Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 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 A plan för today 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.

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

Naturvårdsverket | Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 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 is assured. 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 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 The national environmental quality objectives 1.Reduced Climate Impact 2.Clean Air 3.Natural Acidification Only 4.A Non-Toxic Environment 5.A Protective Ozone Layer 6.A Safe Radiation Environment 7.Zero Eutrophication 8.Flourishing Lakes and Streams 9.Good-Quality Grounwater 10. A Balanced Marine Environment… 11. Thirving Wetlands 12. Sustainable Forests 13. A Varied Agricultural Landscape 14. A Magnificant Mountain Landscape 15. A Good Built Environment 16. A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life

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

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

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

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