Role of NGOs in increasing effectiveness of environmental

policies and promoting stakeholder dialogue

European Eco-Forum

Changing the status of NGOs in the region

Trend of increasing role of NGOs in the development and implementation of environmental policies

Differences of forms and methods between and within countries

Environmental Policy Development

Ukraine – lobbying a Presidential decree on environmental policy priorities

Russia, Murmansk oblast – commitment to a target of 20% of wind energy by 2020

Belarus: draft law on GMO completely reworked

Environmental Compliance Assurance

Fighting illegal logging in the Lori region of Armenia (public protests)

Invalidation of conclusions of the state environmental review of the project of high-voltage lines near Almaty (Kazakhstan)

Conviction of the Nadvoitsk aluminium plant of polluting the environment and endangering public health. The court imposed 50,000 roubles worth of health damages payable to the citizen plaintiff (Russia, 2003)

Preventing Environmentally Dangerous Projects

Russia: “Baikal is worth more than oil” – against the construction of a pipeline in the lake’s watershed

Armenia: preventing the construction of a highway across the Shikohan nature reserve

Repeal of a Kyrgyzstan Government decree on fishery activities on Lake Chatyr-Kul

What to Do?Nongovernmental organisations:

Work actively with mass media and government bodies, showing linkages between environmental, economic and social issues

Develop cooperation with other civil society institutions, dialogue with business and industry as well as the general public

Actively raise awareness of the public of its rights and possibilities, help the public defend the right for a healthy environment

Raise own effectiveness and capacity (learn and exchange experiences!)

What to Do?Government bodies in EECCA:

Regard NGOs as a partner Create mechanisms for NGO

participation in legal drafting Develop mechanisms for consulting

the public and taking account of its opinion

Support national and regional networks Financially support NGO initiatives

(positive example – government grants in Russia, Kazakhstan)

What to Do?International/donor organisations:

Support programmes to build NGO capacity in the environmental policy area

Facilitate NGO participation in international processes

Larger grant programmes to support NGO initiatives in EECCA

Boost new RECs’ activities to support public participation (in accordance with their initial mandate)