the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, has adopted 16 national environmental objectives. These key targets are the core of all Swedish environmental work and map out the state of Sweden s environment, its natural and cultural resources, and what must be done to ensure longterm ecological sustainability. The Swedish EPA has a major responsibility with regard to these environmental objectives. We are directly accountable for ten of them and coordinate the work of other agencies responsible for the other six. We also report the progress made on our objectives to the Government and propose new and revised targets, policy instruments and measures to reach them. Many of the earth s ecosystems are under threat from ongoing climate change, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Faced with the negative effects of human greenhouse gas emissions, Swedish environmental policy requires us to drastically reduce them. The Swedish EPA plays a central role in national and international efforts to reduce the effects of climate change and to find ways of reducing harmful emissions. In our modern, consumption-intensive society, we all stockpile huge amounts of consumer products. The environmental impact of our insatiable consumption must be reduced throughout the entire lifecycle of products, from raw material right through to waste. Producer responsibility and ensuring less waste is sent to landfill are key ways of improving the recycling of resources. At the same time, our consumption seems to know no bounds and we are creating ever-greater volumes of waste a trend that simply must be reversed. The 2

3 Photo: Jan Schützer/N Photo: Bengt Andreasson/Megapix Swedish EPA promotes a society with sustainable, non-toxic and resource-efficient cycles. THE SWEDISH EPA PROMOTES the preservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In partnership with Sweden s county administrative boards, we make efforts to protect and preserve valuable natural areas as nature reserves and national parks. The Swedish EPA is responsible for wildlife management, which includes implementing measures to protect threatened species and taking measures to prevent some species causing problems for various industries e.g fishing. The Swedish EPA is also the competent hunting authority in Sweden. Being out in the natural environment is important for human well-being and we are therefore constantly improving the conditions for people to enjoy a good outdoor life. SWEDEN S SURROUNDING SEAS, including the Baltic and parts of the North Sea, are the habitats of many different plants and animals. The diversity and balance in marine ecosystems are disrupted by eutrophication, hazardous substances and overfishing. The Swedish EPA coordinates and drives forward Sweden s efforts to protect the marine environment. To this end, our efforts have been amalgamated under one action plan, which tackles everything from reducing the discharge of eutrophying substances from sewers and agriculture, to analysing the sub-surface marine environment and how it is affected by changes. Our sixteen national environmental objectives The objectives for which the Swedish EPA is responsible are written in bold 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 Visit for more information Welcome to the Swedish Protection Agency 3

4 We are the driver of change Photo: Bilderberg/Ina Agency Society must develop in a long-term sustainable way. To achieve this, the Swedish EPA proposes environmental policy instruments and implements targeted measures. We work to ensure compliance with environmental laws and build up knowledge about the environment that can be used by the Government as a basis for decision-making. Cooperation with Sweden s county administrative boards, municipalities and other actors in the environmental field is important for achieving results. T he long-term and preventive work done by the Swedish EPA to promote ecologically sustainable development is an extensive task, requiring us to actively implement many types of measures in different sectors of society. Policy instruments make a difference We must inspire, motivate and influence business and the public sector to work towards sustainable development. Most Swedish environmental legislation has been brought together under the Swedish Code, which is one of our most important policy instruments. European Union environmental provisions and various international treaties also affect Sweden. The Swedish EPA provides guidance to the county administrative boards and municipalities, who in many cases are responsible for the application of various environmental laws and regulations. We do this in different ways. To define environmental legislation more accurately, for instance, we devise additional binding regulations. We also provide support and advice in the form of guidance documentation and training courses, for example on inspection and enforcement, and on the permitting of activities that impact the environment. We also represent public environmental conservation interests in cases put before the authorities and courts, sometimes as the competent authority and sometimes to obtain clarification on issues where the legal position is unclear. This may, for example, be in order to ensure compliance with requirements laid down in the Code when it comes to activities that impact the environment or when natural values are threatened by infrastructure projects. The Swedish EPA cooperates with a large number of other central agencies that are responsible for environmental work in their respective sectors. An effective way of accelerating social change is also to introduce different types of economic instruments in the form of grants, charges and taxes. The Swedish EPA proposes new instruments and ensures their smooth function once introduced. The international arena Many environmental issues are global and many of Sweden s environmental efforts are to a great extent based on decisions taken jointly within the EU and international organisations or on requirements laid down in international treaties. The Swedish EPA is 4

5 Photo: Jerker Lokrantz Photo: Michel Thomas/Megapix an active participant in about one hundred working groups within the EU and internationally. We also assist the Government with expertise in international negotiations. We also give support to other countries so that they can build up environmental authorities and develop effective environmental legislation. Countries we support include those in the western Balkans, Russia, China, Ukraine, Belarus and Vietnam. The Swedish EPA also contributes to global and regional measures in cooperation with the UN and other international bodies. Developing new knowledge Knowledge of the current state of the environment provides an important basis for the accurate targeting of environmental policy. We gather and build up knowledge as to the state of the environment and the effects of human impact. monitoring, which falls within the Swedish EPA s remit, has been done for a long time and Swedish measurement series are in many cases unique throughout the world. Our activities are constantly reviewed and improved. Performing inventories of different species and habitats is another source of knowledge to find out how the environment is doing. The Swedish EPA also finances interdisciplinary research in important areas and takes part all the way from needs analysis to completed findings. This provides us with a knowledge base to help achieve the environmental objectives. Examples of policy instruments we are responsible for: A CHARGE FOR EMISSIONS of nitrogen oxides (NOx) encourages companies that are trying to reduce them. Specific emissions have been halved since THE ALLOCATION OF EMISSION RIGHTS and supervision of the EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES TO REDUCE emissions of greenhouse gases and stimulate energyefficiency improvements on the local and regional level. Total greenhouse gas emissions fall by nearly two million tonnes every year. GRANTS TO REMEDIATE contaminated sites and reduce the risk of toxic substances damaging the environment and human health. THE LIMING SUBSIDY helps to restore flora and fauna in water that has been damaged by acidification. FUNDING TO PURCHASE LAND or pay compensation to landowners to protect valuable natural areas. Welcome to the Swedish Protection Agency 5

6 A knowledgeable and modern agency photo: Anette Andersson For 40 years, our task has developed from implementing direct measures to protect the natural environment to nowadays having a much broader responsibility. Our work spans a large area of strategic, long-term tasks that concern the development of our entire society requiring knowledgeable coworkers and the ability to develop new working methods. T he Swedish EPA is Sweden s central environmental authority. As a central authority we are independently responsible for actions and decisions taken on the basis of guidelines and instructions issued by the Government. In 2008, we received an appropriation of SEK 3.4 billion (about EUR 343 million in November 2008) from the Government, much of which is distributed to municipalities and county administrative boards to finance biological diversity measures, etc. The Swedish EPA also distributes money for the remediation of contaminated sites and for climate investment programmes. About SEK 330 million (EUR 33.5 million) of the appropriation goes to salaries, costs for premises and administration. The Swedish EPA also houses ten or so councils established by the Government. Their task is to promote our cooperation with various other central agencies, the business sector and other societal bodies. Some also allocate money and grants. The Swedish EPA has 550 employees, most of whom work at our Valhallavägen office in Stockholm or on the campus site in Östersund. Our current premises, which were opened in 2007, have undergone extensive refurbishment, and great care has been taken to minimise our own environmental impact. Our hunting license register is located in Kiruna. We are very much a knowledge organisation, providing background information for decision-making and expert knowledge to aid the Government s national and international environmental efforts. In addition to their professional know-how, our coworkers must have the ability to understand and deal with complex issues. In order to accomplish our task of promoting sustainable development, we have a high proportion of university-educated staff, the vast majority of whom have a degree in either a natural science of engineering subject. The trend is, however, for the proportion of staff members with a different university background to increase. For example, we now employ graduates in subjects such as law, economics and social science, reflecting the breadth of the many issues we deal with. Being an efficient and effective agency also involves improving working methods and making use of new technology. For example, we develop various web-based tools, used to make it easier for companies and authorities to report information to us or access statistics on areas ranging from environmental hazardous batteries and nitrogen oxide charges to our predator populations. 6

7 photo: Anette Andersson photo: Anette Andersson The Swedish EPA s organisation Waste Council Scientific Council for Biological Diversity Council for Predator Issues Council for Emissions Trading Allocations Council for Outdoor Recreation Research Council Objectives Council Investment Support Council Enforcement and Regulations Council Marine Council Advisory Council International Secretariat Information Secretariat Deputy Director- General/Executive Staff Director- General Research Secretariat Personnel Secretariat Operational Support Climate Change Assessment Implementation and Enforcement Natural Resources Library and Publishing Support Finance Internal Service Stockholm Internal Service Östersund Quality Assurance IT Investment Programmes Climate Policy Economics and Sustainable Production and Consumption Strategies and Evaluation Transport and Energy Data Monitoring Information and Secretariats Impacts Contaminated Sites Legal Affairs Inspection and Enforcement Industry Land Use and Water Undertaking Products and Waste Wildlife Management Marine Environment Landscape Area Protection Outdoor Recreation and Nature Management Instruments Welcome to the Swedish Protection Agency 7

8 Our vision: A good living environment for humans and all other living things, now and for future generations. The Swedish Protection Agency (Swedish EPA) takes long-term preventive action to promote ecologically sustainable development in society. As Sweden s central environmental authority, we implement environmental policy decisions. This brochure provides a brief description of the Swedish EPA and the work we do. More information about the Swedish EPA is available at: Swedish EPA SE Stockholm, Sweden. Visiting address: Stockholm Valhallavägen 195, Östersund Forskarens väg 5 hus Ub, Kiruna Kaserngatan 14. Tel: , fax: , e-post: registrator@naturvardsverket.se Website: Production: Communication department February Copy: Andreas Nilsson, Design and illustration: Typoform, Print: Åtta.45, Solna, ISBN