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New EPA in Wales
[posted on: 12/04/2013]Natural Resources Wales brings together the work of the Countryside Council for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and Forestry Commission Wales, as well as some functions of Welsh Government.
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New EPA to be created in Norway
[posted on: 12/04/2013]
The Directorate for Nature Management and the Climate and Pollution Agency are being merged to form the Norwegian Environment Agency with effect from 1 July 2013.
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Green Growth indicators in Slovakia
[posted on: 14/03/2013]
Policies that promote green growth need to be founded on a good understanding of the different factors that affect green growth, and appropriate information is needed to monitor progress and measure results. As part of Green Growth Strategy, the OECD has developed a conceptual framework and indicators that help governments monitor progress towards green growth. According this conceptual framework
Switzerland
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
The FOEN’s tasks include minimising natural hazards, protecting the environment and reducing risks to human health from excessive pollution, maintaining biological diversity and representing Switzerland in international environmental policy arenas.
Environmental policy is policy on resources
Natural resources are limited. Often already overexploited, their use continues to intensify. The aim of Swiss environmental policy is to ensure that natural resources are maintained over the long term and continue to be available to future generations
The Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) contributes in four key areas. At national level, it is responsible for protecting the population against natural hazards. It protects the environment and human health by reducing the adverse effects of pollutants, noxious substances and noise. It works to preserve and promote biological and landscape diversity. Finally, the FOEN is responsible for Switzerland’s international environmental policy.
Current priorities
Legislative basis and mandate
The Swiss Constitution, together with 10 federal acts and 52 statutory ordinances, establishes the basis for Swiss environmental policy. The FOEN is the federal centre of competence designated to implement this policy. It also has ministerial functions. The FOEN’s four prime tasks are:
Knowing the facts
Environmental monitoring provides facts and figures on the state of the environment and changes to it. This gives early warning of environmental problems.
Preparing legislation
Working on behalf of the Federal Council and Federal Assembly, the FOEN lays the groundwork for statutory instruments designed to maintain natural resources and safeguard their sustainable use.
Assisting implementation
The FOEN helps cantonal authorities and other executive agencies implement laws and ordinances. This work involves, for instance, providing guidance on enforcement, designing economic incentive systems and voluntary schemes, providing advice on protective measures and acting as agent for payments for ecological services.
Representing Switzerland abroad
The FOEN is responsible for Switzerland’s contributions to international environmental policy. Switzerland’s aim is to make such policy integrated, comprehensive and efficient. Work concentrates on selected themes: climate, biodiversity, chemicals and waste, forests and water.
Means of implementation
To carry out its work, the FOEN has some 450 staff on its payroll in 2011. It administers a budget totalling around CHF 1.4 billion. A good 41 per cent of these funds are disbursed to the cantonal authorities, while 50 per cent go to the Swiss public (redistribution of incentive tax revenues). The directorate consists of Dr. Bruno Oberle (Director) and Willy Geiger, Andreas Götz, Christine Hofmann and Gérard Poffet (Vice Directors).
Organisation:
Website: www.environment-switzerland.ch
Click here to see the location on map 
The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) is responsible for the sustainable use of natural resources, including soil, water, air and forests.
