Environmental legislation
Our Environmental Code is ten years old
In 1999, fifteen existing environmental laws were amalgamated into the Environmental Code. The purpose of the Environmental Code is to promote sustainable development that will enable present and future generations to live in a good and healthy environment. All types of measures that could be significant for the interests that the Code is intended to protect are covered. This is so regardless of whether they are part of individuals´ everyday lives, or of some type of business activity.
The rules of consideration always apply!
Whether it is a matter of using land, dealing with chemicals, building houses or transporting things, the rules of consideration apply. Anyone planning to take a measure that can affect the environment or people´s health is responsible for both being aware of the rules and complying with them. These rules include the requirement to possess the necessary knowledge for protection of health and environment, the requirement to implement protective measures and precautions and, in connection with professional activities, to use the best available technique (BAT). The rules also provide that operations for which land or water areas are used must be located so as to cause minimum harm to human health and the environment. They also establish that the party causing the damage is liable for site remediation.
The general rules of consideration also serve as a basis for decisions by regulatory and licensing authorities.
Many activities fall within the scope of both the Environmental Code and other legislation. Examples include road and railway construction, mining and forestry.
This is how environmental legislation is organised
The Environmental Code consists of 33 chapters containing almost 500 sections. These include a large number of ordinances and regulations issued pursuant to the provisions of the Environmental Code. Ordinances are decided upon by the Government, which in turn can authorise agencies to decide on regulations in each of their areas of responsibility. Apart from these binding rules, agencies can also issue non-binding general advice. This includes general recommendations on the application of laws and regulations.
Simultaneous assessment of impact on air, water and land
Integrated permits for environmentally hazardous activities are a basis of Swedish environmental legislation. This means that all the possible adverse effects of, for example, an industry on the environment, and the corresponding necessary protective measures, are considered in one context and in relation to each other. Thus the impact of the activity on air, soil and water or waste management or other countermeasures are considered as a whole. There are no separate laws or permits for different media.
More information on Sweden´s environmental legislation is found on the links under related information.
