These indicators include:
- production of greenhouse gases,
- spendings on living environment protection,
- protected areas,
- organic farming,
- waste production,
- air quality index.
Production of greenhouse gases
The threat of climate change is considered to be the most severe threat for the living environment worldwide. In 1992, a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed in Rio de Janerio. Signatary states agreed on the reduction of greenhouse gasses and the execution of other actions in order to deflect changes in the climate.In 1997, industrially advanced countries met in the Japanese city of Kyoto and agreed on the reduction of greenhouse gasses between 2008 and 2012 by 5.2%, in comparison with 1990. The Czech Republic, which signed the protocol and rafitied it, contracted together with other European Union countries to reduce greenhouse gases by 8%.
Spendings on living environment protection
Spendings on living environment protection include both investments and ordinary spending on protection arrangements. The total spending can only be estimated at this time, as only finances from public sources and part of spending on waste management are monitored.The Czech Republic is gradually implementing environmental directions of the EU. Necessary insvestments estimated at CZK 200 billion to 300 billion will be partly financed from EU fonds.
The proportion of investment put into the protection of the living environment should gradually increase to 2.0-2.4% of gross domestic product. These spendings should also include an estimation of investments into technological changes leading to a reduction of the environmental load. Attention will also be paid to non-public spendings.
Protected areas
Destruction of ecosystems is one of the main reasons the number of wild species of plants and animals is decreasing, in some instances leading to extinction. Wild fauna and flora constitute a rich natural heritage that must necessarily be preserved for future generations. Protected areas, as one of the basic tools of ecosystem protection, have a key role in this field. Current Czech legislation mandates the protection of all free landscape (Act No. 114/1992). Aditionally, Special Protected Areas are also recognized. Special protected large-size areas include national parks and protected landscape areas. Special protected small-size areas comprise national nature preserves, nature preserves, national nature reserves and nature reserves. After the Czech Republic joined the EU, the types of protected areas increased through project NATURA 2000, a system of protected areas chosen according to common principles of the EU, independent of national networks of protected areas.
Organic farming
The overall character of the landscape together with its biodiversity is highly influenced by the intensity and methods of agricultural utilization of the landscape. Intensive agriculture using many different chemicals has in the past resulted in water pollution, degradation of soils, damage of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity. Targets of the Czech Republic´s policy of protecting the living environment include the support and further development of environmentally friendly agricultural methods. The proportion of area used for organic farming is to increase at least 10% by 2020. Environmentally friendly agricultural methods are supported in order to begin the use of soils in nature preserves, national parks and buffer zones of water resources entirely according to the principles of correct agricultural practices and/or organic farming.
Organic farming is characterized by:
- environmentally friendly management of natural resources, proliferation of materials and methods that do not affect the living environment,
- livestock breeding in line with environmental requirements and natural methods of livestock breeding with a limited use of veterinary pharmaceuticals,
- environmentally friendly methods of manufacturing.
Waste production
Waste is defined as each movable object that people plan to or must get rid off. Recycling and secondary utilization of waste is a key issue when considering long-time sustainability. As the production of waste increases, the best solution is further utilization: It reduces requirements on dumping places, incineration, further liquidation of waste and operative spendings. The most common materials that are recycled include metals, paper, textiles, plastics and used oils. The environmental policy of the Czech Republic focuses on the support of recycling and secondary utilization of wastes.
Air quality index
A general evaluation of the air is to provide a simplified but comprehensive report of its quality. This indicator monitors all harmful substances in the air: dust, sulphur dioxine, oxides of nitrogen, oxide coals, ozone, lead and cadmium. These substances must not exceed the maximum allowable limits: If they do exceed them, precautions such as side-tracking of major sources of pollution, diverting, etc., must be established. The amount of polluted air in heavily inhabited areas significantly declined in comparison with 1990, although in larger industrial zones and big cities it remains on a high level.
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BOHEMIA
According to Roman reports, the Latin name of the Czech lands Boiohaemum (Bohemia) is derived from the name of the Celtic tribe that settled on the territory of today´s Czech Republic.