Sustainable development in the Czech Republic: A doomed process?

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Abstract
Somewhat paradoxically, after the important role that the green issue played in bringing down the old regime, the environment has now slipped off the political agenda in the Czech Republic. Moderate improvement of some environmental indicators has occurred mainly due to the slow‐down in economic activity after 1989. The goals of the government's environmental policy are defined strictly in technical and market terminology. Preference is given to costly solutions addressing legacies of the past whilst little is being done to prevent new problems arising since the ‘velvet revolution’. The government's effort to harmonise environmental legislation and standards with the European Union is motivated predominantly by the need to demonstrate a readiness to join Western organisations. Meanwhile, citizens have severely limited opportunities to participate in environmental decision‐making and environmental groups are weak and almost totally dependent on Western assistance.