In Russia 47 million people are exposed to high concentrations of nitrous dioxide. Half the population in rural Tajikistan, and one-third in Moldova, lack access to clean water. Leaded petrol is sold legally in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Many of these problems can be traced back to a common Soviet legacy that includes polluting industries, inadequate infrastructure, and outdated environmental management approaches.
A new OECD-led report "Policies for a Better Environment - Progress in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia" finds that while the region's economy is growing at 7% per year, environmental policy reforms are not keeping pace. OECD, with the World Bank, UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, WHO and seven regional organisations, has examined the recent environmental performance of 12 eastern European and central Asian countries. Though the report documents many positive actions, such as a growing public voice in environmental decision-making, it concludes that progress is slow and disjointed. While countries in the region have legal and policy frameworks, they do not implement or enforce regulations and spend too little on environmental investments.
The report recommends steps to ensure that environmental protection and economic growth go hand-in-hand. Countries should make better use of market-based instruments to provide the right incentives to producers and consumers. Though energy intensity in the region is three times higher than in western Europe, these countries are not actively promoting energy efficiency measures. Financing for initial investments in energy efficiency could be mobilised from international markets and generate good returns.
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