Sweden’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2002Sweden’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2002_d50bf771-1ed0-4a7c-895c-a8b539802b46In a sustainable society a high rate of growth, full employment, social justice, cohesion and security will go hand in hand with an environment that is clean and fit for human beings._25a2ed5f-9601-4d13-9844-af18803bdcbcFuture EnvironmentThe future environment_c5cdffd8-3316-4ab4-b4aa-1f905a586fe61The concept ecological sustainability emphasizes the ecological and environmental aspect of sustainable development. The efforts in this area are directed at guaranteeing present and future generations the prospect of a good living environment and prosperity. Natural assets and biological diversity are very important for public health and, among other things, for the possibility of regional and local development. Today’s environmental problems entail substantial costs due to production losses, destruction of materials, impaired health, destruction of the physical cultural heritage and depletion of both renewable and non-renewable natural resources. The national strategy focuses on nature conservation and biological diversity, the sea and a non-toxic environment. High priority is given to measures to combat climate change, and a separate core area is devoted to this issue. Objectives: The overall objective of environmental policy is to hand over a society to the next generation in which the major environmental problems have been solved. This means that environmental impacts must be reduced to sustainable levels. In Sweden, ecological sustainability has to a great extent been addressed in connection with the work of developing the 15 national environmental quality objectives adopted by Parliament. The objectives represent a compass for environmental policy at all levels in Sweden and in our participation in the EU and international cooperation. 65 sub-objectives and several action strategies have been developed for the objectives. The environmental quality objective A Non-Toxic Environment means that the environment will be free from man-made substances and metals that represent a threat to health or biological diversity. The objective A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos means that the Kattegat and the Skagerrak and the Baltic Sea will have a sustainable production capacity and that biological diversity will be preserved. There will be rich biological diversity in coastal areas and archipelagos, with high experience value and valuable natural and cultural assets. Industry, recreation and other use of seas, coastal areas and archipelagos will be such as to promote sustainable development. Especially valuable areas will be protected against manipulation and other disturbances. The main objective of preserving biological diversity is sustainable use of the components of biological diversity and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The Government intends to present a sixteenth environmental quality objective relating to biological diversity to Parliament by 2005. More efficient use of energy and transport is dealt with under the core areas Limitation of climate change and Community planning. Horizontal strategies are needed to achieve a non-toxic environment. One example is the strategy for an integrated product policy (IPP), which aims to reduce the adverse impacts on the environment that are caused, inter alia, by chemicals that are circulated in products. Sweden will seek to ensure that the chemical strategy now being prepared by the EU is an effective tool for dealing with the problems associated with chemicals. Sustainable use of natural resources, based on a holistic approach according to which the various aspects are considered in the context of view of ecosystems or landscapes, is the most important element of preserving biological diversity. Sustainable forestry, agriculture and fisheries are the main elements, but other sectors such as energy, tourism and infrastructure are also very important. It is essential in connection with nature conservation to ensure local involvement and to make use of local knowledge and provide good development opportunities for those who are affected. The ongoing revision of the EU’s fisheries policy will be crucial to efforts to put fisheries on a sustainable footing, but other international cooperation is also important.Energy and TransportMore efficient use of energy and transport – in order to reduce emissions from the energy and transport sectors_12110c55-e009-447c-a037-a7706064f2fa1.1Resource-Efficient CyclesNon-toxic and resource-efficient cycles, including an integrated product policy – in order to create energy- and material efficient cycles and reduce diffuse emissions of pollutants_0707cac4-95a1-4f74-857f-2b7af567129d1.2Management of Land, Water and the Built EnvironmentEfficient management of land, water and the built environment – with a view to increased concern for biological diversity, the cultural environment and human health, efficient management of land and water, environmentally sound spatial planning and a sustainable urban structure_d4e6526a-ca7d-4886-8c2c-09c0ce2fefe61.3Climate ChangeLimitation of climate change_c61cd149-f879-4e2e-be53-28a34a5a5a502Limiting climate change is a high priority environmental issue. Limiting the increase in the greenhouse effect due to human activities is a way of taking responsibility for the environment of our children. One great challenge is to reduce emissions of climate-changing gases, which, despite the efforts made so far, are still high in Sweden compared with the average per capita levels that are sustainable. Objectives: The objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Together with other countries, Sweden is responsible for seeing to that the global objective can be achieved. Sweden’s emissions of greenhouse gases, as a mean value for the period 2008 – 2012, must be at least 4 per cent lower than its emissions in 1990. By 2050 Sweden’s total emissions should be lower than 4.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per capita per year, and should subsequently be reduced still further.Information DisseminationDisseminate information in order to raise public awareness of climate change_8006ec47-ffc9-4e85-ac1d-7d772c2c1d552.1TaxationContinued tax switching, with higher taxes on climate-changing emissions and lower taxes on labour, is one of the most important measures for promoting a shift to renewable energy sources_0c3c456d-1a30-4c8d-832e-5bb4b169e14c2.2Local InvestmentLocal climate investment programmes_a3804cfe-279e-484a-9faf-32ceea41399c2.3Energy and Transport PoliciesMeasures being taken within the framework of existing energy and transport policies and of the energy bill presented by the Government to Parliament in March 2002_98b136d8-69cf-4e3e-b0ce-bce6305f6d3e2.4In the transport sector the bill proposes measures to promote alternative fuels and in the energy sector a new system to promote the use of electricity from renewable energy sources – ‘green certificates’.State-Owned Real EstateInstruct landlords of state-owned real estate to describe the measures they intend to take to reduce their use of fossil fuels_d0eef6d2-d72d-4c8b-9e99-68bbc0dfaf162.5CarsA cooperation programme with the car industry with a view to developing environmentally sounder technology for the cars of the future_c896df3a-20bf-4714-ac24-d6f11e337e652.6Manufacture and Use of ProductsReduce the impact caused by the manufacture and use of products_3a521b08-311d-494a-ad05-a87ade976ada2.7Kyoto ProtocolRatify the Kyoto Protocol_7ba7f8a6-bdac-42e3-8809-a923762c22e02.8The Government also proposes that Parliament should authorize it to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, provided that the EU takes a legally binding decision on distribution of emission rights among the Member States and that Sweden’s ratification is synchronized with that of the EC and the other Member States. The EU decided to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on 4 March 2002.Population and HealthPopulation and public health_03bb5928-e150-4241-b302-b6253597cae73The demographic trends anticipated in the next few decades will present major challenges to the Swedish economy – and to welfare. Life expectancy in Sweden has constantly increased thanks to medical progress and improved habits. In 2020 there will be more than two million persons in Sweden over the age of 65. During the last decade or so the birth rate has been too low to compensate for the decline in the number of people of working age. This means that fewer and fewer people will have to support an ever larger non-working population. The health trend among Sweden’s population, especially young people, has been very favourable for many years. However, there are now worrying signs that may eventually threaten this trend. Maintaining favourable health trends is an important element of the sustainable development strategy. Working conditions today are often perceived as increasingly demanding, and the result is an increase in sick leave and early retirement. Public health touches on virtually all policy areas. Objectives: Everyone’s capacity for work must be utilized. The Government’s policy aims to ensure that a larger proportion of people of working age remain at, or return to, work. Measures must be taken to keep older people at work. The social security systems must be designed in such a way as to encourage work and promote employability and labour mobility. They should also assure economic security in the event of loss of income in various situations. General welfare policy should contribute to redistribution and to reducing differences between the resources and living conditions of different social groups. The overall objective of public health policy is to create conditions that are conducive to good health on equal terms for the population as a whole. The importance of public health for all three dimensions of sustainable development must be emphasized, and attention must be paid to the relevance of public health issues to demography.Pension SystemA pension system geared to economic development and demographic trends_bed62285-d23f-41bf-abe1-97bdfd4328ea3.1In 1998 Parliament adopted a new pension system that is geared to economic development and demographic trends and ensures that pensions will never be so large as to be a burden on the economy. This also ensures equitable distribution between generations.Older WorkersMake it easier for older workers to remain at work_240d90bf-c1c1-4565-9021-fdbeb7a60b463.2Workplace HealthImprove health at work_a1fdfa80-3b9d-4d23-874e-bb3dc979e7d33.3Families with ChildrenImprove the situation of families with children_8062d80f-83e7-4b04-ba27-1d73194a5adf3.4Alcohol and DrugsNational action plans on alcohol and drugs_73a23146-fb7f-4093-9c0c-2f2cc94223be3.5Food SafetyFood safety, elements of which are preventive measures in Sweden and the EU, rules on food hygiene, genetically modified food, food labelling and strategies for the treatment of animals_d4e63cda-29b4-48d2-88c8-bee2d25be3a13.6HealthPromoting health care, increased physical activity and sound eating habits_6a627339-c6f4-48bd-933e-cabcca03b4f23.7Cohesion, Welfare and SecuritySocial cohesion, welfare and security_4d0b78e7-92e5-4ac9-a458-1b7e24219f924Social cohesion and involvement, gender equality, youth development, a flourishing culture and freedom from crime are essential conditions for sustainable development. Social vulnerability is a problem not only for the individual. It can also be a problem for the individual’s family and neighbourhood, for society and for future generations. Some groups have never had a firm foothold in the labour market. Their lives are shaped by serious social problems such as substance abuse, homelessness and mental handicaps. There is a good deal of evidence that they do not get the care and support they need. Crime entails substantial costs – both economic and social – for the victims and for society as a whole. The most extreme forms of crime can be a threat to fundamental democratic values and social institutions. The task of increasing gender equality is a high priority. Power and influence and equal rights and opportunities for women and men as regards economic and other matters are central features of gender equality policy. Other priority areas include efforts to increase the influence of young people and to improve their social environment and opportunities for starting a family and establishing themselves in society. Sustainable development and a flourishing culture are mutually dependent. Taking cultural aspects into account in connection with decision-making and planning is therefore a major challenge for future cultural policy. Objectives: The objective of social justice is to halve benefit dependency between 1999 and 2004. Efforts must be made to strengthen the ability of socially and economically vulnerable persons to take part in community life and protection of children at risk. The objective of crime policy is to reduce crime rates and increase individual safety. A citizen perspective should be adopted in this connection. The overall objective of gender equality policy is to ensure that women and men have equal rights, obligations and opportunities in all areas. The objective of youth policy is to give young people the opportunity to grow up in a good and secure environment. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and its principles should be respected in all policy areas. One objective when it comes to promoting a flourishing culture is to protect freedom of expression and make sure that it can be exercised in practice. Another is to give everybody opportunities to take part in cultural life and opportunities for cultural experiences and creativity and to promote cultural diversity, artistic innovation and quality, thus countering the negative effects of commercialism. The role of culture as a dynamic, provocative and unconstrained force in society. Another aspect is the need to promote educational aspirations and international cultural exchanges and meetings between the different cultures in Sweden. Finally, the cultural heritage must be used and preserved in a sustainable manner. Persons in DifficultiesStrengthen the right to assistance for persons in difficulties._a96b95bf-6017-4052-b6d5-ba29951ae7564.1Social Service SkillsSupport skills development in the social services_5f888e0d-0e6d-483e-a794-60bdbce584b94.2CrimeAdopt an integrated approach that covers all policy areas, both when it comes to reducing the opportunities for crime and to maintaining effective and balanced informal social control_8f23b79d-c417-4c2d-89ac-04bd6ab4af734.3The judicial system has an important role both as regards citizens’ confidence in the state and as regards their quality of life. However, the crime rate in a society is largely determined by measures in other policy areas.Gender EqualityIntegrate gender equality into all policy areas_8f6836fe-7c02-4071-960f-4536356c19cc4.4Children's RightsImplement the Convention on the Rights of the Child_7832ccf3-f298-4793-b169-eb0ee85246324.5Cultural PolicyFormulate cultural policy to give it a key role in efforts towards sustainable development_acbe2cb5-114c-4a19-9891-fd9a0217596a4.6Everyone should have the chance to take part in cultural life and opportunities for cultural experiences.Finite MaterialsReduce the use of finite materials_cdce53e0-78e2-463e-8caf-0dd328ee34d24.7Life-cycle ManagementEmphasize the importance of the management phase for the service life of objects of investment_01bd73fc-5dcc-4284-9c7f-9b50a67577ac4.8Natural and Cultural EnvironmentsFind methods for interaction between conservation and use of natural and cultural environments_89203a72-7072-4d62-91f9-c4264e6d915b4.9MinoritiesIntegration, diversity and indigenous peoples and minorities_3a75afa9-abc8-47a3-952a-43d442e266f54.10Among other things, a national action plan has been adopted against racism, xenophobia, homophobia and discrimination. The Sami are an indigenous people, and a special regulatory framework applies to their use of land and water and to their self-determination. The integrated policy for national minorities is also applicable to the Sami.Employment and LearningEmployment and learning in a knowledge society_d7c22ba3-e0ab-49c2-9e90-02d678850fd45Systematic investment in knowledge, a forceful employment policy and the creative efforts of many different people have made Sweden a leader in the field of education, research, employment and enterprise. Globalization and the speed of change, as well as the shift to a sustainable society, make great demands on the workforce and on efforts towards a sustainable society. Sound knowledge is essential if people are to absorb information and make choices, in the context of sustainability, as citizens and consumers and at work. Lifelong learning for all must therefore become a reality. Employment is also prioritized in the strategy on account of the anticipated demographic trend. Objectives: Sweden aims to be a leading knowledge nation with a high standard of education and lifelong learning as a means to achieve growth and justice. The objective of research policy is for Sweden to be a leading research nation where high-quality scientific research is conducted. The government organization for research funding must be an efficient tool for increasing the contribution of research to sustainable development.Interest and KnowledgeIncrease interest in and knowledge of sustainable development starting in pre-schools_71080891-097d-44ba-8a5c-c67aa230ff355.1Since people’s attitudes and lifestyles are established at an early age, the work of increasing their interest in and knowledge of sustainable development starts in pre-schools in Sweden. This learning is then reinforced throughout the official education system. Pupils and students are encouraged to have a say and take responsibility. All publicly financed education, up to postgraduate studies, is free of charge for pupils and students in Sweden.Knowledge DisseminationDisseminate new knowledge and new educational methods in order to strengthen the role of education in a lasting shift to sustainable development_184c613f-6329-4602-ae32-5f71507c65635.2Higher EducationExpand the higher education system, provide more student places, ensure more balanced social recruitment and increased accessibility_06e532cb-6916-4a4e-b3be-3b6ac622667d5.3Teaching MethodsDevelop higher education teaching methods_efdeeb7a-041e-44c9-af8b-8bdcce5ec9015.4Interdisciplinary CoursesOffer interdisciplinary courses and courses on various aspects of sustainable development_99262d0b-4f1c-42f2-a780-07ff8a0378b35.5State Environmental Management SystemIntroduce the state environmental management system as an important tool for managing the process of change towards sustainable development in higher education_ded6b3ce-e97f-43cb-b9bc-055ae2b7f5c15.6Declaring the objectives of support for civic education enables the Government to have a say in the courses and activities that include aspects of sustainable development. An important task for the education system as a whole will be to implement the action programme within the framework of Baltic 21E, i.e. the Agenda 21 for education for sustainable development agreed by the ministers of education in the Baltic Sea region.ResearchSupport research to enable politicians and other decision-makers to take decisions on the basis of scientific fact_5468a853-fe38-495f-89be-74ac5cd74c695.7[R]esearch on sustainable development also has to do with laying the foundation for a new way of thinking and acting. The Government has special responsibility for guaranteeing the freedom of research and supporting vital basic research and postgraduate studies. Research on the environment and ecologically sustainable development is one of the Government’s priority research areas. The 2001 Spring Finance Bill proposed additional appropriations for research on the environment and ecologically sustainable development totalling SEK 440 million for the period 2002 – 2004. A new research organization was set up on 1 January 2001, with three research councils and a new agency: the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems, the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research, the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning and the Swedish Research Council, which has special responsibility for supporting basic research in all disciplines.Growth and CompetitivenessEconomic growth and competitiveness_87583a33-00cb-4222-bae0-13985f9a0aed6A high-priority task is to contribute to a stable economy with sound, balanced public finances, an economic policy of full employment, a sustainable pension system and continuous efforts to make both the labour market and product and capital markets more flexible and dynamic. The anticipated demographic trend in the next 30 years, which will mean that fewer and fewer people will have to support an ever larger non-working population, is a major challenge. Sweden needs a strong and competitive industry and business sector. This means competitive enterprises that integrate social and environmental considerations into their business policies. Consumption and production in the industrialized countries is the largest single cause of adverse impacts on the global environment. It is necessary to remedy this state of affairs and achieve sustainable consumption and production patterns. Objectives: The objectives of economic policy are a budget balance of 2 per cent of GNP over the economic cycle and full employment. The Government’s objective is for 80 per cent of the population between the ages of 20 and 64 to have regular jobs by 2004. The objective of halving benefit dependency is another important task within the framework of economic policy. The objective of industrial policy is to promote sustainable economic growth and increased employment on the basis of more enterprises and growing enterprises. The main objective of consumer policy is to develop consumption and production patterns that reduce the burden on the environment and contribute to sustainable development.Economic StabilityImplement reforms to increase the stability of the economy_ad0eeea0-509c-4bce-a15f-0290dcde9aef6.1Examples of such reforms are a new budget process designed to improve the budget balances, a new Sveriges Riksbank Act that enhances the independence of the central bank and reforms designed to increase the employment rate and improve social development, including work development and training.Taxes and Environmental AccountsAnalyze the tax system and develop environmental accounts_ce088700-f3e9-42db-a343-2bac6d785ba06.2The Government’s ambition is to implement a green tax switching programme that will involve a total of SEK 30 billion during the period 2001 – 2010.Industrial PolicyCreate a better climate for enterprise on the basis of effective competition, competence and knowledge transfer, simplified regulatory frameworks, information and advisory services and capital where the private market does not function properly_d7a2eefe-14c6-4145-aa1a-9fdb0484e4476.3Environment-Motivated Business DevelopmentSustainable products and business development_90fe7639-a345-479f-adbf-bf12515b9d6c6.4Product PolicyIntegrated product policy (IPP)_758eb4cc-39ec-42ac-8877-8caa0d378e8e6.5Swedish Environmental Technology ExportsAir and water purification, waste management, recycling and renewable energy_38eee6d5-4659-40c9-91b2-642ae2b5b0526.6Technology DevelopmentContribute to technology development and strengthen efforts to supply technology and know-how to business_0d306c39-ebec-40fe-8e31-bd94b02b547c6.7EnterprisesDialogue and voluntary agreements with enterprises_847cb31f-6837-4f19-b14c-7509c7e627c46.8It has been proposed to set up a Forum for Sustainable Development to study cooperation arrangements between the Government and business.Consumer PolicyEnsure that products are functional, safe, meet high environmental standards and are supplied with correct and relevant information_1beb234b-8610-4170-89e6-5e9d35d8e4c46.9Further development and expansion of voluntary ecolabelling would provide credible and simple information that makes it easier for consumers to choose alternatives that make less environmental impact than comparable products. The Swedish Consumer Agency’s website, which provides environmental information for households, aims to make it easier for consumers to switch to environmentally sound behaviour.Regional DevelopmentRegional development and cohesion_691d0ee6-6caf-4717-8156-83a0997bdd387There are both similarities and differences between different parts of Sweden. This poses a problem for regional development policy, whose aim is growth and vitality all over the country. General conditions such as infrastructure, local government economy, demography and education are crucial to development opportunities in all the regions. There is, moreover, a need for special measures to stimulate development in some regions. New technology and entrepreneurship are also to be found outside the growth regions. In Sweden – as in many other countries – there is a strong link between regional development and agriculture and forestry. Although employment in these sectors has declined sharply. Agriculture and forestry, like other primary industries, are still very important to rural and sparsely populated areas. Objectives: The long-term objective of regional development policy is properly functioning and sustainable local labour market regions that offer a good level of service all over the country. The objective of Sweden’s rural policy is sustainable and environmentally sounder food production, employment, regional balance and sustainable growth. To a large extent, the objectives of ecologically sustainable food production are embodied in the national environmental quality objectives, in particular the objectives A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos, A Varied Agricultural Landscape, A Magnificent Mountain Landscape, Thriving Wetlands, Flourishing Lakes and Streams, Zero Eutrophication and A Non-Toxic Environment. The forest policy objectives are included in the environment quality objective Sustainable Forests; in addition, forests and forest land are to be used efficiently and responsibly so as to ensure good, sustainable yields. The objective of Sweden’s fisheries policy, which falls under food policy, is to promote sustainable and responsible management of fisheries. The objective of Sami and reindeer husbandry policy is to promote a flourishing Sami culture based on ecologically sustainable reindeer husbandry and other Sami industries.Strategies and Targeted MeasuresAdopt further aggressive strategies, combined with targeted measures, to strengthen sustainable and viable development in Sweden as a whole_32930961-60d8-40fa-ab08-8e5d59504ad77.1The strategies that have been mentioned in this connection have to do with more explicit regional responsibility for development in certain policy areas, learning and programmes as instruments of development, interaction with EC structural and regional policies, regional growth programmes and regional efforts in the context of the environment quality objectives.Rural AreasSupport environmentally sounder production, conservation of natural and cultural assets and enhanced competitiveness in rural areas_72674092-2470-4991-b2d4-00dc5df127997.2FisheriesPut fisheries on a sustainable footing by applying the precautionary principle, adopting an ecosystem approach and securing biological diversity_658f56f8-77cb-4300-b0c5-4c6f14379f9b7.3Measures in the fisheries sector are generally linked to international cooperation. Management plans for salmon and cod are being implemented in the Baltic Sea. Recovery plans for cod and hake in the North Sea will be adopted this year. The EU’s Common Fisheries Policy is currently being revised.Reindeer HusbandryBase sustainable reindeer husbandry on adjustment to the long-term productive capacity of grazing lands_25c8cb87-5d37-433a-828e-69f5e9a16a037.4Reindeer management has a central role in Sami industries and tradition and is thus essential to preservation of the Sami cultural heritage.ForestryPromote sustainable development in forestry mainly by providing advice, information, education and measures to preserve forest biodiversity_91f2f7ee-f453-493e-9757-da87948a147a7.5The Forest Principles adopted by the UN form the basis of forestry policy.Community DevelopmentCommunity Development_04693b32-8487-49f9-8f4c-e30a0631fe9b8The design of the built environment, infrastructure, transport systems, energy use, energy supply and new information technology are essential to economic, social and ecological development both in urban and rural areas. Buildings that are defectively designed, constructed or used can give rise to illness, destroy the environment and use too much energy. Energy resources are crucial to the functioning of society and to all industrial operations and all components of everyday life. But some of our use of energy is also responsible for environmental impacts. A properly functioning transport system makes people’s lives easier and is an essential condition for sustainable economic growth in the country as a whole. Information technology (IT) is part of the basic infrastructure that is important to enable individuals, enterprises and regions to develop. Objectives: The overall objective is for Sweden to be a leader when it comes to a good housing environment and technology and system solutions for energy-efficient and environmentally sound construction and efficient management. Everyone should have the opportunity to live and work in good residential and commercial premises and in a stimulating and safe environment based on ecological sustainability. The environmental quality objective A Good Built Environment is also highly relevant in this context. The objective of Sweden’s energy policy is to assure supplies of electricity and other energy in the short and long term at a competitive price. Energy policy should lay the foundation for efficient and sustainable energy use and cost-effective Swedish energy supplies that make low impacts on health, the environment and the climate and should facilitate adjustment to ecologically sustainable development. The overall objective of transport policy is to ensure a costeffective and sustainable supply of transport for the public and business throughout the country. The IT policy objective is for Sweden to be the first information society open to all. The aim of policy in this area should be to facilitate regional development by helping to create favourable conditions for growth all over the country on the basis of a good infrastructure. Measures: One of the main reasons for the shift to sustainability is that people need a good environment. This includes factors such as well-being, light, heat and healthy environments, having a say in decision-making, efficient use of resources, a carefully designed built environment and resource-efficient real estate management. The Government has drafted an action programme for a better-quality built environment, Future Design – an Action Programme for Architecture and Design. Planning for sustainable communities, use of the best available technology, procurement based on a life cycle perspective and a holistic approach, coordination of the construction and management processes, research and development and information about and marketing of environmental solutions are areas in which various kinds of instruments and voluntary agreements with business can be developed.ElectricityIncrease renewable electricity production and reduce use of electricity_252dd2ff-aead-41e2-b25a-fca9879466f38.1A new energy policy bill was presented to Parliament in March 2002; it proposes to promote the use of renewable energy sources for electricity production, more efficient energy use and a strategy for reducing the energy sector’s impact on the climate.ResearchLong-term research_5f4337b3-1ada-4631-98c3-f17d3cf08a358.2Transport InfrastructurePlan infrastructure for transport_aded583d-5b1e-41ee-8f1e-485391d4e27a8.3EU Transport PolicyReview of the EU’s Common Transport Policy_daaa1726-86ba-4735-a2f6-acbfa8bd142a8.4Fair and effective transport pricing is one priority issue. In the EU Sweden advocates developing exhaust emission standards for various types of vehicles.Broadband NetworksExpand broadband networks and upgrade the national backbone network, as well as regional and local main broadband networks_71c291d1-53d7-4488-9fd1-7b7def9a67b88.5IT ApplicationsStudy ways and means of making more use of IT applications to reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainable development_3f236359-cfa3-4b6c-a45a-9cd0737e8bbf8.62002-01-012010-02-08http://www.sweden.gov.se/content/1/c6/02/05/15/a64eb2d7.pdfArthurColman (www.drybridge.com)colman@drybridge.com