BASIC INFORMATION
Tuesday, 18 August 2020
The first NSDS was adopted by the Czech Government in December 2004.
On 11 January 2010, the Czech Government adopted the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development in the Czech Republic, however the intended follow-up in the form of implementation plan focusing on mechanism of policy coordination and coherence wasn’t adopted. Fulfilling of the Strategic Framework remained only on the voluntary basis (e. g. at municipal level).
The situation has changed in 2015 when the government decided to update the Strategic Framework and align it with 2030 Agenda. The main reference document outlining the national vision of the SDGs in the Czech Republic was adopted by the Government in 2017 and is entitled the Strategic Framework Czech Republic 2030 (hereinafter „Czech Republic 2030“). It serves as a tool to implement the SDGs in to the national context, i.e. as framework for other strategic documents on national, regional and local levels areas that are decisive for long-term and sustainable development of the Czech Republic.
In 2018 followed two other important documents adopted by the Government: Implementation plan of the Strategic Framework Czech Republic 2030 (hereinafter „Implementation plan“) which includes 277 measures and more than 300 recommendations for fulfilling 97 specific goals and simultaneously Implementing the 2030 Agenda in the Czech Republic. Implementing Agenda 2030 assesses the relevance all of 2030 Agenda 169 targets and set responsibilities for each relevant target in internal and external dimension. It also defines interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and the Czech Republic 2030 and sets out the key (and general) measures for fulfilling of the SDGs in the Czech Republic that are beyond the Czech Republic 2030 scope.
The strategic framework defines long-term objectives not only in the social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainable development, but also covers governance, global development and regional and urban development. It sets forth 27 strategic goals and 97 targets aimed at improving people’s wellbeing, while respecting the principles of sustainable development. The document serves as an overarching framework for sectoral strategies and is intended to inspire regional and local strategies. For the adoption of specific measures are responsible the relevant public administration bodies which are accompanied by the (voluntary) activities of non-governmental stakeholders.
The division of the Czech Republic 2030 into six thematic clusters (People and Society, Economy, Resilient Ecosystems, Regions and Municipalities, Global Development and Good Governance) is based on combination of participation and an expert analysis, which was carried out in the initial stage of the preparation of the document.
Since 1st April 2018, the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) is responsible for the sustainable development agenda. The Sustainable Development Unit at the MoE coordinates the implementation of the Czech Republic 2030 at the governmental level and provides also technical and administrative support to ministries.
The Minister of the Environment chairs the Government Council for Sustainable Development of the Czech Republic (hereinafter „GCSD“ or “the Council”), the government’s permanent advisory, initiating and coordinating body for the areas of SD, strategic management and long-term priorities of the state and is involved in the process of Agenda 2030 and Czech Republic 2030 implementation.
In 2019 a network of focal points covering all ministries was established. The aim of this network is to connect persons responsible for the coordination and communication with the Sustainable Development Unit at the Ministry of the Environment which is the leading institution in the sustainable development agenda.
The Czech Republic 2030 replaced the 2010 Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development in the Czech Republic. Its preparation was significantly influenced by the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs in September 2015 and of the Paris Climate Agreement. The Czech Republic 2030 serves as a basis for evaluating the development of the Czech Republic and its global responsibility.
Public consultations on the initial proposals started in May 2015. Hundreds of experts were involved in drafting of the document and it was consulted with more than a hundred civil, private and academic organizations and institutions. It involved 6 roundtables, an electronic consultation, a presentation of the draft in both chambers of the Parliament and discussing at the GCSD. Nine expert committees of the GCSD provided significant support in this process. The final version of the Czech Republic 2030 was adopted by the Government in April 2017, followed by adoption of Implementing the 2030 Agenda in the Czech Republic document in October 2018. The drafting of the Implementation plan started in February 2017 through a broad participatory process (consisted from 8 round tables in regions and discussing in GCSD committees) to ensure the engagement of all relevant actors in the discussion on its form, then it was also adopted in the fall of 2018.
At the end of 2020, the first evaluation reports, both on fulfilling of the Strategic Framework Czech Republic 2030 and the 2030 Agenda implementation in the Czech Republic, will be available. Based on outcomes of the first one, the Implementation plan for the next three years will be updated. The Czech Republic 2030 is going to be updated in 2023.