Sweden fails to meet green targets
Sweden is predicted to reach just two out of 16 environmental goals by 2020, according to Sweden’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Only the goals set for the ozone layer and dangerous radiation will be met.
“Things are proceding slowly and I am worried,” Sweden’s environment minister, Lena Ek, told Swedish Television News.
Eva Thörnelöf, head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said that more measures are needed in order to reach the goals.
“We need to be more efficient,” said Thörnelöf, adding that “in some areas, political decisions are also needed. The pace of the ‘green’ environmental quality goals also depend on how much resources you have.”
The environmental targets were introduced in 1999 and have been criticized for being fluffy and nearly impossible to reach. To up the pace the government has now adopted five more concrete milestones for, among other things, cadmium and waste. There are now a total of 24 milestones.
“I’m hoping that next year the question will instead be ‘how many measures have you taken to reach every environmental target’,” said Ek.
Related Links:
Canada: Canada’s climate change stance ‘de-motivating’ say critics, The Canadian Press
Finland: Concerns in Sweden over Finland nuclear plan, Yle News
Sweden: Swedish climate footprint growing, Radio Sweden
