The Swedish parliament approved 15 environmental goals to achieve sustainable development within one generation – as promised by prime minister Gran Persson in 1997.
The goals cover:
— achievement and maintenance of clean air,
— clean groundwater, living lakes and waterways,
— a sea in balance and a living coastline,
— balanced use of fertilisers,
— absence of acidification,
— living forests and healthy mountain ecosystems,
— a good built environment,
— a poison-free environment,
— absence of radiation, a protective ozone layer, and limited climate effects.
The next step is to flesh out specific targets and action programs related to each goal, so that a final strategy is in place by June 2000. The strategy will cover the period to 2020, but will contain interim goals for 2010 and earlier.
The goal related to chemicals policy is particularly far-reaching; all products sold in Sweden by 2020 will be free from carcinogenic, teratogenic and endocrine-disrupting substances. Persistent or bioaccumulative substances will be banned.
Chemicals will be evaluated in generic groups rather than on the current substance-by-substance basis.
Last year, Austria, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, and Sweden agreed on a common position on chemicals. Sweden is taking the lead by elucidating the details of the position.
The Swedish Chemical Industries Association responded positively to the policy, which it described as “negotiable and workable.” Greenpeace Sweden applauded the chemicals initiative, describing it as the most progressive of the 15 goals set by the government. Early targets will include brominated flame retardants and chlorinated paraffins.
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