Expensive in the West, cheap in
the East
By Henning
Poulsen - Newswire Norway
You get a lot more environmental value for your money when
you invest in Eastern Europe. While it is costly to improve cleaning
systems in Western Europe, inexpensive technology can prevent a
lot of the pollution in Eastern Europe.
Armed with this knowledge, the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority
(SFT) has invested around USD 18 million since 1993 in environmental
initiatives in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and
the Baltic States. Spending an equivalent sum of money in Western
Europe would probably have had little effect.
From the 1960s onwards, western nations have invested heavily
to clean up their own emissions and prevent further damage to nature.
As a result, western industry generates little pollution per unit
produced compared with outdated eastern European industry.
The overriding ideal of this co-operative initiative has been
to help the countries in the East to help themselves, while at the
same time supporting the development of democracy and stability
in the region.
Local emissions have global consequences
The past decade has revealed major environmental problems in the
former eastern bloc nations. Thousands of people have damaged their
health by having to breathe in polluted air and drink unclean water.
Large swathes of countryside have been ruined, whole forests have
died, wildlife has disappeared and natural resources have been exhausted.
Environmental problems know no borders. Local pollution can be
transported vast distances by wind and ocean currents and damage
large areas. Other parts of the world suffer from acid rain and
polluted water, while the greenhouse effect is growing and the ozone
layer is becoming thinner.
Co-operation commitment
The Eastern European countries often lack the basic systems
to prevent harmful emissions and damage to nature. Yet such systems
cost relatively little to develop and implement.
In total, SFT has supported over 200 environmental projects in
Eastern Europe. The aim has been to share knowledge and technology,
and commit the recipient nations to continuing this environmental
partnership in the future. When Eastern Europe also adheres to international
environmental agreements, our own environment will reap the benefits
too.
Many projects are still in progress, and are being continued by
local authorities and international organisations.
|
