Press release, 9 June 2009
Major risk of irreversible changes in the environment
Swedish efforts to safeguard the environment are moving in the right direction in many areas. But when it comes to the country’s objectives for climate, seas, a non-toxic environment and biodiversity, the situation is highly problematic, with a risk of sudden, irreversible changes in the environment. That is one of the conclusions reached by the Environmental Objectives Council in its latest report to the Swedish Government, Miljömålen – i halvtid (Sweden’s environmental objectives at half-time).
It is now ten years since the Riksdag decided that environmental action in Sweden should be directed towards achieving a number of environmental quality objectives. The idea is to be able, by 2020, to hand over a society in which the most serious environmental problems have been solved. For the climate objective the target year is 2050, as a first step.
Faster action needed
Much has been achieved when it comes to protecting the ozone layer, tackling acidification and safeguarding valuable natural areas. For several of the other overall environmental objectives, too, progress can be reported. But according to the Environmental Objectives Council, the pace of action to secure many of the goals is not fast enough. For most of the sixteen environmental quality objectives, further measures are urgently required if it is to be at all possible to achieve them. There is an imminent risk of irreversible changes, particularly regarding the objectives A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos, A Non-Toxic Environment, A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life and Reduced Climate Impact.
Climate change has implications for Sweden’s environment and is also crucial to the prospects of meeting other environmental objectives. It could prove the really decisive challenge for goals such as A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos, Sustainable Forests, A Magnificent Mountain Landscape and A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life.
A great deal thus remains to be done to secure a better environment – in Sweden, across the EU and internationally. Active efforts should be made by Sweden to ensure that environmental factors are taken into account in international decisions. EU cooperation offers positive opportunities in areas such as agricultural policy, protection of the marine environment and chemicals management.
Crisis an opportunity
It is unclear whether the global economic crisis will have a positive or negative impact on the environment, but it does offer an opportunity to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of technologies and systems, the Council writes.
In order both to promote jobs and growth and to build a sustainable society, stimulus measures introduced during the recession should have a focus on investments in renewable energy, green technology, energy efficiency and public transport.
Green investments as welfare policy
‘Investing in the environment is a form of welfare policy, bringing benefits for public health, biodiversity, cultural heritage, ecosystem productivity and wise management of natural resources,’ says Eva Eriksson, Chair of the Environmental Objectives Council.
An English summary of the Council’s report can be found in the 2009 edition of Sweden’s Environmental Objectives in Brief, available from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s online bookshop (ISBN 978-91-620-1273-1).
For further information, please contact:
Eva Eriksson, Chair of the Environmental Objectives Council, +46 070 5304213
Tom Hedlund, Head of the Council’s Secretariat, +46 8 698 1413,
tom.hedlund(a)naturvardsverket.se