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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Ministry of the Environment is responsible both for policy co-operation and national coordination of matters related to sustainable development at the national level in Iceland.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Act was adopted in 1993, and implementation of this act is beginning to yield results in the sense that environmental consideration is much more prominant factor in project development. The EIA appears to have increased environmental awareness in the decision-making process in a number of sectors. The experience from applying the EIA is now being evaluated and the assessment process will be further developed in light of that evaluation.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
In May 1992 Government appointed a task force to draw up a National Strategy on Sustainable Development. The Strategy, that was termed "Towards Sustainable Development" was adopted by the Government in March 1993. This task force was led by the Ministry of the Environment.
To follow up on the Strategy, the Minister of the Environment appointed seven working groups with representatives from all sectors of society, Government, Parliament, Business, NGOs, Labor organizations, local communities and women's organizations - a total of over 120 participants. The task of the working group was to come up with strategic actions towards sustainable development in various sectors.
The coordination of the work of the working group was led by the Ministry of the Environment. The chairs of the respective groups and eh Secretary General of the Ministry formed a contact group which met regularly for coordinating the work. In addition, a particular inter-ministerial group for Agenda 21 related matters was established under the chairmanship of the Ministry of the Environment, in particular for coordinating international work and participation in the UNCED follow-ups.
In 1996, the Ministry of the Environment in cooperation with the chairs of the working group, compiled the various actions proposed by the working groups into a single harmonized document - a Plan of Action for Sustainable Development in Iceland. This document was presented and discussed at a particular Environmental Assembly which the Minister of Environment called on 8 and 9, November 1996. The Assembly was attended by over 200 participants from all relevant sectors of society.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Ministry for the Environment has a record of extensive ad hoc consultations with NGOs with respect to a variety of environmental policy measures. In connection with the implementation of the Programme of Action, the Ministry is now seeking ways to establish a more structured mechanism for co-operation between the Government, civil society and business concerning the implementation of the Plan of Action.
Programmes and Projects
No information available
Status
Much work has been devoted to revising and strengthening the existing institutional framework for environmental research, monitoring, protection and conservation. Environmental concerns have been gradually integrated into governmental decision-making for the economic sectors, such as energy, agriculture, fisheries and tourism. Awareness has also been raised among the general public, media, local authorities and the business community.
|
National Decision-Making Structure |
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1. National Sustainable Development Coordination Body: |
YES |
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2. National Sustainable Development Policy: |
YES |
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3. National Agenda 21/other strategy for SD |
YES |
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4. Local/Regional Agenda(s) 21: |
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|
5. Environmental Impact Assessment Law: |
YES |
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6. Major Groups involved in Sustainable Development Decision-Making: |
YES |
|
National Instruments and Programmes |
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1. Sustainable. Dev. or environmental education incorporated into school curricula: |
YES |
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2. Sustainable Development Indicators Program: |
IN PROCESS |
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3. Ecolabel Regulations: |
YES |
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4. Recycle/Reuse Programs: |
YES |
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5. Green Accounting Program: |
In Process |
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6. Access to Internet: |
YES |
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7. Access to World Wide Web: |
YES |
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8. National World Wide Web Site for Sustainable Development or State of the Environment: |
YES |
|
Policies, Programmes and Legislation |
|
1. Combating poverty: |
NO |
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2. Changing consumption and production patterns: |
NO |
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3. Atmosphere: |
YES |
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4. Land Use Planning: |
YES |
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5. Forest and Deforestation: |
YES |
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6. Desertification and Drought: |
YES |
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7. Sustainable Mountain Development: |
NO |
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8. Sustainable Agriculture: |
YES |
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9. Biological Diversity: |
IN PROCESS |
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10. Biotechnology: |
YES |
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11. Oceans and Coastal Areas: |
YES |
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12. Freshwater Management: |
YES |
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13. Toxic Chemicals: |
YES |
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14. Hazardous Wastes: |
YES |
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15. Solid Wastes: |
YES |
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16. Radioactive Wastes: |
YES |
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17. Energy: |
YES |
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18. Transport: |
NO |
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19. Sustainable Tourism: |
IN PROCESS |
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
Agenda 21 and efforts to promote sustainable development are increasingly having an impact on policy making in Iceland. Significant progress has been made domestically and Iceland welcomes the number of important steps that have been taken at the international arena in the wake of UNCED in 1992. The implementation of Agenda 21 is an ongoing process and much remains to be done, both domesticallly and through regional and global cooperation. It should be noted that the application of sustainable development in sectoral planning and management needs to be expanded, including within the public sector. The general perception is still that sustainable development is essentially an environmental issue but not a critical issue for long-term economic development.
There is considerable co-operation within the Nordic Council of
Ministers.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the 5th, and 6th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April, 1997.
Click here to access the Ministry of the Environment.
Click here for information on environmental law in Iceland.
For information on Environmental Law around the World, click here:
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WOMEN
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Iceland signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women on 24 July 1980 and ratified it on 18 June 1985.
The legal rights of women are fairly well established in the Icelandic legal code. All ministries deal with the issue of gender equality, but the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Social Affairs. The current Equal Status Act entered into force in 1991, and it applies to all spheres of society.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Minister of Social Affairs submits for approval every four years a resolution outlining a programme of action for the next four-year period. Every second year the Minister also submits to the parliament a report on the status and progress in gender equality. The government's plan of action currently in force emphasizes the duties of each minister and ministry in their own field, towards bringing about gender equality.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Ministry for the Environment has not taken any particular measures for involving women in Agenda 21 related work.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
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1992 |
1996 |
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Percentage of women in government: |
10 |
10 |
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Percentage of women in parliament: |
25 |
27 |
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Percentage of women at local government level: |
22 |
25 |
According to the Equal Status Act municipalities with more than 500 inhabitants should establish equal status committees.
Iceland has a long history of women's organizations which have been and are still active in many areas of society, dealing with various issues, including environmental issues, at the local, national and international level.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
For information on Women Watch
in different countries, click here:
For information on
national plans of action in the follow-up to the Beijing Conference, click here:
CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No
information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Icelandic Youth Council has participated in the development of the National Agenda 21. A number of youth organizations have increasingly included Agenda 21 related activities in their programmes of work.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
No information is available
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
There are no communities of indigenous people in Iceland.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
No information is available.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
The Government supports local Agenda 21 initiates.
The Association of Local Authorities in Iceland initiated a Local Agenda 21 programme in one municipality on the east coast of the country in co-operation with a Nordic programme set up in Faeroe Islands. This programme has provided an important basis for further development of Local Agendas 21 in other municipalities. The local Government of Iceland the capital city, Reykjavik is planning to start their Local Agenda 21 LA21 by fall 1997.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
Local Agenda 21 has been introduced as a pilot project in one municipality and extensive share of experiences has been possible through Nordic co-operation. This work is now showing some results and an increasing number of municipal authorities are preparing the introduction of local Agenda 21.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
WORKERS AND UNIONS
Trade unions are consulted on an ad hoc basis.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland o the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
No information is available.
* * *
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY
No information is available.
* * *
FARMERS
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) actively promotes sustainable use of
grazing lands to control soil erosion. The Government Policy Statement
explicitly calls for sustainable farming practices. A new law provides a
framework for organic and ecological farming with the aim of making all
Icelandic agriculture truly sustainable and ecological. The SCS organizes
programmes for farmers to reclaim and conserve vegetative cover and, together
with the Forestry Service, operates a programme with farmers for establishing
"soil conservation forests".
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
To a large extent, agriculture in Iceland is conducted on a sustainable,
non-polluting basis.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1997.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
R&D institutions in Iceland are organized by sectors under the Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Industry and Trade, Health, Environment and the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture. Overall responsibility for the implementation of science and technology policy lies with the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, which is assisted by the Icelandic Research Council (IRC), established in 1994. The eleven members of the IRC represent industry, research institutions and the university community.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The legislation concerning the IRC is due for revision in 1999 and environmental issues are a growing concern in general economic, as well as science and technology policies.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Environmental policies in general are the responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment, while operations reporting to the sectoral ministries have to pay due environmental respect. Science is introduced in decision-making in an institutionalized manner in major policy areas.
Environmental issues are addressed both particularly at relevant institutes and generally through inter-sectoral environmental policies. Thus, e.g. research in marine biology also aims at facilitating sustainable management of marine resources, notably the fish stocks in the seas around the country. Similarly, research into natural processes in the earth, on land and in the atmosphere has the dual objective of being scientifically important and being significant in socio-economic context.
Public research institutes and institutions for higher education are called upon for advice in the decision-making process and formulation of policy for sustainable environment.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
A significant change in the scale of R&D has occurred in recent years. R&D engaged about 1,310 work-years full time equivalent in 1993 and an expenditure of approximately ISK 5,570 million. or 1.4% of GNP. In 1987, this ratio was 0.79%.
About 70% of R&D is carried out in the public sector, including higher education institutions, while industrial and private sectors account for about 30%. The industrial share in R&D performance is increasing. Only 30 firms were registered active in 1987, but over 200 were active in 1993. The breakdown of public R&D expenditure by main socio-economic objectives included 26,5% on agriculture and fisheries; 19,5% on industry and energy; and 8,5% on the environment and natural resources not included under other headings. General knowledge production, including basic research as well as humanities and social sciences, counted for 27,9 % of the total.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
The scientific capacity is continuously enlarged through the development of higher education institutions and an increasing number of well-educated scientists, not the least within sciences of environmental relevance.
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the fifth and sixth sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: April 1998
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Ministry for the Environment and its agencies, such
as the Icelandic Institute of Natural History and the Environment and Food
Agency, are primarily responsible for the collection and management of data
related to sustainable development. Statistics Iceland is responsible for
collection and dissemination of environmental and related statistics.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The 1993 Act on Public Access to Environmental Information and the 1997 Public Information Act are the main laws regarding the flow of information and obligation of the Government to provide the public with information on the environment was adopted in Iceland.
Decision-makers at national and local levels, institutes, researchers at universities, NGOs, and private sector companies collect and use information about the state of the environment and natural resources; the use of natural resources; geographic data; data about the biological diversity; emissions data; physical planning and land-use data; and socio-economic data. Many of these institutes and agencies have their own databases.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Ministry for the Environment has a record of extensive ad hoc consultations with NGOs with respect to a variety of environmental policy measures. In connection with the implementation of the Programme of Action, the Ministry is now seeking ways to establish a more structured mechanism for co-operation between the Government, civil society and business concerning the implementation of the Plan of Action.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
The matrix below gives an overview of how national authorities rate the available information for decision making.
Rating of available data and information suitable for decision-making
|
Agenda 21 Chapters |
Very good |
Good |
Some good data but many gaps |
Poor |
Remarks |
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2. |
International cooperation and trade |
X |
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3. |
Combating poverty |
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4. |
Changing consumption patterns |
|
X |
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5. |
Demographic dynamics and sustainability |
X |
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6. |
Human health |
X |
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7. |
Human settlements |
X |
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8. |
Integrating E & D in decision-making |
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9. |
Protection of the atmosphere |
|
X |
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10. |
Integrated planning and management of land resources |
|
X |
|
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11. |
Combating deforestation |
|
X |
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12. |
Combating desertification and drought |
|
X |
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13. |
Sustainable mountain development |
|
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14. |
Sustainable agriculture and rural development |
|
X |
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15. |
Conservation of biological diversity |
|
X |
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16. |
Biotechnology |
|
X |
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17. |
Oceans, seas, coastal areas and their living resources |
X |
|
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18. |
Freshwater resources |
|
X |
|
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|
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19. |
Toxic chemicals |
|
X |
|
|
|
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20. |
Hazardous wastes |
|
X |
|
|
|
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21. |
Solid wastes |
|
X |
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22. |
Radioactive wastes |
|
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|
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24. |
Women in sustainable development |
|
X |
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25. |
Children and youth |
|
X |
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26. |
Indigenous people |
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27. |
Non-governmental organizations |
|
X |
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28. |
Local authorities |
X |
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29. |
Workers and trade unions |
X |
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30. |
Business and industry |
X |
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31. |
Scientific and technological community |
|
X |
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32. |
Farmers |
X |
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33. |
Financial resources and mechanisms |
X |
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34. |
Technology, cooperation and capacity-building |
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35. |
Science for sustainable development |
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36. |
Education, public awareness and training |
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37. |
International cooperation for capacity-building |
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38. |
International institutional arrangements |
|
X |
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39. |
International legal instruments |
|
X |
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40. |
Information for decision-making |
|
X |
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Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
An inter-ministerial committee established to develop a programme
on environmental and sustainable development indicators will finish its work at
the end of the year. A new national strategy for sustainable development in
Iceland will be launched next year, and it is envisioned that it will contain
quantifiable goals and indicators to monitor progress. Statistics Iceland works
on the standardization of data on sustainable development in cooperation with
OECD, Euro stat and other international bodies working on statistics and
indicators.
The Environment and Food Agency and other agencies have
participated in the development of standardized data banks and networks under
the auspices of the European Environment Agency.
The World Wide Web has been extensively used to disseminate
government and environmental information in Iceland. The Commission on
Environmental Education, a consultative body sponsored by the Ministry for the
Environment, created the Environment Web, an interactive website connecting over
200 environmental websites in Icelandic.
The Environment Web (umhverfisvefurinn) is the most comprehensive
website on environment and sustainable development issues in Iceland, linking
over 200 websites: http://www.umvefur.is
The Statistical Bureau of Iceland has a large database accessible to the public. A joint committee consisting of representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, the Statistical Bureau of Iceland, and the National Economic Institute work for the development of a national databank for the collection and dissemination of environmental information and for the establishment of a satellite system. Inventories about existing mapping efforts and environmental monitoring were carried out in 1994. At the moment, the Statistical Bureau of Iceland is in the process of developing a set of national indicators on sustainable development. So far, the major groups are not involved in this work. In general, computers are available throughout Iceland, with access to international databases.
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
There
is considerable co-operation within the Nordic Council of Ministers. The following international sources provide information for sustainable
development: UN Agencies, OECD, the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy,
Nordic Council of Ministers, and the International Institute for Sustainable
Development.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of Iceland to the 5th and 9th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: February 2001.
Click here to access Finland's Statistics Bureau.
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No information is available.
* * *
Click here for a list of the international environmental conventions to which Iceland is a party.
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