ON 20 FEBRUARY 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency was commissioned by theGovernment to present an in-depth evaluation by 1 September 2015 of the scope to achieve the environmental quality objectives and the generational goal. The evaluation must include analyses for each of the environmental objectives, in addition to a cross-objective analysis. The analyses must also cover national, international and EU-related factors, along with Sweden’s scope and proposals for adjustments to instruments and initiatives at national level or within the EU. The assignment is to be carried out in partnership with other government agencies which have responsibilities within the environmental objective system.

The in-depth evaluation forms part of a systematic and regular follow-up of environmental policy and the environmental quality objectives, which is to provide the foundations for strategic measures. It provides the basis for the Government’s policies and priorities and for public debate, and support the long-term planning and priorities of government agencies, so that they can develop the environmental work. It will also provide a basis for dialogue between actors in the development and implementation of instruments and measures, as well as guidance for the environmental work of actors.

This report presents a cross-objective analysis prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency as a basis for the report on the government assignment. The analysis is based on the evaluations of each of the 16 objectives1 and the key problems, instruments and measures that have been identified by the competent government agencies. The analyses are based on the priorities that were established in the background reports. The reports prepared within the focus areas of Sustainable consumption2, Sustainable cities3 and the Environmental work of industry4 have also augmented certain aspects of the analysis.

In this context, “cross-objective” means causes, instruments and measures which are relevant to a number of objectives simultaneously. These can differ from those that are relevant to individual objectives. The cross-objective analysis was based on a system analysis perspective, i.e. to dissect a problem, understand links, assess how the structure is linked together and identify key factors and properties in the system5.

The report describes relevant causes, perspectives and patterns which occur. It considers the environmental work through an analysis of key instruments and their effects, cost-effectiveness and different types of gaps to fulfilment of the objectives. The report also looks at a number of issues of relevance to the development of the follow-up.

The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for conducting the cross-objective analysis. The competent government agencies contributed to the task through providing background reports and reviewing factual aspects of the report. The Environmental Protection Agency is solely responsible for the content of this report. Within the Agency, the analysis was conducted by Anna Lundmark Essen, Marie Wiktorsson and Hördur Haraldsson of the Evaluation Unit.

Stockholm, October 2015

Björn Risinger

Director General