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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for decision-making in
the field of international co-operation. Special responsibility for
decision-making process for the sustainable development has no ministry or
agency. The Council on Sustainable Development was founded
by the Ministry of Environment in July 2000. It is a consultative body to the
Minister of Environment. It aims to link economic and social spheres with
environmental issues and establish an open approach to cooperation between
various social groups and public participation in planning and implementing the
development of local areas and society as a whole.
The
Council on Sustainable Development was founded by the Ministry of Environment in July
2000. It is a consultative body to the Minister of Environment. It aims to link economic
and social spheres with environmental issues and establish an open approach to cooperation
between various social groups and public participation in planning and implementing the
development of local areas and society as a whole.
Local governments play role in some trans-boundary co-operation projects (e. g. EURO REGION NISA, EGRENSIS, ECOREGION etc.)
Decision-Making:
Legislation and RegulationsThere are no laws, regulations and
directives concerning cooperation for sustainable development at sub-regional,
regional, and international levels in the Czech republic. Most of environmental
laws work with the term of sustainable development in their general part, but
there is no special law for the objective mentioned above.
The
environmental legislation began to develop at the beginning of the 1990’s. The
legislative framework ranges from Article 7 of the Constitution of the Czech
Republic which requires thrifty exploitation of natural resources and the
protection of natural assets, through the Act of the Environment No 17/1992
Coll. and the Act on Environmental Impact Assessment (on EIA) No 244/1992 Coll.,
to encompasses the Clean Air Act, the Act on Waste and related regulations, acts
and decrees on nature and landscape protection, the amendments to the
Construction Code and its implementing regulations, the Act on Protection of
Agricultural Land, etc.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Policy based on the principle of sustainable development is not a policy only for the sectoral competence of the Ministry of Environment. The creation of an environmental policy and fulfillment of its objectives must be based on close cooperation with other economic and social sectors of the national economy, including industry, agriculture, transport and communications, regional development, health, foreign affairs, education and other sectors. In addition, there is continuous cooperation with members of universities, professional institutions, public administrative bodies, nongovernmental nonprofit organizations, sectoral industry associations and business.
In
compliance with the “Foreign Policy Concept of the Czech Republic” and with the
“State Environmental Policy”, environmental protection and provision for
sustainable development are global issues requiring the joint efforts of all the countries
of the world and the preparation of both global and national strategies and approaches.
In 1991, the Czech Republic initiated the creation
of the long-term program “An Environment for Europe” (Dobříš Assessment), which has since become
the main forum for pan European conceptual discussions in the area of
environmental policy. As a member
of the OECD, the Czech Republic participates in the creation of conceptual
supra-national documents prepared in OECD as a starting point for the search for
a balance amongst the economic, social and environmental aspects of development
in OECD member countries (participation in the project “Environmental Outlook
and Strategy”, participation in the “Three-year OECD project for sustainable
development”).
The Czech Republic plays an important role in
international preparation of implementation of the Aarhus Convention. It is a
leading country in the task force for preparation of Pollution Release and
Transfer Registers – PRTR, cooperates in the action working group for
developing instruments for implementation of the convention. The Czech Republic
plays an important role in the area of development of an international legally
binding document dealing with Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).
The Council of the Czech Republic for Social and Economic
Strategy was established in May 1999. It is the advisory, initiative and
coordinating body of the Government. Emphasis was placed on the necessity to
create a national economy based on the creation of a stable body for economic
strategy and development. It coordinates project concerning Czech social
development and cooperation on departmental and regional conceptions
Decision-Making: Major Groups involvement
The creation of an environmental policy and fulfillment of its objectives must also be the result of continuous cooperation with members of universities, professional institutions, public administrative bodies, nongovernmental nonprofit organizations, sectoral industry associations and business.
Some
local governments are involved in the decision making
process on international and regional cooperation for sustainable development through their associations
(e.g. Union of towns and villages) and through trans-border
cooperation programs and projects.
NGOs and other groups can be involved in decision-making processes through e.g. EIA process. Local authorities as far as NGOs are active in developing of the programs and projects focused on sustainable development – they prepare the projects and try to change some of the conservative ways of the decision making process. The national government mostly co-operate within these projects as a supervisor and co-funding body.
The scientific institutions (the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, universities and research institutes) have their roles in formulating environmental research and development priorities and in the provision of expert support to sectoral programmes.
Programmes and Projects
The
involvement of the Czech Republic in the protection of the global environment and in
implementing the principles of sustainable development includes the voluntary
contributions to UNEP and GEF and some special projects in bilateral and multilateral
development cooperation, financed through the Czech Republic’s programme of
development assistance.
In cooperation with GEF the following projects’
objectives were set up:
- Reduce
global concentrations of green house gases and thus minimize the adverse impact of climate
change;
The major objective of the project was to decrease the emissions of green house gases. This objective would be achieved by means of increasing the efficiency and reliability of the heat supply to the city of Kyjov, glass producer and regional grid and power supply to the regional grid through intensified use of waste process heat generated at glass manufacturing facility. The project will achieve local and global environmental benefits by reducing the share of coal and lignite in a standard coal fired power plant.
-
Phase-out ozone depleting
substances and introduce 3R scheme (Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling)
The principal objective of the project was to assist the Czech Republic in the phase-out of ozone depleting substances in a cost effective manner as mandated by the Montreal Protocol.
-
Protect and strengthen representative ecosystem
biodiversity in its Trans-boundary areas
The project was designed to develop a range of activities including management techniques for a variety of representative ecosystems, environmental education and community support for protected areas and sustainable management of forest system, to develop revenue generation mechanisms for the protected areas, interactions with local communities and land managers sustainable development strategies, to support project management coordination efforts between the Ministry of Environment and project areas, training, improvement of infrastructure and the administration of an NGO biodiversity small grant programme.
-
Prepare the National Biodiversity strategy and action
plan
The objective of the project was to prepare national biodiversity strategy and action plan for the protection and sustainable use of biological diversity and to prepare the first national report for submission to the Conference of the Parties. The project identified the objectives and mechanisms of cross-sector coordination at the local, regional and national levels.
Major technical cooperation programmes on education for sustainable development include:
Meteorology and hydrology (Central and East European countries, New Independent States, Africa, South America) - Realization of various training courses in meteorology, hydrology and air quality control
Development of sustainable agriculture production (vineyards and orchards) in Republic of Moldova - Introduction of the Czech biological pest control system for vineyards and orchards
Capacity building in cleaner production in Croatia - Establishment of the Croatian Cleaner Production Center, training of local professionals, implementation of demonstration projects in industrial enterprises
Ozone depleting substances phase-out project in Ukraine -Introduction of advanced cost-effective technology and know-how on leakage-free handling of ODS at the cooling equipment service
Geological and environmental works in Mongolia - Environmental risk analysis of a former Soviet army base, hydro geological survey and hydro geological prospecting of ground water resources, geological and geochemical mapping in south part of Zaaltaj Gobi.
Status
On the basis of Decision No. 153 of March 15 1995, the Government of the Czech Republic approved the provision of foreign aid to developing countries and countries in transition: the Ministry of the Environment prepared seven projects of bilateral cooperation (total amount CZK 24.8 million) and eight projects of multilateral cooperation (total amount CZK 25.5 million) especially in the area of hydrology, meteorology and protection of the ozone layer - to be completed in 1997.
The programme areas or issues
of Agenda 21 require the most immediate attention for bilateral or multilateral
cooperation include: Part I: Chapters 4, 6, 8; Part II: Chapters 9,
11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 22;
Part III:
Chapters
24, 25, 26, 30, 32; Part IV: Chapters
33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 39. Other areas (not
involved in document o f Agenda 21)
It is essential to create economical incentives to bring question of sustainability as a social prestige, promote media interest in sustainable development questions and realize campaigns to increase public awareness about the importance to make development of human society sustainable. On local level organize roundtables with professional facilitators, training for local representatives and officers, to put the sustainable principles as a basic for all sector policy – to ensure integrate approach at national and local level. Differentiate the work according to interests of the main focus groups.
Changing trends over the past five years, in terms of percentage of growth and the nature of cooperation in external financial resources, are as follows:
ODA
(bilateral and multilateral)
1996
…..356.5 mil. CZK
1997.…..365.4 mil. CZK
1998…...326.0 mil. CZK
1999…...326.0 mil. CZK
2000…...345.0 mil. CZK
Data only
for Ministry of Environment:
ODA projects
coordinated by the Ministry of Environment amounts to 30.5 mil CZK (750 000 USD) in 2000.
There are 8 projects realized in 2000.
Estimation:
Natural resource protection – 10 %
Poverty eradication – 70 %
Capacity building - 50 %
Policy formulation, planning, governance
– 10 %
Challenges
The biggest challenge for capacity-building, education, training and awareness raising is the area of co-operation with media at local and national level. A concept of environmental enlightenment, education and public awareness (hereinafter EEEA) was drawn up in 1998 by the Ministry of Environment. The State Programme of EEEA should be approved by Government this year. In the sphere of legislation, law No. 123/98 Coll., on public access to environmental information, was approved and came into force.
The participation of the Czech Republic in the activities of OECD involves activities connected with transfer of experience and knowledge to OECD non-member countries (especially to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and to the countries of the former Soviet Union).
Science and technical capacities of the Czech Republic can be
used to protect environment and improve its quality in other countries. It also can be
used international
seminars and meetings, internet conferences, exchanges experiences, materials and
information, information systems, training, more effective use existing administration
structures, funding, newsletters, work with lay public, etc.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
Czech
Environmental Institute prepares and distributes Newsletter “Local Agenda 21 in the
Czech Republic” which is concerned on the issue of sustainable development,
implementing Local Agenda 21, information about international cooperation in this field,
exchange of experiences, reviews, methodologies etc. The Newsletter is distributed by
electronic mail to all regional branches of the Ministry of Environment, to all district
offices, Administrations of National Parks and Protected Landscape Areas of the Czech
Republic and to municipalities, NGOs, high schools, universities and to members of
networks working in the field of sustainable development. Some
of these subscribers distribute the Newsletter to the other co-operating organizations and
institutions within their regions.
The
Czech Environmental Institute organizes workshops and seminars for state and local
administrators concerning on implementation of Agenda 21 in local conditions and focused
on environmental education and public participation. These workshops had been supported by
the British Council for the last three years. The
network of consulting centers in the Czech Republic was founded in 1997. It promotes
preventative protection of the environment and participates in defining environmental
consulting as a profession.
In
the year 2000 Institute for Environmental Policy in co-operation with Via Foundation Czech
Republic and Westminster Foundation for Democracy realizes the project “Support of
Media Interest in Local Agenda 21 and NGOs´ activities in this field”.
In the sphere of legislation, law No. 123/98 Coll., on public access to environmental
information, was approved and came into force. Nongovernmental
organizations provide services for schools
and schooling facilities in the area of environmental enlightenment and education.
Nongovernmental organization and environmental consulting
centers organize country-wide
and regional enlightment projects (competitions, workshops, etc.). The Ministry of
Environment participate on these actions.
In
additional to traditional universities in Prague, Olomouc and Brno, a number of others in
Usti nad Labem, Plzen, Ceské Budejovice, Hradec Kralove and Ostrava also offer
environmental studies. Ecology and environmental protection are included to a far greater
degree in the curricula of secondary and junior schools and in preschool education. The
range of environmental journals has increased, environmental subjects appear far more
frequently in the daily press, radio and television and the interest of the population in
the environment is gradually increasing.
In this connection, there’s a marked absence of regular educational programmes on the radio and public television concerned with ecology, the environment and its protection.
It
is essential to implement the principle of sustainable development and to incorporate
environmental considerations into sectoral policies and into environmental education,
training and public awareness.
Areas: training in sustainable development principles, practical steps in implementing Local Agenda 21, international structures and their role, role of local authorities in European and worldwide policy, languages skills, presentation skills, how to work with media, communication skills, Logframe – project management etc.
The measures can be: international meetings, seminars and training, pressure on national government to support these areas, methodological materials, abroad studies, capacity building, networking …
Information
The Ministry of Environment and civic organizations concerned with nature protection and environmental enlightments issue a number of newsletters, magazines, publications and other special information material on this subject.
Other
activities include informing the public through the internet and mass media, issuing of
periodical publications, promotion (exhibitions), publicizing of the National Program of
Labeling Environmentally Friendly Products.
Some Internet
addresses:
www.env.cz
– Ministry of the Environment
www.ceu.cz
– Czech Environmental Institute
www.cizp.cz –
Czech Environmental Inspection
www.ecn.cz
– Econnect (includes information and references to the web pages of nongovernmental
organizations)
www.czp.cuni.cz – Charles
University Environmental Center
www.nszm.cz – Healthy Cities
- Publication of government documents,
such as the White Paper;
Laws in force are opened to public on the pages of the Ministry of
Interior (www.mvcr.cz). Government bills being debated
in the Parliament and the timetable of their hearings can be found on the pages of the
Lower House (www.psp.cz). The acts publication surveys,
references to ordinances and decrees can be found on www.ekolist.cz.
-
Publication of newsletters,
bulletins, etc.;
The texts of newsletters and
bulletins can be found on the pages of the Ministry of the Environment (www.env.cz).
-
Open forum for discussion;
Discussion can be administered in the framework of e-mail conference on www.ecn.cz
All governments bills are
distributed to NGO’s for their comments, amendments.
-
Other means (please explain).
The Act No. 123/1998 Coll. on the right
to environmental information.
Research and Technologies
UNDP
Project “Towards Sustainable Development of the Czech republic: Building National
Capacities” is being realized – the final goal of this project is to enlarge
capacity of institutions and inhabitants of the Czech republic to analyze, understand,
evaluate and realize the ideas of sustainable development. The project concentrates on
environmental problems and on sustainable development which is oriented toward cooperation
of the Czech Republic and UNDP for the period 1997-2000.
To successfully execute appropriate and workable framework for technology transfer, cooperation between the private sector and governments is essential, as is input from academic research communities.
Czech
Environmental Institute with support of the British Council realized three year project
“Cooperation with British lecturers in implementing the principles of Agenda 21 under
conditions prevalent in the Czech Republic” (1997 – 1999). One of the main aims
of this project was to create a network of state and local officers who can become
trainers and facilitators able to facilitate Local Agenda 21 processes and transfer and
disseminate British experiences and
information about Local Agenda 21 processes within their regions/district/community.
Training that were realized have had a strong impact to participants activities in the
field of sustainable development (more detail information, outputs and impacts of this
project, database and a map of the network are available on www.ceu.cz/edu).
Czech Environmental
Institute is also involved in IUCN project “Effective Communication for Biodiversity
Conservation” which is focused on capacity building of experts in communication
within 5 CEEC.
Several
people from the Czech Republic are members of the Commission on Education and
Communication IUCN which is networking expert of the field over the whole world.
The
Czech Republic is involved in MATRA, LEONARDO, TULIPAN, GLOBE, Blue from the sky projects
and regional bilateral projects (e.g. Environmental Education in Northern Bohemia).
Financing
The annual budget provided
for the ODA is about 340 mil. CZK (9 mil. USD) which amounts to 0,017 % GDP. The ODA
provision is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Line ministries are
responsible for appraisal, implementation and assessment of the individual projects in the
field of their competence.
The Ministry of
Environment annually implements development projects in the financial amount of ca 30 mil.
CZK (750 000 USD).
The main areas of the
assistance are implementation of global conventions (protection of biodiversity,
protection of the ozone layer), cleaner production, sustainable agriculture, geological
survey, hydrogeology.
The Czech Republic is now in process of preparation a new development assistance strategy. Within the strategy focus on specific countries/regions and targeted areas (e.g. energy, environmental protection, health, etc.) will be formulated.
There are many
opportunities to attend international seminars, training or conference but most of
interested people do not have enough money for that especially from state research
institutes.
Cooperation
The Czech Republic is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Central Europe Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the customs union with Slovakia, UNEP, UNCSD, UNECE, OECD, WMO, WHO, UNIDO, etc. with activities in the sphere of the environment and sustainable development
As
a member of the OECD, the Czech Republic participates in the creation of conceptual
supra-national documents prepared in OECD as a starting point for the search for a balance
amongst the economic, social and environmental aspects of development in OECD member
countries (participation in the project “Environmental Outlook and Strategy”,
participation in the “Three-year OECD project for sustainable development”).
The
Czech Republic as a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) started to provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 1995. The annual budget
provided for the ODA is about 340 mil. CZK
(ca 9 mil. USD)
which amounts to 0,017 % GDP. In 2000 64 ODA projects are being realized. Czech ODA is
predominantly provided on bilateral basis, ca 12 % of the development projects are
realized in cooperation with international organizations (UNEP, UNIDO, UNDP, UNESCO, FAO,
World Meteorological Organisation).
The ODA provision (as well as provision of
humanitarian aid) is coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Line ministries are
responsible for management of the individual projects in the field of their competence.
Annually an ODA Plan is prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in cooperation
with the line ministries. The Czech Republic held the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the
World Bank in September 2000.
The Czech Republic provides technical assistance in the field of geology, meteorology, hydrology and air protection as well as professional training in the framework of official development assistance.
The Czech Republic is a party to
most relevant conventions – the UN Framework Convection on Climate Change (including
the Kyoto Protocol), the Convection on Biological Diversity, the Vienna Convection on
Protection of the Ozone Layer, the Washington Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora, the Basel Convection on the Control of
Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Ramsar Convection on
Wetlands of International Importance and the Bonn Convection on Protection of Migrating
Species of Wild Fauna and also a number of conventions negotiated in a European framework.
The Czech Republic has not yet acceded to the Convention on Combating Desertification.
However, cooperation strategy with Countries Affected by Major Drought
and/or Spreading of Deserts with Special Emphasis on Africa is being
prepared.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of to the 5th and 9th Sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last Update: March 2001.
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international cooperation.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Czech Republic considers the application of economic instruments an extremely important means to change production and consumption patterns, and is exerting constant efforts for their broader implementation. There are different forms of support given by the State environmental authorities, e.g. eco-labeling, taxing environmentally friendly goods at a lower rate of VAT, and other tax levying. On the other hand, environmentally unfriendly productions are penalized by emission charges and other economic instruments, like tax differentiations.
In addition to economic instruments, an effective instrument has been the negotiation on voluntary agreements between the State administration and pollution producers.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
After 1989, the transition to a market-oriented system in the Czech Republic was connected with the emulation of traditional consumption patterns of liberal market economics. That is why the State environmental authorities support environmentally friendly goods and combat those that are environmentally harmful.
The country also hosted the CSD Inter-sessional Symposium on Economic Instruments for Sustainable Development in 1995. Through the use of economic instruments, attention is paid not only to the big polluters but also to households. Households are often located in urban areas with higher health risks of air pollution. Households have been subsidized to switch from (brown) coal to (natural) gas or another kind of cleaner fuel. For example, in 1995, the Ministry of Environment concluded such an agreement with the Association of Manufacturers of Washing Powders for the gradual reduction of environmentally harmful substances from their products. As the first post-Communist country to take such an initiative, the Czech Republic introduced an eco-labeling programme in 1994. In 1995, 90 products had been granted the right to use an eco-label, and several of the responsible companies reported a significant increase in the sales of these products. In the near future, the Czech Republic's eco-labeling programme will be harmonized with that of the Member States of the European Union.
An institutional framework for the Environmental Management System for enterprises was established in 1996.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
Industries are encouraged to develop and introduce low-waste, low-emission, low-power and resource-saving technologies as well as closed production cycles and to manufacture environmentally friendly products. In addition, the manufacturers' responsibility for the life-cycle of their products will be gradually implemented.
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The current system of economic instruments is based on the use of charges. There are charges for disposing of waste water in the surface waters; charges for releasing harmful emissions into the air; charges for land filling of waste; charges for the requisitions of agricultural land; and charges for the withdrawal of groundwater. Revenues from these charges are allocated to the State Environment Fund. In addition to these charges, tax relief and allocations from the State Budget are granted for products and activities meeting environmentally friendly criteria.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
The Environmental Remediation Programme was launched in 1993, and in the period 1993 to 1996, 473 projects were supported for a total amount of 372.4 million CZK (about 10.5 mil USD). The main purpose of this programme is to support projects which serve the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) in its decision-making. The MoE also supports projects in the framework of the programme, Science and Research, which began in 1993 with four main branches: (1) environmental risk assessment; (2) complex research of water and watersheds; (3) nature conservation and landscape protection; and (4) geology.
In addition, support is given annually to about 180 NGO projects, chosen from about 600 applications. In 1996, this amounted to approximately 17.1 million CZK (about 0.5 mil USD), ten percent of which was directly linked to the implementation of sustainable development projects.
Status
The costs of compliance with present legal norms for air and water protection and waste management - the three priorities of the State Environmental Policy - are estimated to be at the level of CZK 400 billion. The costs to restore the most seriously damaged sites, including the former Soviet military sites, are estimated to exceed CZK 56 billion. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the total expenditures, both public and private, should remain at the present level until the year 2000, and these levels should reach at least CZK 25 billion per annum (in current prices).
The environmental expenditures from the State Budget soared during the initial transformation and restructuring period (CZK 3.3 billion in 1990; CZK 7.8 billion in 1991; CZK 10.8 billion in 1992), and are now decreasing (CZK 8.5 billion in 1995). Between 1990 and 1994, approximately 45% of all environmental expenditures in the Czech Republic were spent on water pollution control (mainly on the construction of waste water treatment plants), and roughly 40% was spent on air pollution control (on the development and construction of equipment to reduce emissions and towards the reconstruction of power plants, in particular).
Challenges
Pollution charges, as established under the previous legislation, were determined without a thorough economic analysis of the relevant costs, and no provisions were included to index these charges to inflation. As a result, the revenue derived from pollution charges represents less than 20% of the total annual expenditure for environmental protection. Other types of instruments to promote waste recycling such as recycling premiums or deposit-refund systems have not been adequately utilized.
The tax relief structure to promote environmentally friendly behavior has not been well coordinated with other policies, and as a result, in some cases, it has conflicted with the intended objectives. The Government also faces the problem of making good restituted agricultural properties.
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
In the Czech Republic, implementation of environmental policies is funded from the State budget, the State Environment Fund, the National Property Fund, Private and Semi-private funds, and Foreign Aid. The National Property Fund assists in addressing problems associated with previously damaged sites. In the period 1992-1996, CZK 109.6 billion were guaranteed by the State to privatized enterprises, and CZK 2 billion were paid. In 1997, the same amount of CZK 2 billion was expected to be paid.
The State Environmental Fund (SEF) was established in 1991 as an additional financial resource for environmental protection. It operates in a similar way as in other countries, supporting investment projects through direct allocations and soft loans. The financial resources originate partly from the National Property Fund as well as from fines, fees and other payments. For example, from 1994- 1997, CZK 6.1 billion was transferred from the National Property Fund to the State Environment Fund to support the Air Recovery Programme. This fund supports large projects on air and water protection, waste management, on nature, landscape and soil protection and alternative energy sources. For example, in 1996, the SEF accepted 955 applications for a total amount of CZK 12.1 billion (approx. US$360 million) of which only about one third could be financed (about CZK 4.6 billion, about US$131 million).
Cooperation
The role of the private and semi-private sector in environmental funding has increased, although the lack of medium and long-term credit and the demand for State guarantees by many international financial institutions still has a negative impact on the potential growth of the sector. Project investments indicate that the total annual expenditures of the private sector will exceed CZK 10 billion annually between 1994 and 1998. In the period 1990 - 1996, foreign aid represented merely CZK 12 billion, of which 7 billion was a World Bank loan to CEZ for emission abatement in coal power plants, and CZK 2.34 billion for PHARE programmes. In the period after 1994, technical aid has been substituted by investments and this trend will continue in the near future.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
In the framework of Phase I of implementation of measures to improve the air quality in the Czech Republic, new, imported air-protection technology is being brought into operation to comply with the requirements set forth by Act No. 212/1994 Coll. on State administration of air protection and fees for air pollution; this technology has been approved by the Czech Environmental Inspection agency for use within the territory of the Czech Republic.
There is wide application of ISO 14 000 and EMAS procedures.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Czech Cleaner Production Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit and independent organization. The Center is playing a catalytic and coordinating role in promoting cleaner production in CR by: providing training, implementing demonstration projects, providing policy advice, providing advice on financing mechanisms and being a source of information.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
The following technical facilities have been brought into operation:
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
Decision-making in this area is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Environment, and the Ministry of Health. The Commission for the Environment of the Academy of Science of CR, Society for Sustainable Living and others NGOs also participate in the decision-making.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
Methodical guidelines for biotechnology safety mechanisms were prepared in 1994 and they are updated periodically. The law on genetically modified organisms is in the preparatory stage.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
Specific plans to promote the use of traditional and modern technologies are in process.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
The use of living organisms in any biotechnological processes requires permission from the Ministry of Health, and the rules applied are very strict. Working with any health endangered organisms needs special permission and strict rules must be followed; monitoring takes place regularly.
A bioremediaton working group was established, and a number of private firms have been established dealing with microbial decontamination of polluted waters and soils.
During the last few years the Grant Agencies in the Czech Republic have supported many biotechnologically and environmentally directed projects.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training
and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
No information is available
Cooperation
Cooperation takes place primarily through the multilateral initiative, EUREKA.
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the fifth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.
Click here for the International
Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Biosafety WebPages
Click here to link to the Biosafety
Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which monitors global developments in
regulatory issues in biotechnology.
Click here to go to the Web Site of UNEP's
International Register on Biosafety.
Click here to link to
biosafety web sites in the European Union.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
No information is available
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
No information is available
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
The Czech Business Council for Sustainable Development, founded also in 1993, is a body established by a number of Czech industrial companies. Its primary mission is to become a leading business advocate for issues regarding sustainable development, to demonstrate and share progress achieved in environmental management in businesses, and finally, to spread results achieved in environmental protection, energy efficiency, sustainable resource management and to prevent air, water and soil pollution as well as waste production.
Programmes and Projects
No information is available
Status
The restructuring of the industrial sector, namely outdated plants, has resulted in reduction of emissions. Since 1986, the consumption of ozone depleting substances has decreased by 88%. Current legislation stimulates industry to take remedial measures and to invest in environmental improvements. Emission limits have also been established by law, and the 1998 deadline for compliance with prescribed emission limits is projected to be met by approximately 75% of polluters. However, the provisions concerning air pollution are inadequate for providing sufficient incentives for industries to reduce emissions and/or introduce pollution control techniques.
In addition to economic instruments, an effective instrument has been the negotiation on voluntary agreements between the State administration and pollution producers. For example, in 1995, the Ministry of Environment concluded such an agreement with the Association of Manufacturers of Washing Powders for the gradual reduction of environmentally harmful substances from their products. As the first post-Communist country to take such an initiative, the Czech Republic introduced an eco-labeling programme in 1994. In 1995, 90 products had been granted the right to use an eco-label, and several of the responsible companies reported a significant increase in the sales of these products. In the near future, the Czech Republic's eco-labeling programme will be harmonized with that of the Member States of the European Union.
Challenges
No information is available
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available
Information
No information is available
Research and Technologies
No information is available
Financing
The role of the private and semi-private sector in environmental funding has increased, although the lack of medium and long-term credit and the demand for State guarantees by many international financial institutions still has a negative impact on the potential growth of the sector. Project investments indicate that the total annual expenditures of the private sector will exceed CZK 10 billion annually between 1994 and 1998. In the period 1990 - 1996, foreign aid represented merely CZK 12 billion, of which 7 billion was a World Bank loan to CEZ for emission abatement in coal power plants, and CZK 2.34 billion for PHARE programmes. In the period after 1994, technical aid has been substituted by investments and this trend will continue in the near future.
Cooperation
No information is available
* * *
This information was provided by the Government of the Czech Republic to the 5th session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1997.
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Decision-Making: Coordinating
Bodies
Ministries of: Transport and Communications; Regional Development;
Finance; and Environment are the coordinating bodies.
As of January 1, 2001, a considerable amount of decision-making in the
area of transport infrastructure is passing to the regional self-governing
units, including issues related to transport services.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The
following laws have been introduced in relation to aspects of the impact of
transport on the environment.
Number
of the Act
Name
114/1992
Coll.
on protection of
nature and the landscape
218/1992
Coll. amending
and supplementing Act No. 309/1991 Coll., on protection of the air against
pollutants (the Clean Air Act)
244/1992
Coll. on environmental
impact assessment
262/1992
Coll.
amending and supplementing Act No. 50/1976 Coll., on land-use planning
and the construction code (the Construction Code), as amended by Act No.
103/1990 Coll.
16/1993
Coll.
on highway taxes
212/1993
Coll.
amending and supplementing Czech National Council Act No. 9/1993 Coll.,
on Czech railways
302/1993
Coll.
amending and supplementing Czech National Council Act No. 16/12993 Coll.,
on highway taxes, Czech National Council Act No. 337/1992 Coll., on
administration of taxes and payments, as amended by Czech National Council Act
No. 35/1993 Coll. and Act No. 157/1993 Coll., and Act No. 212/1992 Coll., on the
tax system
305/1993
Coll.
amending and supplementing Act No. 47/1956 Coll., on civil aviation (the
Aviation Act), as amended by Act No. 40/1964 Coll., Act No. 43/1976 Coll., Act
No. 90/1990 Coll. and Act No. 383/1990 Coll.
134/1994
Coll.
amending and supplementing Act No. 135/1961 Coll., on roadways (the
Highway Act), as amended, and Czech National Council Act No. 200/1990 Col., on
misdemeanors, as amended
158/1994
Col. amending
and supplementing Act No. 309/1991 action of the air against pollutants (the
Clean Air Act), as amended by Act No. 218/1992 Coll., and Czech National Council
Act No. 389/1991 Coll., on the state administration in air protection and
payments for air pollution, as amended by Law No. 211/1993 Coll.
266/1994
Coll.
on railways
38/1995
Coll.
on technical conditions for the operation of highway vehicles on roadways
114/1995
Coll.
on inland shipping
143/1996
Coll.
amending and supplementing Czech National Council Act No. 16/193 Coll.,
on highway taxes, as amended
12/1997
Coll.
on the safety and continuity of traffic on roadways
13/1997
Coll.
on roadways
16/1997
Coll.
on the conditions for
the import and export of endangered species of wild fauna and flora, and other
measures for the protection of these species and
amending and supplementing Czech National Council Act No. 114/1992 Coll.,
on protection of nature and the landscape, as amended
125/1997
Coll.
on wastes
304/1997
Coll. amending
and supplementing Act No. 111/1994 Coll., on highway transport, as amended by
Act No. 38/1995 Coll.
83/1998
Coll.
amending and supplementing Act
No. 50/1976 Coll., on land-use planning and the Construction Code (the
Construction Code), as amended, and amending
and supplementing some other Acts
157/1998
Coll.
on chemical substances and chemical preparations and amending some other
Acts
352/1999
Col.
amending Act No. 157/1998 Coll., on chemical substances and chemical
preparations and amending some other Acts, and some other Acts
353/1999
Coll.
on prevention of serious accidents caused by selected hazardous chemical
substances and chemical preparations and amending Act No. 425/1990 Coll., on the
District Authorities, outlining their jurisdiction and some other related
measures, as amended (Act on prevention of serious accidents)