Hungary  “Towards Sustainability”


                                         Rita Ágnes Bajor

                               Faculty of Law, University of Miskolc


                                            Csilla Csák



Key words

sustainable development, requirements of sustainability, implementation of sustainability by
organisations, programmes, plans and legislation


Resume

Report of Rome Club created a great international stir by presenting steady growing environmental
damaging, overusing of natural resources and giving out of non-renewable resources as “aftermaths”
of economic development. It started a bitter controversy over the conflict between the economic
growth and the environment.


Ideology of sustainable development was created for solving the conflict between economic growth
and environment by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1972. Sustainable
development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs. Sustainability also consists of three main characters: preservation of
general quality of life, ensuring available of natural resources and avoidance of steady
environmental damages.


In order to implement sustainability it is required common action of the countries all over the
world. The European Community undertook fulfilment of requirements of sustainability in the Fifth
Environmental Programme “Towards Sustainability”. The Programme determines European Community’s
policy for environment and sustainable development particularly. It defines as fundamental
requirements maintaining of natural resources and avoiding of environmental pollution on the
interest of living quality. The plan determines factors and activities that can cause environmental
damages or giving out of natural resources.


Harmonizing with the action of the European Community for implementing sustainability Hungary
created its special programmes, plans and legislation, moreover there were established two special
bodies in order to influence on the sustainability aspects of the decisions. The Sustainable
Development Committee has the main duty of working out of sustainable development’s domestic
concept with its special national tasks and promoting of preparing for national exercises arise
from sustainable development strategy of European Community.


The National Council of Environmental Protection is special advisory organ that “protects” the
environmental “side” of sustainable development. It takes a stand on the matters of principle of
various environmental programmes, on the legal rules, all decisions and other issues related to
environment.


There are two main legislative framework for implementing sustainable development in the aspect of
environment. The Act of 1995 on the General Rules of Environmental Protection has the object
providing for the environmental conditions of sustainable development that is determined as a
principle of all use of environment. The Act XXI of 1996 on Regional Development and Land Use
Planning has the fundamental objective creating conditions for sustainable development that
requires the land sparing, appropriate rainwater management and creating of green areas.


Implementation of requirements and instruments of sustainable development are found in strategic
programmes and plans mostly. The New Hungary Development Plan has the main objective of expanding
employment and creating the conditions for long term growth. In order to achieve these
developmental efforts will concentrate on Priority of Environment and Energy development that
requires reducing influences damaging the environment, by preserving the natural environment.


The centre plan of sustainability development in the aspect of environment is the National
Environmental Programme II. The Plan requires taking into account the principles of sustainable
development in all use of environment that is according to Herman Daly, “progressive social
betterment without growing beyond ecological carrying capacity.”


The National Development Policy Concept targets the implementation of sustainable development in
terms of environmental, social and economic sustainability alike. A development is considered
sustainable based on the Concept, if the development takes environmental and human resource
criteria into account moreover it protects the built environment, cultural heritage and creates
economically sustainable production.


The National Spatial Development Concept aims at sustainable territorial development and protection
of heritage that ensures besides the safeguarding of environmental, natural and cultural value the
safe utilization of the resources necessary to economic functioning, while taking into account the
intrinsic qualities of the area. According to this the Concept states that regions and areas must
be turned into sustainable systems whose value, heritage, resources and integrity are not merely
safeguarded, but further strengthened.


For implementation of sustainable development of Hungary is required concerted action of all
participation of all „person” in the country. The public administration has the duty of realization
of the aimed middle-range policy in compliance with the environmental requirements and interests of
the social. Local governments have the primary duty of participation in local implementation of
sustainability and promoting it by working out of regional environmental plans.


Non governmental organizations, professional groups and representations are required active
co-operation in environmental information, PR activities, in deepening of social relationship and
in consultation as well. For elimination and prevention environmental problems there is required
the partnership with the economical actors and the scientific partners as well are responsible for
changing of the social environmental attitudes in the direction of environment consciousness and
sensitiveness. Moreover all the nationals have the duty of consideration sustainability in all
ordinary human activity.


Contact – email:

ritabajor@citromail.hu