There is no doubt that we live in a complicated world and it may often feel overwhelming to try to understand the massive amount of new information about environment destruction, technology, social changes and legislative regulations. What changes does the amendment to the Czech Water Act bring? What is the role of cities and regions in the transition to circular economy? What are the risks that accompany the decline in biodiversity? Read about the most topical issues in the world of environmental law.
Biodiversity decline increases the risk of a new pandemic
Biodiversity mirrors human activity and its impacts on nature. However, the reflection is not a flattering one. According to the 2020 Living Planet Index, the population of certain animals has declined by 68% on average since 1970. Not even the European network of protected habitats and species can prevent this decline – its latest report shows that the situation of protected species is not improving. The new Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 confirms this fact, calling for comprehensive and integrated solutions. After all, biodiversity protection is in the interest of all humankind. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily improved certain areas of environment protection in Europe, especially air quality, biodiversity loss will have major negative consequences in the long run as encroachment into natural habitats increases the risk of transmission of hitherto undiscovered diseases to humans.
How does Earth warming affect business? Even a 1 °C increase can have a major impact. You can read here what climate change will mean for business leaders and their companies.
Energy trends are positive but the current provisions may be insufficient for reaching EU goals
In the last quarter of 2020, several reports, announcements and studies were published, which not only evaluate the development of various different branches of the energy sector but also present their vision for the upcoming years. EU, as well as the Czech Republic, share a positive perspective of the sector’s future and are trying to start several initiatives, such as the Modernisation Fund – a new grant project, which has just been launched in the Czech Republic. The significant topics also include the progress in the competitiveness of clean energy, strategies to launch the Renovation Wave for Europe or trends in the fulfilment of climate and energy targets.
In 2021, we can expect a number of legislative news from the EU, which will follow the efforts to implement the European Green Deal and the transformation of the EU economy. When making their decisions, consumers should have verified data on the environmental impact of products, their durability and reparability. The future therefore belongs to products that last longer, are easier to repair and can be recycled and reused after the end of their lifetime. In the future, the EU’s efforts will also focus on the reduction of methane emissions as well as the use of safer chemicals that are more environmentally friendly for both humans and the environment. The beginnings can already be seen in the database of substances of concern.
EU has tightened the rules of plastic waste transport and wants to work on recycling
The New Year brings with it brand new waste laws. For example, an amendment to the Public Procurement Act introducing mandatory responsible public procurement has been included in the legislation. Among other things, public authorities will have to factor in circular economy elements. New requirements have also come from the EU that have significantly tightened the rules on plastic waste transport. The EU will have to work on plastic waste recycling and return to circulation, as apparent from the analysis published by the Circular Plastics Alliance. Circular economy and its principles are also a central topic of the new OECD study, emphasising that cities and regions could play an important role in the transition to circular economy.
At the end of 2020, the area of water management regulation has been significantly altered. The so-called “Dry Amendment to the Water Act” was passed at the national level. This amendment, among other things, reacts to increasingly intensive droughts and implements ways to handle them. The Chamber of Deputies received a draft of the Constitutional Act on Water and Water Resources Protection which should take the water protection to the next level. At the EU-level, a new directive on quality of water for human consumption which upgrades the requirements for water quality, state control mechanisms and access to drinking water was approved.
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