The county council is responsible for healthcare, regional development and culture. These extensive activities have a major environmental impact, both through the use of natural resources in the form of materials and energy and through emissions into the air, soil and water system. The county council has introduced an environmental management system that conforms with the international ISO 14 001 standard and with EMAS (the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme). The environmental management system gives structure to environmental work and facilitates the monitoring of environmental targets. Jämtland County Council is the first in Europe to have certified all its activities in accordance with ISO 14 001 and EMAS.International environmental work
Jämtland County Council has been involved in ENCORE, an international network for sustainable development, since 2005. ENCORE is a voluntary association of regional environment ministers within the EU. The purpose of the network is to strengthen international political cooperation between the European regions with the aim of: - increasing influence in the EU decision-making process
- acting as a forum for the interchange of knowledge and experience;
- emphasising the role of the regions in the development and implementation of strategies for sustainable development at a regional, national, European and international level.
Together with the Aragon region of Spain, Jämtland County Council will lead the political work within ENCORE until 2008. A steering committee consisting of civil servants will provide assistance.
ENCORE Environment Conference
The 7th ENCORE Conference was held in the town of Åre on 15-16 June 2006, with Jämtland County Council as host. The Åre Action Plan was approved during the conference. The plan will be used until the next Environment Ministers Conference to be held in 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain. The Åre Action Plan contains a range of activities such as seminars, workshops, workgroups and research and development, as well as the sharing of good examples. The delegates at the conference also decided that the ongoing dialogue between the regions within the ENCORE network and the EU commission is to continue and will be intensified, as will contact with other European and global networks concerned with the environment and sustainable development. In 2008, Jämtland County Council will arrange a seminar on sustainable small-scale tourism in conjunction with Etour in Östersund, among others. ENCORE´s website
Cooperation with Spain
A joint statement of intent has been signed between the Aragon region of Spain and Jämtland County Council, aimed at strengthening cooperation between the regions within the framework of environmental protection. Specifically, this will involve water quality, protected areas and nature reserves, sustainable education (education, training and public awareness), climate change, wind power, the use of biomass in energy processes, the establishment of suitable public environmental services, sustainable tourism and the sustainable development of the fundamental services in rural areas. ContactsShould you have any questions about Jämtland County Council's environmental work, please contact: Jonas Pettersson
Environmental Coordinator
jonas.pettersson@jll.se
+46 63-147610
Gunnar Fackel
Head of Environmental Development
gunnar.fackel@jll.se
+46 63-148314
