The Armed Forces are working on creating a system which ensures that environmental protection is considered from a sustainability perspective in international exercises and missions. It is important not to cause new environmental problems on a mission. The right measures taken before, during and after a mission are vital in ensuring that people in the war zone are given environmentally sustainable land for building peace and fighting poverty.
Swedish environmental legislation and the environmental policy of the Armed Forces are taken as a guide to the environmental work. Although the Environmental Code is not directly applicable beyond Sweden’s borders, the intention is to comply with Swedish legislation as far as possible.
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations is formulating an environmental policy and guidelines for environmental work on UN missions. As part of this work Sweden, through the Armed Forces and Total Defence Research Institute (FOI), has contributed with method development work and is also urging the EU to draw up guidelines for environmental and health protection in EU-led operations. Furthermore, the Armed Forces have been instructed to ensure that environmental protection is considered from a sustainability perspective in international exercises and missions.