2. Environmental trends
2.1 Environmental regulations
Formal adherence to principles of environmental sustainability is strong. As early as in 1997, most transition countries disposed of National Environmental Action Plans (NEAPs), and have started with their implementation. This includes enhanced performance monitoring, though data reliability is still weak.
Significant progress has been made in signing and ratifying international treaties for environment and nature protection.
This alone will not guarantee that governments and societies effectively move towards sustainable development.
For example, though Estonia is well advanced, a recent World Bank study13 concludes that in addition to the Estonian Nature Protection Act (1990), the Sustainable Development Act (1995) and other legal instruments, instruments need to be further developed for effective sustainable development.
The following conclusions seem to be valid not only for BSR transition countries, but also for others:
Environmental law does not rely as would be appropriate on economic instruments to secure environmental protection (pollution charges according to the polluter-pays principle, resource pricing); 14
National regulations for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) do not fully comply with the EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive;
Due to insufficient delegation of regulatory power, environmental laws fail to give those adversely affected by pollution access to compensation from the polluter.
|
Energy efficiency and tariff levels in Transition Countries, 1994-1996
|
|
|
Source: EBRD, Transition Report 1999, p.55
|
| International environment treaties and stage of implementation |
| Country |
Environmental policy |
Ramsar Convention |
Montreal Protocol |
UNFCCC |
Convention on Biological Diversity |
Transboundary EIA |
| NEAP |
status |
rating of country reports |
status |
ODS phasing out year |
status |
national reports |
status |
country report |
status |
| Poland |
|
R |
1 |
R |
|
R |
|
R |
|
ratified |
| Latvia |
|
R |
1 |
R |
2000 |
R |
|
R |
|
ratified |
| Estonia |
|
R |
1 |
R |
2002 |
R |
|
R |
|
|
| Russia |
|
R |
2 |
R |
2001 |
R |
|
R |
|
signed |
| Lithuania |
|
R |
1 |
R |
2001 |
R |
|
R |
|
ratified |
| Belarus |
|
|
|
R |
2000 |
R |
|
R |
|
signed |
| Source: summarised by PLANCO from: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Transition report 1999 - Ten years of transition, London, 1999, p.179 |
| Treaties and Conventions considered: |
| NEAP |
National Environmental Action Plan |
| Ramsar Convention |
Convention on Wetlands of international importance, adopted in Ramsar (Iran) 1971; scale: 1 = fully implemented to 3 = start of implementation; assessment based on strategy, legislation, education programs |
| Montreal Protocol |
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1989 with later strengthening); ODS = Ozone-depleting substances |
| UNFCCC |
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations; initial emission reduction commitments agreed in Kyoto, 1997; national reports shall document national emission policies |
| Convention on Biological Diversity |
adopted in 1992 to reverse loss of biological and genetic resources. Periodic reports required |
| Transboundary EIA |
Convention adopted in Espoo, Finland, 1991; in force since 1995 specifying procedural rights and duties for mutual involvement of countries |
