About The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is a public agency dealing with climate and environmental issues. We work on behalf of the government in Sweden, within the EU, and internationally. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency leads and coordinates environmental efforts in Sweden. We contribute to a robust and sustainable society.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for issues related to climate and air quality, soil, biodiversity, contaminated sites, circular economy and waste, environmental monitoring, hunting and wildlife, and environmental research. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency maintains an overview of the state of the environment and the progress of environmental work. The agency's areas of responsibility are integrated into other important societal issues and thereby contributing to the overall development of society. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency is also a preparedness authority within the Swedish emergency management system.
As part of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's mission, we allocate government funding to other actors who work with, for example, the protection and management of valuable nature, the remediation of contaminated sites, and compensation for wildlife-related damage. The agency also provides grants, among other things, to facilitate the transition of Swedish businesses to a fossil-free and resource-efficient economy, and to measures to protect biodiversity.
Our mission
Our mission provides a brief summary of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's remit.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency promotes and coordinates actions to ensure a good living environment, in collaboration with others
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has an important role in driving progress towards Sweden's environmental objectives and other important societal goals. Many actors in society have and take responsibility for environmental efforts. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency actively collaborates with other actors and is increasingly entrusted by the government to coordinate this work. The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency contributes to planning and development across society to promote a good living environment – in both urban and rural areas, and in both built and natural environments.
Our work is knowledge-based and highlights opportunities for sustainable development
Our work is grounded in scientific knowledge. Other forms of knowledge and proven experience are also important to us. A key approach is to highlight opportunities for achieving a sustainable society. While the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's primary focus is on the ecological dimension of sustainable development, we also contribute to synergies in related areas, such as public health, quality of life, employment, resource efficiency and economic growth.
We are an environmental agency working on behalf of the Swedish government
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's role as a government authority distinguishes us from, for example, interest groups and underscores our importance in a democratic society. Our work is governed by the role as central government employees and the basic values of central government.
Our vision
”A good living environment for humans and all living things, now and for future generations.”
Our organisation
About the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency's organisation
The core operations of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency are organised in the following departments:
- Department for Environmental Planning and Compliance (P)
- Department for Climate and Air Quality (K)
- Department for Nature and Wildlife (N)
- Department for a Resource efficient Society (S)
- Department for Coordination, Government Assignments and International Cooperation (H)
The departments for Climate and Air Quality, a Resource efficient Society and Nature and Wildlife together constitute the policy implementation departments.
Management Support for the Agency includes the Director General's Office (G) and Internal Audit ( I ). There is also the Department för for digital transformation, business development and support (U) and the Department for Communication (C).
The Organisation of the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (pdf)
Department for Environmental Planning and Compliance (P)
The department works strategically on community planning and environmental legislation to achieve environmental objectives and promote sustainable development. The department promotes a green transition that limits the impact on nature, the environment and health and promotes the sustainable use of land and other resources, including water.
The department applies and contributes to the development of instruments for efficient and effective planning, approval and supervision of environmentally harmful activities and other land-use measures. The department’s mission includes systemic responsibility for the Environmental Code, protecting public environmental protection interests in legal cases and matters and being responsible for environmental assessment issues, coordinating and developing supervision guidance and other guidance and providing environmental and legal support on wildlife matters for the entire Agency.
In addition, the department is responsible for the coordination and development of the Agency’s outdoor recreation matters.
Department for Climate and Air Quality (K)
The remit of the Department for Climate and Air Quality is to implement climate-related policy and work to reduce air pollution. To do so, it undertakes to supply knowledge, develop policy instruments and take action. The Department bears primary responsibility for implementing measures to enable four of Sweden’s national environmental objectives – Reduced Climate Impact, A Protective Ozone Layer, Clean Air and Natural Acidification Only – to be achieved. The Department is also in charge of monitoring progress towards, and evaluating, these objectives.
In cooperation with the Department for Nature and Wildlife (N) and the Department for a Resource efficient Society (S), the Department for Climate and Air Quality is responsible for providing support in issues of environmental law and in the form of economic analyses for the whole Swedish EPA.
Department for Nature and Wildlife (N)
The remit of this Department is to implement environmental policy concerning biodiversity, ecosystem services, and landscape and wildlife management. The remit also includes being responsible for supplying knowledge, developing policy instruments and implementing measures.
The Department bears primary responsibility for carrying out measures to enable achievement of the following seven national environmental objectives: Flourishing Lakes and Streams, A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos, Thriving Wetlands, Sustainable Forests, A Varied Agricultural Landscape, A Magnificent Mountain Landscape and A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life.
The Department for Nature and Wildlife is also in charge of monitoring and evaluating three of these environmental objectives: Thriving Wetlands, A Magnificent Mountain Landscape and A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life.
In cooperation with the Department for Climate and Air Quality (K) and the Department for a Resource efficient Society (S), the Department for Nature and Wildlife is responsible for providing support in issues of environmental law and through economic analyses for the whole Swedish EPA.
Department for a Resource efficient Society (S)
The Department for a Resource efficient Society has overall responsibility for the Swedish EPA’s work on a socio-economically efficient transition to a circular economy, including work on soil-related environmental issues, litter reduction, sustainable waste management, waste prevention efforts, and non-toxic, resource-efficient closed-loop cycles.
The department is responsible for measures to achieve the environmental objectives of a Non-Toxic Environment and a Good Built Environment. The department’s assignment includes providing knowledge and environmental information, developing policy instruments and implementing measures.
In cooperation with the Department for Climate and Air Quality (K) and the Department for Nature and Wildlife (N), the Department for a Resource efficient Society is responsible for providing support in issues of socio-economic analyses for the whole Swedish EPA.
Department for Coordination, Government Assignments and International Cooperation (H)
The Department for Coordination, Government Assignments and International Cooperation promotes sustainable development and supports the specialised departments efforts to develop their knowledge base. The department provides support in EU and international work, coordinates and implements bilateral, regional and global initiatives, coordinates participation in multilateral organisations and is responsible for government assignments, for the work on environmental objectives with other authorities and the Agency’s innovation work.
The department’s remit also includes coordinating environmental management in government agencies.
Director General's Office (G)
The Director General's Office is responsible for assisting the Director-General and for liaising with the Swedish Government Offices. Its remit includes management of overarching matters, such as the Swedish EPA’s appropriation directions, allocation of government assignments and responsibility for the management system. The Office oversees the internal guiding objectives, direction of planning, management review process, budget basis and transparency committee.
The Director General's Office is the convener for dialogue with the Swedish Government Offices and contact point for the Swedish National Audit Office. The Swedish EPA’s Chief Legal Officer belongs to the Director General's Office.
Internal Audit (I)
Department for digital transformation, business development and support (U)
Department for Communication (C)
The Department for Communication is responsible for the development, planning, monitoring, coordination and implementation of internal and external communications.
The chief press officer is situated within the Department for Communication.