Oecd Environmental Performance Reviews Sweden

Belgium has made progress in decoupling several environmental pressures from economic growth, in improving wastewater treatment and in expanding protected areas. Regions have achieved high levels of recovery and recycling, and have pioneered circular economy policies. However, further efforts are needed to progress towards carbon neutrality, reduce air and water pollution, reverse biodiversity loss and consolidate results of circular economy initiatives.

This report is the third OECD review of Sweden’s environmental performance. It evaluates progress towards sustainable development and green growth, with a focus on Sweden's longstanding commitment to mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases and its management of marine ecosystem services and water.

This review of the Sweden's environmental conditions and policies evaluates progress in reducing the pollution burden, improving natural resource management, integrating environmental and economic policies, and strengthening international co-operation.

This comprehensive review of Korea's environmental policies and programmes brings the reader information on the extent to which Korea is meeting its domestic environmental objectives and international commitments. It reviews progress in pollution abatement and nature and biodiversity management, as well as progress in integrating environmental concerns in agricultural, energy, fiscal, and transport policy. It also examines the enviromental-social interface and international commitments. The report includes a series of recommendations and selected statistical data.

This is the third Environmental Performance Review of Switzerland. It evaluates progress towards sustainable development and green growth, with a focus on water management and biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.

Greece has undergone extensive reforms to cope with a deep recession over the past decade. It has made progress in decoupling air pollutant emissions from GDP and improving the conservation status of natural habitats. However, the country faces challenges in managing waste and water, and addressing air pollution.

This third OECD Environmental Performance Review confirms that Sweden remains a front-runner in environmental policy and has developed approaches that will be of interest to other countries. However, the report highlights that Sweden will have to step up its efforts if it is to achieve its ambitious environmental targets, including the goalof zero net greenhouse gas emissions by the second half of the century. The burden of achieving these objectives will also have to be more equitably shared to maintain the necessary high level of public support. The Swedish people have long placed a high value on protecting the environment. Relatively high income and low inequality have underpinned the implementation of ambitious policies by successive Swedish governments. As a result, the population appears to be more satisfied with its country's environmental quality than people in other European countries. Air and water quality is generally good. Less than 1% of waste is disposed of in landfills, while the rates of recycling and recovery are high. Protected areas have expanded and now cover 14% of the country's surface and 6% of marine waters. A notable feature of Swedish environmental policy has been the successful use of environmentally related taxes. Sweden was among the first countries to introduce a carbon tax, and one of the few countries to have successfully implemented a green tax shift by reallocating the tax burden from labour to environmentally harmful activities.

This report provides a cross-country review of waste, materials management and circular economy policies in selected OECD countries, drawing on OECD’s Environmental Performance Reviews during the period 2010-17. It presents the main achievements in the countries reviewed, along with common ...