Environmental monitoring provides a description of the state of the environment, while also identifying environmental changes and potential threats. The work consists of recurring, systematical studies. By comparing the current state to earlier measurements, changes in the environment can be detected. This also enables the evaluation of the actual effects of environmental protective measures and strategies. Sometimes additional investigations are necessary to conclude if an observed change will lead to problems in the environment.
Environmental monitoring is a long-term activity at the core of environmental work
Environmental monitoring is a long-term activity that requires continuity. Often, measurements over long time periods are needed to conclude if a change is caused by human activity or if it is a natural variation. The Swedish EPA started its environmental monitoring in 1978, making the Swedish time series in many cases unique in their length.
Results from environmental monitoring is indispensable to the planning and execution of environmental work, providing the foundation for environmental policy at every level of government. The results from the monitoring also constitute a core part of international reporting and official statistics regarding the state of the environment.
Environmental monitoring plays a strategic role in developing and evaluating efforts related to the Swedish environmental quality objectives and it informs the development of environmental quality standards.
Access to the monitoring results give everyone a possibility of participating in the political debate on environmental issues.
Laws, conventions and environmental quality objectives decide what is monitored
What environmental monitoring focuses on is regulated by environmental legislation, the environmental quality objectives and Sweden's duties to report within the framework of international directives and conventions. The environmental politics of the European Union puts especially large demands on international reporting.
In the Government Bills on environment (Proposition 1990/91:90 & 1997/98:145) the government specifies qualities of an efficient environmental monitoring program. It should:
- describe the state of the environment,
- evaluate threats to the environment,
- provide data to be used as a basis for action,
- monitor implementation and effects of action,
- analyze the national and international environmental impact of various emission sources.
The environmental monitoring should also:
- be adapted to coming legislation regarding environmental quality standards
- focus on the evaluation of the national environmental quality objectives
The Swedish EPA coordinates environmental monitoring
Many different partners are involved in environmental monitoring. The coordination by the Swedish EPA aims to ensure that monitoring is done in a comparable way and that the results are accessible to the public. Data, summaries and analyses are published in reports from the Swedish EPA.
The coordination is also a way of creating an overview of the situation in the environment to generate greater participation, increase efficiency and reduce costs.
Several agencies, organizations and other groups monitor, or contribute in some way to the environmental monitoring, including:
- National agencies
- Regional agencies
- Local agencies
- Universities other higher education institutions
- Consulting companies
- Research institutes
- Associations
- Private individuals
Environmental monitoring is not restricted to collecting and analyzing data. It includes storing the data long-term, performing quality assurance and making the results available to the public. These tasks must be carried out in accordance with laws, regulations and policies on data security and accessibility. For more information, see our pages on open data.
Ten program areas
Both national and regional environmental monitoring is organized in ten program areas, each with several sub-programs.
On a national level the Swedish EPA is responsible for eight program areas:
- Mountains
- Health-related environmental monitoring
- Agricultural land
- Landscape
- Air
- Toxic substances coordination
- Forests
- Wetlands
The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management has the national responsibility for two program areas:
- Sea & coastal areas
- Freshwater
Development of the environmental monitoring program
In 2012 The Swedish EPA had a government assignment in collaboration with the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management to make a joint evaluation of the Swedish environmental monitoring and its results.
One conclusion was that a coordinated monitoring program is important for a holistic view on the state of the environment in Sweden. Another conclusion was that the current environmental monitoring program is not sufficient to deliver all the information that is required for an efficient management of Sweden’s natural resources. Therefore, the program needs to be gradually developed by adapting it to the users' needs and improving access to data, while also developing quality assurance and evaluation processes.