Executive Summary
Background
Strategic environmental issues in the CEE countries are the result of both the past, centrally planned economic system and the new political, social, and economic realities these countries are facing. The environmental heritage has left a long list of environmental hot spots, but also vast areas of pristine natural environment. New development policies based on private ownership and the use of market forces are attempting to achieve economic and social goals, and are creating incentives for more efficient use of the environment, as well as for avoiding environmentally related expenses. Huge economic problems (i.e. unemployment, decreases in real wages, reductions in investments) are characteristic of all the CEE countries in transition, and are receiving priority attention, often to the detriment of the environment. With old environmental problems persisting and new challenges appearing, environmental issues are becoming critical for the CEE countries due to the threats they pose to human health, the countries' natural capital, and sound future economic development.
Challenges
Although they are facing the same historical heritage, the CEE countries are not cooperating with each other to address common problems. Attempts to cooperate are further complicated because the CEE countries are in various phases of the transition process. In addition, they are progressing at different rates and along different pathways, which results from their distinctive social and political situations. The CEE region is not unified with respect to the various strategies and actions employed to develop market-driven economies and democratic societies. This differentiation also applies to environmental protection programs. The diversity among the respective countries can offer unique experiences which could be shared among the countries. A coordinated approach to solving environmental problems in the CEE countries may stimulate their economic and political cooperation, as well as reduce the risk of conflicts.
There are three basic requirements for realizing environmental improvements in the CEE region:
- adoption of a sustainable development principle while creating the new political, social, and economic systems;
- effective cooperation in addressing and approaching similar environmental problems; and
- maintenance of foreign interest and assistance in critical environmental programs.
These requirements are interrelated. A vision for the future and strong political leadership are needed to focus people's attention on current opportunities, rather than problems and barriers, so that such opportunities may be transformed into future successes.
An integrated environmental policy is one of the greatest needs and challenges for countries of the region. Such a policy should be economically effective, socially acceptable, and technically enforceable on the national or regional level. The skills necessary for producing and implementing an integrated environmental policy are almost non-existent in the CEE countries. This capacity must be created through pilot programs, education, and training. The need for a progressive environmental policy must also be understood and supported by "non-environmental" ministries in the government. The attempt to catch-up with Western economies will not be successful without properly addressing strategic environmental issues. This reality requires that a demand for environmental protection be stimulated within all social sectors, with citizen pressure groups and the business community playing special roles.
Problems/Solutions
Experts in the CEE countries generally list the same priority environmental needs when assessing the state of the physical environment. Air quality and water resources (surface, marine, underground) are usually ranked as the highest priority issues. Municipal and hazardous waste problems, as well as deforestation, are also reported as important. An inventory of environmental problems is often presented as environmental policy. Decision-makers should realize the clear distinction between the two concepts; an inventory of environmental problems is very different from an environmental policy which would help to solve those problems. Solutions to environmental problems are usually complex and require legal and economic considerations. Strategies involving environmental investment and maintenance expenditures must balance wish with reality. A skilled and well-organized environmental administration may realize significant achievements through the enforcement of environmental regulations. Learning from the experiences of neighboring countries could help to avoid mistakes. Joint environmental programs may even result in promising business opportunities.
Critical steps to be taken in order to initiate the process of establishing a coherent and integrated approach to environmental problems include the following:
- The methodological and managerial capacity of environmental decision-makers must be improved through extensive training and advising. A comprehensive step-by-step procedure for approaching environmental problems needs to be formulated and put forward.
- The organizational and legal basis for environmentally related activities must be created. The ability of the public and government administrations to act is not only dependent on their own capacities, but also on the existing legal and organizational framework, as well as the demand for such actions created by environmental pressure groups and the media.
- Long-term, national environmental policies must be established. They should integrate economic and environmental activities and call for sufficient enforcement of proposed steps and measures.
- All relevant social sectors, including governments, citizen organizations, scientific experts, businesses and the media should cooperate and actively participate in the development and implementation of environmental programs.
The formation of environmental interest groups is a new phenomenon in the CEE countries. Their role is to actively advocate the selection of a sustainable development strategy for their respective countries. Cooperation rather than clashes among environmental interest groups would have a significant, positive impact on programs formulated at the national and regional levels. Environmental lobbies may reintroduce environmental problems into political debates and continue to push for the integration of economic and environmental issues. Perhaps the greatest role, however, for environmental interest groups is to promote public participation in addressing and solving environmental problems. Such participation will both foster democratic procedures in decision-making and help to make market forces work for the sake of environmentally sound development.
REC * PUBLICATIONS * STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 1 * EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
