2010 Press release 22 September 2010 Ministry of the Environment UN biodiversity summit in New York Heads of state and government will meet tomorrow, 22 September, at the UN General Assembly in New York for a summit to review the Millennium Development Goals. The UN has proclaimed 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. A special session on biodiversity will be held ahead of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which will take place in Nagoya, Japan, in October. Sweden will be represented by State Secretary Åsa-Britt Karlsson. External links General Assembly of the The meeting in the General Assembly aims to identify priority policy issues. An important issue for Sweden is United Nations the establishment of an international research panel (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Intergovernmental Science- Biodiversity and Ecosytem Services, IPBES), similar to the research panel that exists for climate change Policy Platform on issues (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC). Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services The aim of establishing the IPBES is to improve the international knowledge base on biodiversity and enhance knowledge transfer between decision-makers and researchers. Sweden also gives priority to emphasising the value of biodiversity and the economic value of nature's ecosystem services. Contact Leif Holmberg Political Advisor +46 8 405 23 88 email to Leif Holmberg, via the senior registry clerk Press release 25 August 2010 Ministry of the Environment Andreas Carlgren presents the priorities of the Swedish Chairmanship of HELCOM to tackle the environmental challenges of the Bal Tomorrow, Wednesday 25 August, Sweden will host a meeting of environment ministers on the Baltic Sea environment. Ministers and high-ranking representatives of all Baltic Sea states will attend the seminar entitled "Building marine policy on best available knowledge". This is the first meeting under the Swedish Chairmanship of Baltic Sea cooperation body HELCOM. Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren will present increased efforts to save the Baltic Sea environment. Time and place Download Place: Rosenbad Press Centre, Rosenbad, Stockholm Programme seminar, 25 Time: 14.30. August 2010 (pdf 297 kB) On 1 July Sweden assumed the Chairmanship of the Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) for the protection of the Baltic marine environment. Tomorrow, Wednesday 25 August, the first meeting within the framework of this Chairmanship will be held in Stockholm. Five ministers will be attending the meeting and participating in the External links panel discussion on how HELCOM and other ongoing processes are to deliver measures. Helcom website Mr Carlgren will present the priorities and proposals of the Swedish Chairmanship for how cooperation under HELCOM is to be developed in order to tackle the environmental challenges of the Baltic Sea. The Swedish Chairmanship wants to strengthen work on the joint action plan that was adopted in 2007 to ensure that sufficient measures are implemented for the Baltic Sea. The seminar will be attended by 80 participants from the contracting parties to HELCOM. There will be an opportunity to meet the ministers following the ministerial discussion in the programme. The following ministers will attend the seminar and will be available to the media: Andreas Carlgren from Sweden, Jaanus Tamkivi from Estonia, Paula Lehtomäki from Finland, Raimonds Vejonis from Latvia and Andrzej Kraszewski from Poland. Media are also welcome to follow the meeting to be held at the Rosenbad Conference Centre, Drottninggatan 1, Stockholm. Mr Carlgren will open the seminar at 09.30. The ministerial session will follow at 12.30. Please notify Press Assistant Eva Lena Fahlström if you wish to attend the seminar. Please bring your press credentials. Contact Eva-Lena Fahlström Press Assistant +46 8 405 20 44 +46 70 699 39 95 email to Eva-Lena Fahlström, via the Senior registry clerk Press release 29 July 2010 Ministry of the Environment Government preparing a national ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles Today the Government decided to instruct the Swedish Chemicals Agency and the National Food Administration to propose how a national ban on bisphenol A in baby bottles and in certain plastic products could be designed. "A ban for the EU's 500 million inhabitants would of course have a greater impact than a ban for the 9 million people living in Sweden. But the process is too slow. Alternatives already exist and we should be extra careful where children are concerned. This is why we have chosen to prepare a national ban in parallel," says Mr Carlgren. "It is unacceptable that young children are exposed to the risks that have been proven to be associated with bisphenol A, especially when changing to alternative materials is easy. This is why we are now making the first move by preparing a national ban," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren. Both agencies are to examine the need and conditions for a national ban on the use of bisphenol A in certain plastic products. The task includes drawing up a proposal for the specifics of the ban. Bisphenol A is a component of polycarbonate plastics. It is already known that the substance has endocrine-disrupting properties. Recent animal tests on young individuals have indicated that the substance may impede learning and cause behaviour disorders, even in very low doses. Children run the risk of consuming bisphenol A, above all through bottles made from polycarbonates. The European Food Safety Authority's scientific panel has therefore been instructed by the European Commission to evaluate the risks. The panel was expected to present its statement in mid-July, but announced that the work had been delayed and would be completed in September. The European Commission will then take a position on a possible regulation at EU level Sweden's concern over the risks associated with bisphenol A is shared by several countries within and outside the EU. Both Denmark and France have introduced bans. The Danish ban covers use in all materials that come into contact with food intended for children between the ages of 0-3 years, while the French ban only applies until further notice to baby bottles. The use of the substance in baby bottles has also been banned in Canada, while US authorities are supporting voluntary initiatives to replace bisphenol A. Those wanting to avoid bisphenol A from baby bottles can swap to a bottle made from a different plastic, glass or stainless steel, or choose not to heat the water in the bottle in the microwave. See the National Food Administration website: www.slv.se. The report is to be submitted to the Ministry for the Environment no later than 31 March 2011. Contact Jerker Forsell Desk Officer +46 8 405 39 71 +46 70 389 39 71 Press release 08 July 2010 Ministry of the Environment Nina Cromnier new Director-General of the Swedish Chemicals Agency Today, the Government appointed Nina Cromnier as Director-General of the Swedish Chemicals Agency. Ms Cromnier will take up her post on 1 September. "I am very pleased that Nina Cromnier is going to be the new Director-General of the Swedish Chemicals Agency. She has long experience of working in the chemicals area - nationally, at EU level, and globally - and is therefore an excellent choice to lead the Chemicals Agency into the future. The global negotiations on a mercury agreement have recently begun and intense work is under way in the EU to reduce the risks involved in chemical use," says Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren. Ms Cromnier has a Master of Science in Chemical Technology and a Master of Economics, and is currently Director and Head of the Division for Eco-Management Strategies and Chemicals at the Ministry of the Environment. Ms Cromnier has worked at the Ministry of the Environment since 1995. Before this, she worked at the Swedish Waste Research Council and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. Contact Lennart Bodén Press Secretary to Andreas Carlgren Press release 08 July 2010 Ministry of the Environment New objective for outdoor activity policy - the right of common access is the basis of outdoor recreation The objective of the outdoor activity policy is to support people's opportunities to spend time in nature and engage in outdoor recreation. The right of common access is the basis for this and nature is to be accessible for all. In addition, it is proposed that The Swedish Association for Outdoor Organisations distribute government grants to outdoor activity organisations. This is made clear in Government Bill 2009/10:238 Future outdoor recreation. The Government also intends to raise the appropriation for support to outdoor activity organisations by SEK 3 million per year in the coming budget. "Sweden's forests, lakes, mountains and archipelagos are some of the unique environments providing great opportunities for an active outdoor recreation. The Government wants to promote and strengthen people's opportunities to take part in outdoor recreation. The right of common access is key and is to be safeguarded even more carefully. Outdoor recreation is positive for both public health and well-being, but it can also contribute to rural development and regional growth," comments Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren. When it comes to the right of common access, it is particularly important to make access easier for people with special needs. This is a responsibility for the state, municipalities and outdoor activity organisations. The right of common access is key and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency will be given clearer responsibility to safeguard and promote the right of common access through guidance, dissemination of knowledge, coordination and collaboration with other agencies and associations. It is also proposed in the Bill that the non-profit organisation The Swedish Association for Outdoor Organisations distribute the government appropriation to outdoor activity organisations.