prop · GE0390 · 1990-12-31 00:00:00 — poorernations to the south and east must be given the aid they need to be Prop.1990/91:90 able to rise out of poverty and misery without further destmction ofthe environment. Resources must be transferred in the ways that best serve theneeds ofthe developing countries. For this reason, foreign aid policy andenvironmental policy must be integrated. AlthoughSweden is a small nation, Swedish environmental policy is intemationally highlyesteemed. has also been on the cutting edge in furthering interaationalcooperation and development of technology. We are also vulnerable to environmentaldestmction. For example, the soil here is more sensitive to acidification thanthe soil of many other nations. Eutrophication ofthe sea is another example.For this reason, the Government is giving particular priority to work withregional air pollution and restoration of the ecological balance of the Baltic.New agreements are to be based, wherever possible, on what the environment canwithstand. Jointaction and harmonization of regulations at a high level of environmentalprotection are vital prerequisites to the development of a good livingenvironment. Intemational agreements can create equivalent terms of competitionfor Swedish and foreign companies. will put on intemational pressure forcleaner products and more information about their health and environmentalhazards. The EC-EFTA cooperation is of special importance in this respect.Interaational trade regulations should be formulated so as to allow individualnations to progress without being seen as creating technical barriers to trade. Inpreparation for the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, Swedenwill work towards agreements on the climate and on maintaining biologicaldiversity and responsible use of the of the world. The strategy for theclimate now being presented will serve as the basis for our national andintemational actions. Wherever possible, the EG and EFTA nations should promotethe same restrictions with regard to reductions of greenhouse gases. (2)The economy and the environment Measuresto ensure a sustainable economic development are an important aspect ofeconomic policy. Economic policy must contribute to converting production andconsumption to safeguard a long-term balance between economic growth and theenvironment. Inorder to make decisions which will favour sustainable development, we need tobetter understand the interaction between the economy and ecology at all levelsof society from corporations to individual households. It is essential that theeconomic statistics used, for example, to measure growth take environmentalchanges and the use of natural resources into account. This problem is nowbeing studied, at the request ofthe Goverament. A preliminary report isexpected to be available before the end of 1991. The potential for usingecological indicators to reflect qualitative changes in the state oftheenvironment is also being investigated. Decisionsand planning are to take increasing account of impacts on public health, the environment and natural resources. for Growth and Energy Policy being presented Prop.1990/91:90 during this year's Riksdag session will also reflect this view. TheGovernment is also proposing that environmental impact assessments be integratedinto the planning and decision-making processes for all major projects whichaffect the environment. National environmental objectives must be clearlyreflected in municipal and regional planning. Efficiencymust increase in all sectors of society. Restrictive public and privateconsumption is a necessity. This will free resources for renewal of theinfrastmcture, including new roads, railways, etc. Such investmentswill contribute to improving both the environment and the competitive power oftrade and industry. TheGovernment considers economic instmments to be an effective means ofencouraging business and consumers to take account of the environmental impactof their decisions. In recent years we have presented many proposals for newenvironmental charges and taxes, and these are expected to have substantialenvironmental effects. is already at the international forefront of suchactivities, and the Goverament is now proposing the introduction of newenvironmental taxes. (3)An Environmental Code and more stringent environmental legislation Environmentallegislation is to be based on consideration for the demands of humanity, theenvironment and the management of natural resources. Legislation is to becoordinated, tightened up and brought together in an Environmental Code. Suchlegislation will provide satisfactory controls for the problems we anticipatefor the 1990s and the early twenty-first century. (4) Cleanindustrial processes Emissionsfrom industrial processes are to have been reduced to harmless levels by theend of this century. By that time we are to have solved the problems which oncetriggered the contemporary environmental debate and today's environmentalprotection work. Emissions of chlorinated organic substances, hydrocarbons,sulphur and nitrogen oxides must therefore be reduced. Work towards cleanindustry must be integrated with efforts to improve the work environment. Plantmonitoring must be made even more effective than it is today. (5) Cleanproducts Allgoods used in everyday life, such as cars, refrigerators, ,fluorescent tubes, detergents, milk , and cosmetics will, sooner orlåter, become waste products or enter the sewage system. Treatment technologyand recycling technologies alone are, thus, insufficient. The environmentaldamage caused by products is going to be an increasing problem in the future.For these reasons, methods to limit the environmental effects of consumer goodsare to be developed, and measures implemented. Inthe opinion ofthe Goverament, manufacturers are responsible for the Prop.1990/91:90 products they make throughout their life cycles. The monitoring ofChemicals will be improved through the introduction of a requirement of priornotification for new chemical substances and through expansion of the productregister. The use of heavy metals, certain chlorinated organic solvents andadditives in plastics will be phased out or restricted. Theplan for the phasing out of ozone-destroying substances presented by theGovernment in the previous on Environmental Policy will be expanded. (6)Better waste management Tougherrestrictions on the manufacture of goods and the phasing out of hazardoussubstances will lead to smaller amounts of environmentally-hazardous waste. Thequantities of waste are to be limited through reuse and recycling, and less useof disposable materials and packaging materials. Extremely stringentenvironmental restrictions will be placed on the waste which must ultimately betreated. Inorder to facilitate efficient, environmentally-sound waste management, allwaste is to be separated at source. Municipalities are to be given greaterscope to differentiate their waste collection charges. The use of additionaleconomic incentives are being considered. TheHow of environmentally-hazardous waste is to be decreased, and its managementimproved. The regulations on export of environmentaUy-hazardous waste have beenmade more stringent. (7)Clean traffic systems GoodCommunications are indispensable to trade and industry, and to employment andwelfare. Emissions from traffic systems must be reduced to levels human healthand the environment can withstand. Theeffects of previously-made decisions are becoming increasingly evident.Emissions of lead from petrol have decreased substantially, and cleaner vehidesare now rapidly replacing older ones. This has not, however, brought downemission levels sufficiently. Workon this problem in 's three major cities is being given priority. Duringthe 1990s, extensive investments will be made in up-to-date publictransportation systems, to present convenient, readily-accessi-ble alternativesto contemporary automobile traffic. The Government has earmarked SEK5,500million, ofthe SEK20,000 million allocated in the form of an infrastructurefund, for measures to be implemented in the traffic system as a whole, toimprove the environmental situation and accessibility in the major metropolitanareas. Environmentally-adapted vehides for distribution and public transport inurban areas are needed. In combination with cleaner fuels, this shouldsubstantially reduce the re-maining risks to human health. Therailway system is to be expanded between metropolitan areas. viablerailway Corporation is developing and wiU be able to deal with Prop.1990/91:90 increasing volumes of traffic. Exhaustemission requircments are being tightened up for cars, buses, and tracks. Asystem of economic charges is being introduced, with an environmentaldassification system for new vehides. The new exhaust emission requircmentswill have the greatest effects in if they are introduced early, and arecoordinated throughout Europé. It is also the intention ofthe Goverament towork actively, within the framework ofthe European Economic Area, towardsgreater stringency in exhaust requircments in the EFTA and EC nations by 1996,and their application throughout Europé. (8)Clean energy systems Theobjective with regard to energy policy in is to achieve an energy systemwithout nuclear power, and with substantially reduced inputs of acidifyingsubstances, as weU as reductions of climate effects from the energy sector. Inaddition, the unexploited rivers are to remain so. It will take time andrequire interaational cooperation to achieve this objective. The guidelines foraccomplishing it are set out in the Goverament on Energy Policy. TheSwedish Government strategy to reduce dimatic effects hinges largely onstracturing the production of electricity and heat. New efforts are to includemore stringent emission requircments, measures to counter-act emissions fromhousehold boilers, and placement of wind power generators where they will helpto reduce the environmental impact of electricity and heat production. (9)Sustainable agriculture and forestry In1990, the Riksdag passed a new agricultural policy which brings consumerdemands for inexpensive food of good quality into line with anenvironmentally-sound, viable and rational agricultural system. Useof pesticides was reduced by between 1985 and this year, and is now to behalved again by the mid-1990s. Nitrogen leaching is to be cut back by 50%between 1985 and 1995. This is to be done through restracturing of agricultureand more stringent requircments on the spreading and handling of fertilizer.Ammonia emissions are to be reduced. Theopen landscape is to be promoted, and valuable aspects of the natural andcultural landscape ensured, through subsidies for nature conservation. Oneof the points of departure for forestry is that the long-term viability offorest soil is to be maintained, and species and natural environmentsprotected. The instmments and strategies of forestry policy are to be reviewedin order, for example, to strengthen environmental interests. Protectionof in the mountains and marshes has been successive- ly reinforced. The regulations for dewatering of land are currently 11 being tightened up, inorder to safeguard natural environments and threat- Prop. 1990/91:90 enedspecies. Theobjectives of nature conservation are both to improve long-term management ofnatural resources by maintaining biological diversity of species and naturalenvironments and to ensure the accessibility of recrea-tional areas and outdoorenvironments in varied landscapes to all. The Goverament is proposing increasedstringency in the Nature Conservation Act, including the introduction ofgeneral protection of biotopes. Alloca-tions for conservation of naturereserves will be increased, and the subsidy system for protection of threatenedspecies extended. (10)Individual responsibility Today,when the millions of small emissions are becoming increasingly important, it isessential that both industries and public authorities, as well as eachindividual take responsibility for environmental protection. The sum total ofall these small emissions and our everyday waste may pose a tremendous threatto the environment ofthe future. Thisplaces increasing demands on each individual. In the past, atten-tion wasfocused on the 1000 largest factories and their inputs. Now the focus must beon the hundreds of thousands of products used in endless numbers of ways by 8.5million people. Shifting behaviour in a more environmentally-sound directionwill require increased information and changed attitudes also in our everydaylife. Amovement in the direction of everyone sorting their waste, not ex-ceeding thespeed limit, travelling more by train and less by car, not wasting energy orlittering is going to be increasingly important. If we are to work for a goodenvironment, we will have to change our lifestyles and our pattens ofconsumption. There will have to be more education about the environment and howour lifestyles affect it, and more facts made available. TheGovernment is proposing that environmental issues be emphasized in the schoolsystem. Environmental education is to be extended at all levels, andenvironmental issues integrated into all types of education. The possibilitiesof supplying society with specialist expertise are being improved through, forexample, substantial expansion of the numbers of people who may be acceptedinto the courses in the program for environmental health and safety officers. Eco-labellingof products is already being introduced. This wiU make it easier for theconsumer to select less environmentally-damaging goods. LabeUing of productshazardous to the environment will also be developed, to make it possible tochoose not to purchase products containing the most hazardous substances. Itwill take time before the effects of implemented measures will be tangible. Yet the progress made in reducing various emission in the last 20 years proves that nature is capable of recovery. This makes it all the more important to pursue environmental work with determination över long 12 periods of time. Theproposals being presented by the Government in its Prop. 1990/91:90 Bills onpolicies for the environment, energy and an industrial policy for growth aUdescribe ways in which can be made strong for the future. It is also theintention ofthe Government to promote interaational work for long-termsustainable developments that reconcile economic growth with the rights toemployment, welfare and a good living environment. It is also the intention oftheGoverament to submit annuai reports on developments in the field oftheenvironment. 2 The objectives and strategies ofthe environmental policy Thischapter contains a brief survey of the state of the environment and the ways inwhich various anthropogenic activities affect, for example, the atmosphere, theclimate, nature, lakes and seas. There are many areas of natural value inSweden, and has a long tradition of protecting and maintaining valuableenvironments. Inmany respects, the state of the environment has improved substantially inrecent years. The results ofthe measures implemented to date are describedbelow. Although results have been good, there will have to be furtherrestriction of poUution if we are to achieve sustainable protection of humanhealth and the environment. The Goverament reports on the objectives andstrategies of environmental policy which are being proposed as guidelines forfuture work. The instmments and measures being proposed to satisfy theenvironmental objectives are described in the summaries of Chapters 3 and 4. 2.1 Theatmosphere and the climate Governmentproposals: The following guidelines are to apply to future work on limitingeffects on the atmosphere and climate. Depletionof the ozone layer is to be halted so as not to harm human health andecological systems. The phase-out plan for CFC compounds is to be completed andalso extended to cover other substances with similar deleterious effects on theozone layer. The goverament is nowproposing an overall strategy to reduce dimatic impact. Emissions ofall gasesaffecting the climate are to be limited in all sectors of society. willwork towards total carbon dioxide emissions in Westera Europé not exceedingcurrent levels in the year 2000, and subsequently dedining. This objective canlåter be extended to other industrialized nations as well. 2.1.1 Protection of theozone layer Theozone layer in the stratosphere at an aftitude of protects life onearth from the harmful ultra-violet radiation of the sun. The ozone layer canbe affected and depleted by substances with certain chemical properties,sufficiently inert to reach the stratosphere. Substances which affect the ozonelayer include (CFCs and halons), some chlorinated hydrocarbonsand nitrous oxide (laughing gas). One of the trade names under which CFCs aresold is freon. Formany years the stratospheric ozone layer above Antarctica has been thinning outrapidly during the Antarctic spring months. The main reason is the increasinglevels of chlorine and bromine in the atmosphere. Över the Arctic region, too,scientists have found high levels of chlorine in "" form. Theseraised levels are attributed to the emission of chloro-fluorocarbons (CFCs),halons and other chlorinated substances or substances containing bromine. Whenthe ozone layer is depleted, the intensity of a certain type of ultra-violetradiation (UV-B) increases at the surface ofthe earth. This type of radiationhas harmful effects on man, animals, plants and materials. It has led toincreased numbers of cases of skin cancer and cataracts. Duringthe spring of 1988, the Government presented a plan to the Riksdag for phasingout the use of CFCs. The Riksdag adopted plan, pursuant to which the use ofCFCs is to be phased out by 1995. This plan was the first of its type in theworld. Because the requircments are stipulat-ed in great detail, and becauseboth the public authorities and trade and industry have been workingefficiently, it has been possible to develop new technologies. This hasfacilitated the adoption of similar plans by other nations. The activeparticipation of trade and industry has made it possible for the Swedishphasing-out process to move forward according to the plan. This means that theuse of CFC compounds virtually ceased in 1990 in deaning, degreasing, andsterilization processes, and as expansion and foamingagents in soft and härd foam rabber. Their use as refrigerants and Prop.1990/91:90 dry deaning detergents has decreased by approximately from the1988 level. Totally, Swedish emissions of CFCs have been halved, from 5,350tonnes in 1986 to approximately 2,700 in 1990. Globaluse of CFCs will be limited through the national and international phase-outdecisions passed to date. However, these measures are insufficient tocompletely haft the destmction of the protective stratospheric ozone layer. Inorder to prevent its breakdown, the use of CFCs, halons, riTtrichlorothane, andcarbon tetrachloride must cease entirely. The use of other ozone-depletingsubstances, such as HCFC compounds, must also be limited. These measures mustbe implemented on a global scale. Measures to protect the ozone layer are oneexample of prompt international action, once scientific proof of environmentaleffects has become available. Theobjective is to halt the depletion ofthe ozone layer so that no harm comes tohuman health and ecological systems. In order to achieve this objective,measures must be implemented both in and interaa-tionally. ,the Goverament reports on additional measures which wiU make it possible tophase out the use of CFCs pursuant to the prcviously adopted plan, and totighten up stipulations in certain areas. The phase-out plan is to be extendedto apply to other chlorinated compounds and compounds containing bromine withsimilar detrimental effects on the ozone layer. Alarge number of nations, including , have undertaken to implement measuresto protect the ozone layer. These measures were formalized in the 1985 ViennaConvention and its 1987 annex, the Protocol. According to thisProtocol, the contracting parties undertook to reduce their levels ofcontrolled CFC compounds by by 1998. At a meeting in in 1990, theparties passed stipulations making the Protocol more stringent. At thosenegotiations, the nations also pledged to completely phase out their use ofCFCs, halons and carbon tetrachloride by the year 2000, after a stepwisephasing out process. It was decided that riT trichlorothane was to be phasedout by 2005. The nations were also encouraged to proceed more rapidly wherepossible. It was established that the industrialized world bears responsibilityfor enabling the developing nations to become contracting parties to theProtocol. A aid to technology transfer, to whichSweden contributes, was created. 'srole in future international cooperation will be focused on further hasteningthe pace of phasing out all the relevant substances, limiting the uses ofhalons and HCFCs to an absolute minimum, and working towards the development ofnew technologies and alternatives which have no harmfuleffects on the ozone layer or the climate. 2.1.3 Reducing effects onthe climate Prop. Theearth's atmosphere works similarly to the glass on a greenhouse. It maintainsthe annuai mean surface temperature at about C, instead of C,which it would be if the earth had no atmosphere. This natural greenhouseeffect is being enhanced at present by human activities which increase thelevels of activity of gases with climatic impact (known as greenhouse gases).In doing so, they contribute to increased . This change in the globalclimate is a severe environmental threat. The main greenhouse gases are carbondioxide, CFC, methane, ozone and nitrous oxides. Inthe autumn of 1990, the Government initiated negotiations with representativesof two ofthe parties represented in the Swedish Riksdag the Liberal party andthe Centre party - with a view to facilitating the passing of a sustainableenergy policy. These negotiations were concluded on 15 January 1991, with anagreement on guidelines for energy policy. The agreement contains proposals fora strategy to reduce effects on the climate. The Government is proposing thatthe guidelines stipulated in the agreement for decreased effects on the climatebe adopted by the Riksdag. The agreement is given below: Theimpact on the climate of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases is one ofthe gravest threats to our environment. The IPCC expert group perceives a majorrisk of extensive drought in some areas and of flooding in others. Hundred ofmillions of people may be forced to migrate, ecosys-tems may be destroyed, andserious diseases may spread över wide areas. Emissions of carbon dioxideaccount for roughly half the climatic effects from Swedish sources. The otherhalf is mainly caused by freons, methane, and gases with an indirect butsignificant climatic impact (nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, etc). In1988, made the followingstatement on carbon dioxide emissions: wishes to recall in this context that the carbondioxide problem is global in nature. It cannot be solved by International regulation is called for.However, we must begin by achieving international recognition As a step towards this end, and in light of what has emerged,supports motion Jo30, which Statesthat the Government should elucidate the effects of energy use onatmospheric carbon dioxide levels and draw up a programme to reducethe emissions to levels nature can withstand. interimobjective should be to keep carbon dioxide emissions from The Riksdag endorsed this statement. Since1988, a large number of studies have been presented on the potential for reducing climate change. The IPCC group of international experts has issued a report which indicates, for example, that a strategy to reduce climate change should deal with all the greenhouse gases. Negotia tions on a climate convention will begin in Febmary 1991.