Single country profile
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Czech Republic|
Content: |
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Basic information
| Year of approval of the SD strategy and updates |
The NSDS was adopted by the Czech Government in December 2004. A revision of the NSDS is currently under way and its completion is scheduled for November 2009. In December 2007, an interim document under the title “Principles, Instruments and Proposals of Priorities for Completing the Update of the SDS of the Czech Republic (2007)” was submitted to the Government (document available in Czech only). The NSDS of 2004 remains currently valid. |
| Type of SD strategy | Covers all three dimensions of SD, plus R&D and education, European and international issues as well as good governance. |
| Lead ministry/institution in the SD strategy process |
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| Link to the SD strategy document |
Czech Republic Strategy for Sustainable Development (2010) The full list(s) of NSDS objectives as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here: |
| Further information about the SD strategy process |
Mechanisms of Vertical Integration
National — sub-national linkages
During the preparation of the current NSDS, the first series of ‘regional round tables’ was organised in 2004. The second such series of round tables was organised during the revision process of the NSDS – in all 14 regions and in the City of Prague (4 of them in 2006, 11 in 2007). The ‘regional round tables’ had the objective to discuss the NSDS with the regional authorities and other regional stakeholders. Comments and recommendations received were collected and put into a databank for the revision process. These round tables were not only important to receive comments and recommendation, but also to raise awareness for NSDS objectives in the sub-national stakeholder groups. Coordination between the sub-national levels is fostered by the Building Act of 2006, an important law that aims to implement several NSDS objectives. The Act foresees the establishment of ‘Municipal Councils for SD’ in 2008 that will play a role in the local SD impact assessment in planning policy.
There are also several SD activities in the context of the NSDS on the sub-national levels: in 2005, the Ústí Region SDS was adopted. In 2006, the Council helped to develop a manual for planning and evaluating SD at the regional level, based on the NSDS objectives, including guidance for the development of regional SD plans and SD indicators. However, many regions lost interest in developing special SD plans and only some regions are active on SD issue, like Vysocina Region, Jihomoravský region, Zlínský region.
The local level is very active on SD issue: LA 21 initiatives and local SD strategies are currently at the core of NSDS implementation. The Government Council for SD cooperates with the Association of Regions and the Union of Towns and Municipalities in the Council ‘Working Group for LA 21’ (WG LA 21). This working group involves various stakeholders and is very active: The idea is to start from the local situation and local activities and develop local strategies. On the basis of the work of the Healthy Cities (initiative under the auspices of the World Health Organisation and coming out from the LA 21 Rio summit concept), the working group developed ‘Criteria for LA 21’ which were adopted in 2006. These criteria include a system of indicators for benchmarking local SD activities. In October 2008, WG LA 21 presented its plan to start ‘LA 21 Strategy in the Czech Republic’.
EU linkages
The renewed EU Strategy for Sustainable Development (EU SDS) that was adopted in June 2006 foresees that Member States bi-annually report about how they address the priorities of the EU SDS. The Czech Republic has published its first national report on implementing the EU SDS in summer 2007.
Mechanisms of Horizontal Integration
The Governmental Council for Sustainable Development is responsible for coordinating SD policy-making among the central administrative authorities on an inter-departmental basis. Representatives of all ministries and of main stakeholders participate in the different bodies of the Council-committees (2) and working groups (7).
Evaluation and Review
The Committee on the SD Strategy, a body established within the Governmental Council for Sustainable Development, monitors and evaluates the implementation of NSDS. So far, two progress reports of the NSDS were published, one in 2006 and one in 2007. The third progress report of the NSDS was prepared and approved by the Governmental Council for SD in its 19th session on October 9, 2008. The report will be soon presented to the Government.
Indicators and Monitoring
The Czech NSDS provides a set of 87 indicators for assessing individual strategic goals. A shorter list of 24 indicators will be used for communication purposes. The progress reports of 2006 and 2007, explore how the challenges and goals set out in the Czech NSDS have been achieved so far. The reports are based on a set of 36 aggregated indicators covering the three pillars of SD (the economic, environmental and social pillar) and are complemented by three additional areas stated in the NSDS (research & development and education, European and international context, and good governance). Currently, the Council starts working on short messages based on progress report abstracts (‘indicator reader digest’) for general use.
The set of indicators is being developed and modified during the ongoing process of NSDS revision taking place between 2007-2009, with the aim to make the national set of indicators more closely linked to international level and international comparison.
The full list(s) of indicators as identified by a study commissioned by Eurostat can be downloaded here:
Participation
The Governmental Council for Sustainable Development was established in 2003 as a standing advisory and coordinating body for SD and strategic management of the Czech Government. The Council consists of representatives from governmental institutions, local authorities as well as of all major groups of society and is chaired by the Prime Minister (Statutory Chairman) with the chairmanship delegated to the Deputy Prime Minister (Executive Vice-Chairman). The Council has the main co-ordination role for developing the NSDS. It is also responsible for updating and monitoring processes.
Generally, the Council has developed several managerial communication tools (i.e. communication strategy, communication action plan, etc). In cooperation with the Committee on the SD Strategy, the Council facilitates public discussion by organising public hearings, thematic workshops, national stakeholder forums, email-based discussions, information campaigns, etc. The Council also annually prepares the ‘Sustainable Development Forum’ which aims to facilitate broad public discussion and access of the public to information on SD topics. In 2006, the Council started a more intensive dialogue with leaders of the business community. In 2007, the Council communication activities towards the general public were conducted under the common theme ’Sustainable and Safe Transport’, in 2008-2009 it is the theme of ‘Sustainable Energy’. Planned themes for the future are ‘Public Health`(2010) and ’Sustainable Consumption and Production’ (2011).
For
a detailed documentation of all advisory and participatory councils (for SD and/or the environment) in this country,
please go to the EEAC website at http://www.eeac-net.org/bodies/czechia/cz_frame.htm and click on one of the listed institutions.
Sub-national activities
Regional SD strategies:
In 2005, the Ústí Region SDS was prepared and adopted; 2005 the Liberec Region SDS was prepared but not adopted by the Regional Council. These two regional SD strategies are directly linked to the NSDS. All other regions have regional development plans covering environmental and SD topics and these plans refer to the NSDS.
LA 21 initiatives:
There are 88 LA 21 initiatives in the Czech Republic: 3 regions (Vysočina, Jihomoravský, Zlínský), 20 micro-regions (unions of municipalities) and 65 municipalities. The initiatives cover 30% of Czech Republic’s population. These regions, micro-regions and municipalities are members of the ‘Healthy Cities National Network’. The cross-cutting issues are all aspects of sustainable development and public health.
Participation:
Every local initiative is aimed at involving the broadest stakeholder representation possible as well as the general public through preparation, presentation and discussion over strategic development plans and their implementation. Ad-hoc and regularly held campaigns are launched (e.g. Earth Day, Week of Mobility, Day without Tobacco, Global Embrace, etc.). When planning and performing the activities, the best possible mix of institutionalised and ad-hoc forms is sought by the organisers.
Evaluation:
In October 2008, as a part of the process of preparation of the 'LA 21 Strategy in the Czech Republic’ the Governmental Council entrusted the WG LA 21 with a task to prepare a comprehensive study on LA 21 concept implementation in the Czech Republic and on its perspectives in the next 5-10 years in the context of NSDS. The results of this study will be available in 2009.
Indicators:
The basic set of indicators is contained in the ‘Criteria for LA 21’ and serves the purpose of moving up on the scale of categories D, C, B, A when fulfilled. This set is open to development and modification.
Contact details:
The main coordinating role is undertaken by the WG LA 21 of the Council (Head: Mr. Martin Bursík, ministr@mzp.cz; Executive Secretary: Ms. Marie Petrová, marie.petrova@mzp.cz).
Every region, micro-region as well as municipality has a special LA 21 coordinator.
This Country Profile has been last updated on: Wednesday, 31 March 2010
For the sources used in the country profiles, please click here.
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