National Profiles
 
 

Population: 
 8,911,296 (July 1999 estimate) 
Land Space:
 410,928 km2
Coastal Area:
3,218 km (agreed boundaries or midlines) 

(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
 
  
 
 

 

Sweden


 

Country Contact:

Ministry of the Environment
 
 
 


(Source: CIA World Factbook 1999)
 

Many thanks to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the  following information. The information was taken from Sweden's submission to the 5th and 7th Sessions of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: December 1998). For further information on Sweden's social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Sweden at http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/sweden/index.htm 
 

OCEANS AND COASTAL AREAS

Integrated decision-making

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was signed in 1982 and ratified in 1996. 

The Ministry of the Environment is the responsible body for integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development, marine environment protection, and for the conservation of marine living resources. The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for sustainable use of marine living resources. Coordination is ensured by consensus decisions in the Cabinet of the Government. Individual sectors of society are responsible for their own environmental performance, supervised by the environmental sector. 

The policy on oceans is part of the National Sustainable Development Strategy. The Government Bill Environmental 
Quality Objectives, proposed in the spring of 1998, states the ways in which the environmental policy should be conducted to achieve the overall objective of handing over to the next generation a society in which the main environmental problems have been solved. These quality goals together with new Environmental Code aim to increase the scope for and stimulate interest in voluntary measures, particularly in industry for improving the environment. (Further information on the new Environmental Code can be found in the section Integrated Decision-Making). 

The proposed environmental quality goals include the following relating to coastal areas and the sea: 

The productive capacity of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea should be sustainable and biological diversity reserved. The coasts and archipelagos should contain a high degree of biological diversity as well as recreational and natural and cultural assets.
Industrial activities, recreation and other uses of the sea, coasts and archipelagos should be compatible with sustainable development. 
Especially valuable areas should be protected against disruptions of various kinds. This implies that the impact of nutrients, pollutants and physical damage must not be allowed to affect the conditions for biological diversity or the productive capacity of the marine environment. Furthermore, fishing, shipping and other uses of seas and water areas, as well as settlements and other developments in coastal and archipelago areas, must take into account the productive capacity of water areas, biological diversity and natural, cultural and recreational assets. Unique marine biotopes have to be protected. Aquatic culture, agriculture, forestry and tourism should be undertaken with due regard for the environment, cultural environment and biological diversity, thus helping to preserve the natural beauty of the archipelago landscapes, cultural assets and variety. Non-indigenous species and genetically modified organisms that may jeopardise biological diversity should not be introduced. 
Massive accumulations of phytoplankton due to anthropogenic activity should not be allowed to occur. There must be no decline in the distribution and number of plant and animal species as a result of anthropogenic activity. The seaweed communities in the archipelagos of the North Sea and Baltic Sea must be restored to their former depth. Lack of oxygen due to eutrophication should only be allowed to occur very rarely. There should be an acceptably low level of noise from boat traffic. Natural and cultural environments, recreation needs and the landscape must be taken into account when locating wind power stations. 

Also, concrete targets have been set, and they include: 
 

  • The physical modification of shallow sea areas important to the reproduction and growth of fish and invertebrate larvae 
  • and the effects of eutrophication and pollutants should virtually cease. 
  • Endangered species should be given a chance to spread to new locations in their natural areas of distribution in order to 
  • ensure viable populations. 
  • Incidental catches of small cetaceans should be reduced in accordance with the guidelines adopted under the Agreement on Small Cetaceans in the Baltic and North Sea. 
  • Oil spills should cease as soon as possible. 
  • Shipping should operate so that noise, air and water pollution and other disruptions are minimised. 
  • Environmental standards for leisure boat engines should be imposed. 
  • The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency should seek to ensure that archipelago areas listed in the National Parks Plan are designated national parks wherever possible. 
  • The connection between eutrophication, biological diversity and other biological effects should be clarified. Targets should be set for the quantification of environmental effects. 


To summarise, the new goals for eutrophication and hazardous substances are: 
 

  • No eutrophication: Nutrient levels in soil and water should not have an adverse effect on health, biological diversity or the possibility of using land and water resources; 
  • A non-toxic environment: The environment should eventually be freed from man-made substances and metals that represent a threat to health or biological diversity. 


In addition to the Bills mentioned above, the Government also proposed a Bill on Sustainable Fishery and Agriculture in the spring of 1998 which lays down the guiding principles and different measures to be taken in this field. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Board for Fishery have previously presented National Action Plans for Biological Diversity. 

The Swedish approach to the regulation of activities harmful to the environment also refers to marine environmental protection. A basic principle is to minimise the effects of hazardous activities, using the most modern technologies and considering economic feasibility. National and regional monitoring programmes and the Integrated Coastal Recipient Monitoring programmes identify major marine environmental threats from land-based sources. 
A comprehensive plan has been drawn up for integrated land and water management at local authority level. It is not legally binding but gives guidelines for implementation of sector-oriented legislation. It provides opportunities for public opinion to be considered in the planning process. The Government has a responsibility for the supervision of "state interests", health and security issues and inter-municipal matters. 

The new Environmental Code enables NGOs to participate in decision making in a substantial form. Major Groups participate in environmental impact assessments at local and national levels, contributing to the design of sustainable development policies and programmes and participating in project implementation. Representatives of Major Groups have been included in the Swedish delegations to sessions of the CSD. They participated in HABITAT II, and were represented on the Swedish delegation to the UN General Assembly. Sweden continues consultations with all representatives of Major Groups on issues linked to sustainable development. 

The contributions of local and national representatives of Major Groups to sustainable development at the national level are considered essential, while those from regional and international Major Groups are considered quite helpful and constructive. In general, Sweden proposes to enhance the transparency and open discussion processes, financial support and the participation of representatives of major groups in official delegations. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, the Q2000 organization and representatives from trade unions, industry, the scientific community and local authorities are full members of the National Sustainable Development Coordination Mechanism. 

Status

The incidence of Swedenís sea and lake archipelagos is very rare. A few other areas, including Finland, Canada and outside Scotland, have similar archipelagos. The wide range of ecosystems and plant and animal biotopes provide conditions for a variety of land and water species. In addition, their natural beauty, distinctive cultural heritage and the variety of archipelago landscapes make them invaluable for outdoor activities and recreation. Most of Swedenís archipelagos have been settled for centuries, an essential element of a flourishing archipelago environment. Active agriculture and fishing are a feature of the cultural environment. 

A number of threats hang over the sensitive water environment in Swedenís archipelagos. Eutrophication is the most serious. The occurrence of persistent organic substances and abnormally high levels of heavy metals in the water, sediment and organisms represent a major environmental problem. The Government view is that the most valuable archipelago shallow-water areas should be given greater protection, since they represent very important marine biotopes. Other important marine habitats particularly susceptible to disruption include seaweed and eelgrass communities, hard bottoms and shallow-water soft bottoms. 

The major uses of the coastal areas include major population centres, fishing, tourism, and recipient of industrial effluents. Because of the conflicting interests that compete for the right to use Swedenís coastal zones, it is essential to take into account the importance of shallow-water bays to marine life when considering development of the coastal zone. Shallow-water coastal areas with soft bottoms, eelgrass communities and mussel banks are very productive and important as feeding and breeding grounds for fish and invertebrates. It is therefore vital for sustainable fisheries that these breeding areas are protected. 

The percentage of the economy contributed by fishing is about 0.3 percent according to recent estimates. Sweden continues to actively promote the safeguard of wild salmon. 

The remaining environmental problems relating to the protection of the marine environment are linked to different sources of diffuse pollution and impact of the Sea, including the spread of pollutants from other countries in Swedish coastal areas. The primary sources of land-based pollution of the marine environment result from the following: Nutrients come from wastewater treatment plants, agriculture and air-pollution; and hazardous substances from industry and the spread of products. Pulp and paper industries have previously contributed substantially to pollution in coastal areas but large reductions of emissions have been achieved since the 1980´s. The primary source of sea-based pollution is shipping. The major threats on the sustainable management of coastal zones caused by shipping include oil-spills, the spread of ship-generated waste from other countries, the use of hazardous anti-fouling substances and the spread of alien species through ballast-water are severe threats to the coastal zones. 

Sweden is currently implementing an extensive action programme aimed at reducing nutrient-rich effluents into freshwater bodies and the sea. All sewage treatment plants designed for at least 10,000 people along the west and south coast, up to and including the Stockholm archipelago, are to be reviewed. The guidelines for such review involve a reduction of nitrates by at least fifty percent. Metal content of the effluents is to be lowered by seventy percent for mercury, cadmium and lead and by fifty percent for other heavy metals for the 1985-1995 period. 

Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising

Work is in progress to ensure that Environmental Impact Assesments are systematically included at an early stage of the political process, such as in the Government Bill on Municipal comprehensive planning under the Planning and Building Act. (See the Section on Integrated Decision-Making) 

Several NGOs, as well as involved Governmental agencies, have been engaged in campaigns and other efforts to raise 
awareness of issues related to sustainable development and the oceans and seas. In addition, Governmental agencies have been active in providing information on a regular basis to the public. 

Technology

The requirement to use the best available technology is established in the law. Sweden continues to develop policies, strategies, steering instruments and technologies for reducing environmental impact. Where applicable, experiences are shared with others in bilateral and multilateral cooperation. 

One of the tasks of the Swedish National Board for Industrial and Technical Development (NUTEK) is to bring together stakeholders with a view to promote and improve the selection, transfer and application of environmentally sound technologies. 

Information

There are several databases on coastal and marine management, but they are not as yet integrated. Work on their integration is on-going and several pilot studies have been carried out. Information is available on resources, cultural and socio-economic characteristics and protected areas and wetlands (including mangroves). Since 1992, an assessment of the state of the environment of coastal and marine areas has been carried out annually. A number of monitoring programmes also assess changes in the coastal and marine environment. 

Different Government agencies, county and local authorities have for a long time had environmental monitoring systems, 
surveillance systems and systems for providing information on available natural resources. 

The Fishery Board of Sweden provides information to assist both decision-makers and planners related to sustainable 
management of fishery resources, the Environmental Protection Agency related to marine pollution and living resources other than fish, Swedish Geological Survey related to mineral resources, and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute related to critical uncertainties such as climate change. 

Both environmental monitoring and governmental surveillance systems have been established. GIS-systems are used to monitor implementation of relevant laws and regulations. 

The Government has developed proposals for key indicators for sustainable development. The indicators will be submitted to the Swedish Parliament annually. 

Requests for information on coastal and sea affairs can be channelled through the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency website. [http://www.environ.se/] 

Financing

The polluter-pays-principle is established in environmental legislation in Sweden. The polluters themselves are responsible for financing measures to reduce the impact of their own activities and to monitor the environmental effects. In addition, governmental funds are available for remedial measures in certain cases, national and regional monitoring and surveillance programmes as well as for supervision. 

While the national and regional monitoring programmes are funded by the Government, the coastal recipient programmes are funded by the users. 

Cooperation

Sweden participates in the following Multilateral Agreements: 
 

  • The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 
  • Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic 
  • Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea region 
  • Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by dumping of Wastes and other Matter
  • Convention on Straddling Fish Stocks 
  • Convention on Biological Diversity 
  • The Bonn Agreement
  • IMO 


An action programme was adopted by countries in the Baltic region to safeguard and restore the ecological balance of the Baltic Sea. The programme includes a focus on 132 sources of effluents from neighbouring countries. Of 124 major sources of pollution in the Baltic region, eight are from Sweden. A third report on the Baltic states is being compiled under the aegis of the Helsinki Commission, HELCOM. 

During a meeting of the heads of government in the Baltic Sea Region held in Visby, May 1996, the decision was taken to develop an Agenda 21 for the Baltic Region. Subsequently, at a meeting of the ministers of the environment in October 1996, the scope and strategy were determined and the main sectoral issues identified for consideration when developing the agenda. 

Baltic 21: Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region, was adopted by the foreign ministers at the Council of the Baltic Sea States Meeting in June 22-23, 1998. The Agenda is constructed as an action plan for sustainable development in the region, drawn up jointly in a partnership of nations, international organisations, business, NGOs and international financial institutes. Baltic 21 focuses on Agriculture, Energy, Fisheries, Forestry, Industry, Tourism, Transport and Spatial Planning. 

The 1992 OSPAR Convention on the Protection of the North East Atlantic was ratified by all contracting parties of the previous Oslo and Paris Conventions and has contributed substantially to the protection of the marine environment. Important work in progress is mainly related to the protection of habitats and species, objectives and strategy to combat eutrophication, decision on dumping near of offshore installations and objectives and strategy regarding hazardous substances. 

A number of important political commitments made at various North Sea Conferences relating to the protection of the marine environment that have been or will be implemented in other legislative fora. Specific issues of high importance in this context are problems related to eutrophication and hazardous substances. 

Regarding assistance to developing countries, Sweden was the second leading DAC member in 1995 with respect to 
ODA/GNP ratio at 0.89 per cent, and the eighth largest in absolute terms with US$ 2 billion in disbursements. Since 1988 Sweden has had a policy objective for all development assistance of promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and protecting the environment. Environmental Impact Assessments have been compulsory for all development projects since 1991. 

Lately, Sweden has been involved in bilateral and multilateral projects related to Integrated Coastal Zone Management in several regions of the world. 

  •  

(top)