Environmental court

The environmental courts are special courts for environment and water resources issues, that are regulated by the Environmental Code. This Code, which entered into force on 1 January 1999, regulates our right to change and use nature and the responsibility that this right involves. 

The Environmental Code contains several important principles, among other things, the requirement that anyone conducting operations should use the best available technology and implement measures that comply with the rules of the Environmental Code. The Code seeks to protect health and environment, and valuable natural and cultural environments should also be protected and biological diversity preserved. It should also secure good management of our natural resources, such as land and water, and aid the creation of an ecocycle for material, raw materials and energy.

Regional environmental courts

There are regional environmental courts in Umeå, Östersund, Nacka, Vänersborg and Växjö. The environmental court in Umeå also has operations in Luleå.

The regional environmental courts are part of the district courts and employ, among others, legally qualified judges, environmental counsellors and lawyers to prepare matters.

When a regional environmental court adjudicates, it should, as a main rule, have one legally qualified judge, an environmental counsellor together with two expert members participating. The environmental counsellors have a technical or natural sciences background and experience in environmental issues. The expert members contribute with experience from municipal or industrial operations and public environmental conservation work.

The Environmental Court of Appeal

The environmental courts' determinations can be appealed against to the Environmental Court of Appeal, which is part of Svea Court of Appeal. The Environmental Court of Appeal is, in certain cases, the final instance.

The Supreme Court is a final instance for cases that have been considered, in the first instance, by a regional environmental court.

Typical cases at the environmental courts

Various types of cases and matters are dealt with by the environmental courts. Some particular kinds are:

• licences for water operations
• licences for environmentally hazardous operations and other
• environmental protection issues
• issues relating to health protection, nature conservation, cleansing and sanitation
• hazardous waste, and
• damages and compensation issues related to the environment.

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