Report from the Swedish National Committee for Agenda 21

Postal address:

Ministy of the Environment
S-103 33 Stockholm
SWEDEN
Phone +46-8-405 19 68
Fax +46-8-405 41 86

Preface

In March 1995 the Swedish Government appointed a National Committee to take part in the process of developing, deepening and establishing Agenda 21 and to assist with the preparation of Sweden's report to the UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) in 1997 on sustainable development. In keeping with its instructions, the Committee has followed work on Agenda 21 in different parts of Sweden by taking part in local and inter-municipal seminars, providing the municipalities, organisations and national authorities of Sweden with the opportunity of presenting their work on the Internet (www.agenda21.se) and, together with other agents, arranging national and regional meetings to discuss the Agenda process.

Agenda 21 has had a massive impact on Sweden, especially at local level, and work with the Agenda has mainly proceeded bottom-up. All 288 municipalities in Sweden have prepared supportive documentation for local Agenda decisions. A large number of central authorities have scrutinised local work on the Government's behalf. NGOs have been actively involved at both local and central levels. As a result, a comprehensive body of documentation and important practical experience have now been accumulated for coming phases of the Agenda process.

The topics and areas presented in this report are those which the Swedish National Committee for Agenda 21 considers it especially important for Sweden to put forward at UNGASS. They include both experience gained and views on continuing work in pursuit of sustainable development. The report deals with a selection of the chapters in the Agenda document from the UN Conference on Environment and Development and in structure conforms to the four main chapters of that document.

As Chairman of the National Committee, it is my hope that the report can lead to a continuing dialogue between Sweden and other countries and that it can lead to a greater interchange of opinions between those who, at different levels in the community, are actively working to achieve a sustainable society. We all have important tasks ahead of us when the Agenda process continues after UNGASS.

Anna Lindh Rolf Lindell