Our mission is to work for a better environment and sustainable development, in Sweden and around the world. Our efforts to protect natural resources and the environment today are necessary to ensure that future generations, too, are able to enjoy a clean, healthy environment.
Development and neighbouring-country cooperation
Global environmental cooperation is important to Sweden. Since the early 1990s, the Swedish EPA has participated in various forms of development cooperation. We are currently involved in development projects in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. The cooperation with Russia, which started in 1990, became a neighbouring-country cooperation in 2008 on a basis of mutual benefit.
Our particular area of expertise is giving advice and support that will promote more effective environmental governance. In our development cooperation, we seek to create better conditions for effective environmental governance in partner countries, by strengthening the capacity of organisations and institutions, of legislation and other systems in society, and of individuals. We cooperate bilaterally with environmental agencies in some ten countries and multilaterally with several UN bodies.
Why we cooperate internationally
Environmental problems do not stop at national borders. When other countries reduce their emissions and other pressures on the environment, Sweden’s environment also improves – just as the emissions and pressures we give rise to affect others. We need to work together internationally if we want to secure a better global environment.
Through its development cooperation, the Swedish EPA is helping to achieve both global and Swedish environmental objectives. Another aim is to follow up international conventions and agreements. This is also true of our neighbouring-country cooperation with Russia. In addition, we are seeking to foster greater cooperation on global environmental problems. We also share our knowledge with countries preparing for EU membership.
Our chief contribution is promoting good environmental governance and management. With that as our starting point, we support a range of other subjects, concerned for example with:
- Curbing the spread of hazardous chemicals
- Seeking to tackle climate change
- Reducing pollution of air and soil
- Promoting sustainable management of waste
- Protecting the ozone layer
Sweden’s development cooperation is intended to reduce poverty in the world. We know that the poorest are most at risk in the face of poor air quality, polluted water, degraded natural resources and climate change. Some countries are experiencing rapid industrialisation and very strong growth. Only in recent years have understanding of and concern for the environment gained greater prominence there. Other issues have often been seen as more pressing than long-term stewardship of the environment.
Sweden has been pursuing an active development policy for many years. The Swedish Parliament has decided that 1 per cent of our gross national income (GNI) is to be spent on aid. The substance of the country’s development cooperation is determined by Parliament and the Government.
Swedish development cooperation policy is guided by the conviction that improved living conditions for the poorest will help to secure a better world for us all. Environment and climate have been identified as one of three thematic priorities. The Swedish EPA’s efforts to foster good environmental governance in all sectors of society form part of Sweden’s overall programme of development cooperation.
The Swedish Government has adopted a policy for environment and climate issues in the development cooperation. One priority area is strengthened institutional capacity within public administration. The Swedish EPA is one authority responsible for its implementation.