CÍMLAP
Green ways to develop environment friendly and sustainable projects
CONTENTS, INTRODUCTION
Contents
I. Introduction
1. Sustainable or stampeded development?!
2. Regional development projects, green aspects
II. Incentives
1. Local interests are European interests...
2. Systems thinking
3. At the end of the pipe
4. Partnership is not begging!
III. The Regional Development Operational Program (RDOP)
1. Project without impacts?
2. Renovations of buildings
3. Human development
4. Roads to sustainability?!
5. Conclusion: Fulfil your need, but not your greed!
6. Helping questions for self-assessment of projects
IV. Case studies
1. Slovakia: Biomass for heating
2. Poland: Natural development
3. Latvia: Re-inventing organic farming
4. Romania: Eco-tourism in Niraj river valley
5. Czech Republic: Church-roof and bicycle path
6. Hungary: Landscape management and employment
Introduction
The EU poured billions of euros into the new Member States between
2004-2006, and at least four times more will be available from 2007.
Infrastructural investments, renovations and road construction may bring
quick economic growth and social betterment, but may cause irreversible
harm to the environment.
Greens are often accused as enemies of development. Again, what is
development? The conquest of nature, the reign of bigger, faster machines,
more capital and more consumption are all ideals of the industrial
revolution, the 19th century. We admit: strong and exciting, but by now
obsolete ideals.
The relation of economy, society and environment is still often
misunderstood or misinterpreted. The current development strategies
aim at growing GDP and a strong economy to solve social problems.
But how can the economy grow, if not from natural resources?!
We have to see that the real purpose of development programs is social
betterment and a good quality of life. The economy, competitiveness, jobs,
investments and subsidies are tools, and the availability of natural
resources is a precondition.