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Green Plans in Action: Sweden
Sweden's national environmental policy incorporates the ten defining features of a Green Plan. Sweden's goal is to meet its 16 objectives within a generation. This is consistent with the long-term perspective of a society's ongoing commitment to achieving sustainable development. The objectives are: 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. The policy uses one hundred national indicators to assess progress toward long-term goals, with interim targets, monitoring of results, and adapting targets as needed. In summary, the political and administrative framework includes a national Environmental Objectives Council that coordinates government agencies' efforts; county administrative boards functioning as regional environmental agencies; municipalities translating the national and regional objectives into local actions. The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and Federation of Swedish Farmers each have appointed a representative to work with the EOC. Business creates environmental management systems that are usually based on regional and local environmental objectives which are more specific than national goals in most cases. The plan explicitly states that environmental NGOs help to place pressure on politicians as well as acting as experts for the EOC. Some of these NGOs include the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, Friends of the Earth Sweden, Nature and Youth Sweden, Greenpeace, Swedish Ecodemics, and World Wide Fund for Nature. Sweden has been a leader in pushing international climate change recognition and solutions. In June 2009 it issued its Environmental Objectives in Brief report. The government notes that while its actions are moving in the right direction in many areas, the situation is highly problematic regarding climate, seas, a non-toxic environment, and biodiversity because of the risk of sudden irreversible changes in the environment. The national website, with English translation, is at: http://www.miljomal.se/Environmental-Objectives-Portal/ |
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