Grön omställning eller grön kolonisation - Tillgodoseende av rättighetsskyddet för samerna vid intresseavvägningar mellan rennäring och vindkraft
(2025) LAGF03 20251Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Uppsatsen undersöker rättighetsskyddet för samerna som ursprungsbefolkning och rennäringen i den gröna omställningen. Fokus ligger på hur skyddet tillvaratas när riksintresset rennäring ställs mot riksintresset energiproduktion i tillståndsprocesser för vindkraftverk. En rättsdogmatisk och kritisk rättsdogmatisk metod används. Undersökningen är relevant eftersom Sverige fått återkommande kritik, bland annat från Förenta nationerna, för bristande hänsyn till urfolks rättigheter vid utbyggnad av vindkraftverk och gruvor.
Vindkraftsutbyggnaden har ökat kraftigt, särskilt i norra Sverige, i syfte att producera mer klimatneutral energi. Tillika innefattar dessa områden Sápmi, där samerna bedriver traditionell rennäring. Detta skapar en... (More) - Uppsatsen undersöker rättighetsskyddet för samerna som ursprungsbefolkning och rennäringen i den gröna omställningen. Fokus ligger på hur skyddet tillvaratas när riksintresset rennäring ställs mot riksintresset energiproduktion i tillståndsprocesser för vindkraftverk. En rättsdogmatisk och kritisk rättsdogmatisk metod används. Undersökningen är relevant eftersom Sverige fått återkommande kritik, bland annat från Förenta nationerna, för bristande hänsyn till urfolks rättigheter vid utbyggnad av vindkraftverk och gruvor.
Vindkraftsutbyggnaden har ökat kraftigt, särskilt i norra Sverige, i syfte att producera mer klimatneutral energi. Tillika innefattar dessa områden Sápmi, där samerna bedriver traditionell rennäring. Detta skapar en konflikt mellan två riksintressen i 3 kap. miljöbalken (1998:808): rennäring och energiproduktion. När mark- och miljööverdomstolen (MÖD) prövar ett bolags tillstånd för att upprätta och driva en vindkraftverksanläggning, ska en avvägning ske enligt 3 kap. 10 § miljöbalken mellan dessa två intressen.
Uppsatsen analyserar först hur tillståndsmyndigheter och MÖD ska tillvarata rennäringens rättighetsskydd i sådana avvägningar enligt miljöbalken. Uppsatsen konstaterar att det ska ske en reell och seriös avvägning innan energiproduktion får ges företräde. Hänsyn ska tas till ekologiska, sociala, kulturella och samhällsekonomiska perspektiv, men även internationella förpliktelser ska beaktas.
Därför redogör uppsatsen för samernas rättigheter enligt FN:s internationella konvention om medborgerliga och politiska rättigheter, ILO:s konvention (nr. 169) om ursprungsfolk och stamfolk i självstyrande länder, samt FN:s deklaration om ursprungsfolkens rättigheter. Tillsammans med regeringsformen (1974:152) skyddar bestämmelserna i de folkrättsliga instrumenten rennäringen som en del av samernas kulturella arv. Staten åläggs att främja dess fortlevnad vid exploatering av samisk mark.
En fallstudie av praxis från MÖD visar dock att domstolen inte tillvaratar rättighetsskyddet för rennäringen fullt ut i praktiken. Rättstillämpningen har gjort att vindkraft automatiskt ses som det viktigare intresset och ges företräde i tillståndsprocesser, varför MÖD fokuserar på hur stor påverkan rennäringen kan tillåtas utstå. Det motiveras delvis av en strävan efter att främja samexistens i enlighet med förarbetena, men underminerar rennäringens ställning som ett likvärdigt riksintresse. Därutöver tillåter MÖD stora omställningar i rennäringens genomförande, vilket strider mot urfolksrättens skydd för traditionell rennäring. Uppsatsen kommenterar till sist hur lagstiftaren bör adressera dessa problem för en rättvisare grön omställning. (Less) - Abstract
- The essay examines the protection of the rights of the Sámi as an Indigenous people, and of reindeer herding, in the context of the green transition. It focuses on how these rights are safeguarded when the national interest in reindeer husbandry comes into conflict with the national interest in energy production. Specifically, during the permit process for wind power development. A legal dogmatic and critical legal dogmatic method is used. This topic is relevant as Sweden has received repeated criticism - including from the United Nations - for insufficient consideration of Indigenous rights in the expansion of wind power and mining operations.
Wind power expansion has increased significantly in Sweden, particularly in the north, with... (More) - The essay examines the protection of the rights of the Sámi as an Indigenous people, and of reindeer herding, in the context of the green transition. It focuses on how these rights are safeguarded when the national interest in reindeer husbandry comes into conflict with the national interest in energy production. Specifically, during the permit process for wind power development. A legal dogmatic and critical legal dogmatic method is used. This topic is relevant as Sweden has received repeated criticism - including from the United Nations - for insufficient consideration of Indigenous rights in the expansion of wind power and mining operations.
Wind power expansion has increased significantly in Sweden, particularly in the north, with the aim of producing more climate-neutral energy. These areas also encompass Sápmi, where the Sámi practice traditional reindeer herding. This gives rise to a conflict between two national interests under Chapter 3 of The Swedish Environmental Code (1998:808): reindeer husbandry and energy production. When the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal assesses a company’s permit to establish and operate a wind farm, it must weigh these interests in accordance with Chapter 3, Section 10 of the Environmental Code.
The essay analyses how permitting authorities and the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal uphold the protection of reindeer herding when it is weighed against renewable energy. It finds that a genuine and serious assessment must be conducted before priority can be given to energy production. This process must consider ecological, social, cultural and socio-economic factors, as well as international obligations.
Accordingly, the essay outlines the Sámi’s rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the ILO Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Together with the Swedish Instrument of Government (1974:152), these instruments protect reindeer herding as part of the Sámi cultural heritage and oblige the state to promote its continued practice when Sámi land is subject to exploitation.
A case study of rulings by the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal, however, shows that the court does not adequately safeguard reindeer herding rights in practice. Wind power is automatically regarded as the more important national interest that should be given precedence, with the court focusing on the degree of impact reindeer herding can be expected to endure. While this is partly motivated by a desire to promote coexistence in accordance with legislative intent, it undermines reindeer husbandry as an equal national interest. Additionally, the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal permits significant modifications to how reindeer herding is carried out – contrary to the protection of traditional livelihoods under Indigenous rights law. The essay concludes by suggesting ways to address these issues and move towards a more equitable green transition. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9189711
- author
- Hällström, Sofia LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- LAGF03 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Förvaltningsrätt, Miljörätt, Samerätt, Rennäring, Vindkraft
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9189711
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-23 13:00:41
- date last changed
- 2025-06-23 13:00:41
@misc{9189711,
abstract = {{The essay examines the protection of the rights of the Sámi as an Indigenous people, and of reindeer herding, in the context of the green transition. It focuses on how these rights are safeguarded when the national interest in reindeer husbandry comes into conflict with the national interest in energy production. Specifically, during the permit process for wind power development. A legal dogmatic and critical legal dogmatic method is used. This topic is relevant as Sweden has received repeated criticism - including from the United Nations - for insufficient consideration of Indigenous rights in the expansion of wind power and mining operations.
Wind power expansion has increased significantly in Sweden, particularly in the north, with the aim of producing more climate-neutral energy. These areas also encompass Sápmi, where the Sámi practice traditional reindeer herding. This gives rise to a conflict between two national interests under Chapter 3 of The Swedish Environmental Code (1998:808): reindeer husbandry and energy production. When the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal assesses a company’s permit to establish and operate a wind farm, it must weigh these interests in accordance with Chapter 3, Section 10 of the Environmental Code.
The essay analyses how permitting authorities and the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal uphold the protection of reindeer herding when it is weighed against renewable energy. It finds that a genuine and serious assessment must be conducted before priority can be given to energy production. This process must consider ecological, social, cultural and socio-economic factors, as well as international obligations.
Accordingly, the essay outlines the Sámi’s rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the ILO Convention (No. 169) concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Together with the Swedish Instrument of Government (1974:152), these instruments protect reindeer herding as part of the Sámi cultural heritage and oblige the state to promote its continued practice when Sámi land is subject to exploitation.
A case study of rulings by the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal, however, shows that the court does not adequately safeguard reindeer herding rights in practice. Wind power is automatically regarded as the more important national interest that should be given precedence, with the court focusing on the degree of impact reindeer herding can be expected to endure. While this is partly motivated by a desire to promote coexistence in accordance with legislative intent, it undermines reindeer husbandry as an equal national interest. Additionally, the Land and Environmental Court of Appeal permits significant modifications to how reindeer herding is carried out – contrary to the protection of traditional livelihoods under Indigenous rights law. The essay concludes by suggesting ways to address these issues and move towards a more equitable green transition.}},
author = {{Hällström, Sofia}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Grön omställning eller grön kolonisation - Tillgodoseende av rättighetsskyddet för samerna vid intresseavvägningar mellan rennäring och vindkraft}},
year = {{2025}},
}