Sweden´s environmental objectives – methodological challenges

1. Sweden´s environmental objectives – methodological challenges Lisa Eriksson, Anna Lundmark Essen Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Research and Assessment Department Leuven, 9-10 February, 2012 Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

2. Short introduction to Sweden’s environmental objectives. Challenges concerning how to evaluate the objectives in a policy context. Discussion – which aims to share views, knowledge and experiences. A plan för today Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

3. Parlamentary decision on… National level agencies: SEPA (coordinating responsibility), Swedish Chemicals Agency, Swedish Forestry Agency etc. Generational goal Responsible for follow-up and evaluation 16 Environmental quality objectives: Reduced Climate Impact, Clean Air, Natural Acidification Only, A Non-Toxic Environment, etc… Political objectives 2020 (2050) Implementing, contributing National level agencies, county administrative boards, municipalities, NGO´s, Corp. Etc. Activities/ measures Activities/measures that aims at effectiveness Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

4. The generational goal The generational goal means that the basic conditions for solving the environmental problems we face are to be achieved within one generation, and that environmental 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 isassured. • Biodiversity and the natural and cultural environment are conserved, promoted and used sustainably. • Human health is subject to a minimum of adverse impacts from factors in the environment, at the same time as the positive impact of the environment on human health is promoted. • Materials cycles are resource-efficient and as far as possible free from dangerous substances. Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

5. Natural resources are managed sustainably. • The share of renewable energy increases and use of energy is efficient, with minimal impact on the environment. • Patterns of consumption of goods and services cause the least possible problems for the environment and human health. Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

6. The national 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 Grounwater • A Balanced Marine Environment… • Thirving Wetlands • Sustainable Forests • A Varied Agricultural Landscape • A Magnificant Mountain Landscape • A Good Built Environment • A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

7. Annual reports to the Government. An in-depth evaluation once every parliamentary term. Tracking progress on a regular basis Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

8. The basis for assessing progress • The basis for assessing progress towards the environmental quality objectives: within a generation, either the quality of the environment which they express, or the basic conditions (incentives, measures) for attaining that quality, should be achieved. Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

9. Parlamentary decision on… State of the environment National level agencies: SEPA (coordinating responsibility), Swedish Chemicals Agency, Swedish Forestry Agency etc. Generational goal Responsible for follow-up and evaluation 16 Environmental quality objectives: Reduced Climate Impact, Clean Air, Natural Acidification Only, A Non-Toxic Environment, etc… Political objectives 2020 (2050) ”State of” the implementation of environmental actions Implementing, contributing National level agencies, county administrative boards, municipalities, NGO´s, Corp. Etc. Activities/measures that aims at effectiveness Activities/ measures Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

10. Actions taken place or beeing suggested to meet methodological challenges • What do we know about what? • How is environmental work proceeding? • Generational goal: Difficult to operationalize! Changes in society: dialogue with actors (business sector) in society about how environmental work proceeds! Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

11. Evaluation focusing on different levels Prerequesities: state of environ-ment, drivers Activities: objectives and tasks Perform-ance: incentives Effects, measures in society Effects, measures in nature Effects in nature Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

12. Evaluation focusing on different levels Prerequesities: state of environ-ment, drivers Activities: objectives and tasks Perform-ance: incentives Effects, measures in society Effects, measures in nature Effects in nature The optimal measures ? Cause-effect measures in society Cause-effect in nature Evaluate all the way? Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

13. How to address the problems and possibilities? • What do we know about the effects from actions in society? • What to do with the generational goal (fluffy concepts)? Views, knowledge, experiences… …to share? Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency

14. The results of follow-ups are presented on the Environmental Objectives Portal, under the different environmental quality objectives. www.miljomal.nu Small folders! More information Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency