miljöupplysningar

Miljöupplysningar, literally “environmental information,” refers to the systematic disclosure of environmental data generated by companies, public authorities, and other organisations. In Sweden, the concept is largely governed by the Environmental Information Act (Miljöupplysningstillståndslagen) of 1999, which obliges parties that hold or produce environmental information to provide it to the public upon request. The purpose is to promote transparency, enable informed public participation, and support environmental decision‑making.

The Act covers a broad range of information, including data on air and water quality, waste handling, land use, and emissions. Requests may be made by individuals, NGOs, municipalities, or other public bodies. Respondents are required to disclose the requested information within a specified deadline, usually 15 business days, unless the information is classified as commercially sensitive or otherwise protected by other laws. Exemptions exist for information that could harm national security, investibility, or privacy, but these are limited and must be justified.

Implementation of environmental disclosure is supported by complementary regulations. The Swedish Environmental Code (Miljöbalken) requires certain industrial activities to submit environmental reports, while the Swedish Agency for Environmental and Rural Development (SKV) provides guidelines on how to collect, process, and publish data. Together, these frameworks aim to create a more open and accountable environmental governance system.