By Parliamentary decision in June 2010 the environmental objectives system has been revised.

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is given a coordinating responsibility for follow-up of the environmental objectives. An All Party Committee on Environmental Objectives is made up of Members of Parliament, together with advisers and experts from non-governmental organizations and government ministries. One task of the All Party Committee is to provide the Government with proposals for environmental strategies – including milestone targets, policy instruments and measures – in areas given priority by the Government. The Environmental Objectives Council is abolished.

The goal structure is changed

The environmental objectives system consists of goals on three levels.

• A generational goal, defining the direction of the changes in society that need to occur within one generation if the environmental quality objectives are to be met. Decisions concerning this goal will be taken by the Riksdag.
• Environmental quality objectives, defining the state of the Swedish environment which environmental action is to result in. Decisions on the environmental quality objectives will be taken by the Riksdag.
• Milestone targets, which are steps on the way to achieving the generational goal and the environmental quality objectives. In the first instance, such targets will be decided by the Government. If it is evident that the Riksdag should decide, or if the Government considers it appropriate, milestone targets will be decided by the Riksdag. The concept of ‘interim target’ should be dropped.

The basis for assessing progress is changed

The basis for assessing progress towards the environmental quality objectives is partly changed: within a generation, either the quality of the environment which they express, or the basic conditions for attaining that quality, should be achieved.