Using Goals in Environmental Management: The Swedish System of Environmental Objectives

Abstract

In Sweden, environmental policy is essentially carried out through a system of environmental objectives adopted by Parliament in the late 1990s. This system contains principles, objectives, interim targets, strategies, and follow-up mechanisms, which together provide a solid ground for increased efficiency and improved prioritization in environmental policies. Despite the ambitious approach of the Swedish Parliament, the system of environmental objectives suffers from certain shortcomings. Some of the objectives are imprecise and difficult to evaluate, and there are no rules or principles that may be used to solve goal conflicts and to prioritize between different objectives. As a consequence, the environmental objectives tend to differ in their degrees of operationalizability, and the priority-setting between different objectives is often unclear.

Communicative challenges in assessing progress towards environmental quality objectives

“…The system of smilies means that complex scientific information is reduced into a simple, clear-cut message, leaving very limited room for communicating the uncertainties inherent in the assessment. 9 The idea here would be to present a clear message to policy makers and the public according to a 'separation model' for communication, which means that the expert arena is separated from other societal arenas in evaluating the scientific uncertainties related to the assessment of whether the objectives will be attained or not [15]. The public and the policy makers are perceived in this model as lacking the time, interest, and knowledge to reflect on the uncertainties involved.…”

“…2 In public environmental MBO, politicians determine environmental objectives and interim targets to be implemented and assessed by civil servants in national, regional, and local contexts [9]. In environmental MBO, scientific knowledge is indispensable in identifying environmental threats and formulating environmental objectives and targets.…”

“…Indicators are selected according to the DPSIR model (Driving forces, Pressure, State, Impact, Response) developed by the OECD [13]. This means that for each objective, there should be an appropriate mix of indicators which should mirror different aspects of the DPSIR model [9].…”

Images of Environmental Management: Competing Metaphors in Focus Group Discussions of Swedish Environmental Quality Objectives

“…3 The MBO process demands that objectives be established, their attainment directed, and the results measured (Voss et al 2007). In Swedish public environmental MBO, the Swedish Parliament determines the environmental objectives and interim targets to be implemented and assessed by civil servants in the appropriate contexts (Edvardsson 2004). One reason advanced by the Swedish government for introducing an MBO structure for environmental policy was that such a structure would bring about increased cooperation to create a better environment:…”

“…Many other factors influence the success of public environmental MBO, such as political will to prioritize the attainment of environmental objectives, allocation of resources (e.g., money, time, and personnel) to formulate objectives and targets, implement action plans, and evaluate results, the clear formulation of goals and targets (Edvardsson 2004), synergies between goals rather than goal conflicts (Wandén 2007), transparency in division of responsibilities (Johansson 2008), and appropriate communication channels (Wibeck 2009a;Wibeck et al 2006). Nevertheless, identifying and discussing metaphors used by key actors in the environmental bureaucracy to make sense of their day-to-day practices may further the development of interactive/reflective governance.…”