UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Government

Name of Ministry/Agency:

Country:	Sweden

Initiative Title:	Incentive to achieve national air quality objectives

Internet links:

Scope:

Status:

Timeframe:	Start: End:

Stakeholders/Partners:	Bioenergy Group in Växjö Ltd research centres Swedish Energy Agency Swedish Business Development Agency EU energy information offices energy companies boiler manufacturers Växjö University Energy Agency for Southeast Sweden bio-energy consultants biomass fuel suppliers

Relevent issues:	- Policies and programmes to address air pollution from other major point sources

Objectives/Challenges:

The overall goal is to hand over a sustainable society to the next generation the timetable is set at 2020 (2050 for the climate objective). For each general objective, specific targets were set out which were approved by the Parliament in November 2001. All sectors are obliged to work according to the objectives.

Central objectives for air quality are: 1) To reduce the Climate impact; 2) Clean air; 3) Natural acidification only; 4) A non-toxic environment; 5) Zero eutrophication; and 6) a good built-in environment. To reach the objectives, the Swedish EPA is formulating a strategy for appropriate measures to obtain an efficient use of energy and transports. The national objectives are transformed to regional objectives all over the country.

Summary:

In April 1999 the Swedish Parliament adopted environmental quality objectives relating to fifteen areas, describing what quality and state of the environment and natural and cultural resources of Sweden are ecologically sustainable in the long term.

Several kinds of steps have been taken to reduce emissions of air pollutants in Sweden, including:

1. Expansion of district heating in urban areas;
2. Introduction of fees on emissions of nitrogen oxides for energy production in combustion plants;
3. Stricter requirements on emissions from industrial activities and heat or/and power plants;
4. More stringent requirements on sulphur content in heating oils, diesel oil and petrol and introduction of tax on sulphur 1991;
5. Differentiated harbour- and fairway fees, and tightened demands on emission and discharges from shipping;
6. Differentiated taxes and environmental classification of vehicle fuels, diesel and petrol;
7. Stricter requirements on vehicle emissions;
8. Environment zones for heavy duty vehicles (> 3.5 tons) and buses in urban areas;
9. Vehicles older than eight years not allowed if not equipped with accepted exhaust emission control systems; and
10. Environmental approbation system for new fireplaces and furnaces used for heating with firewood or other solid fuels.