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Environmental Protection policy is a topic that varies vastly from country to country, and often changes depending on the city or region. Due to the large amount of variance in policy, it is important to note the local laws and regulations which the park and association exist within to inform the project. This gives the project a local perspective and prevents projects from missing key contexts.
1. The European Union Policy
Because of the many clear, documented benefits provided by green spaces, their protection is of the utmost importance for society today. For Europe, the overarching authority for environmental protection is the European Union. The EU exerts its influence by working with its members to create plans for the entirety of the European continent to follow. The protection of our environment is one of the EU’s most important duties, and one of their tenets is that the problems of the future are too large for any one nation to tackle alone. Through working together toward a common future, countries can have a much more positive impact on the planet. Such strategies include the preservation of biodiversity and the mitigation of climate change. In terms of the power structure of the EU, member states are dedicated to following the EU’s plans and carrying them out to the best of their abilities. The members are obligated to meet the EU’s goals, and in many cases are urged to exceed them. In addition, it must be noted that the EU does not have the sole power to legislate for the protection of the environment. This is one of the many shared legislative responsibilities of the EU and the member states. The countries of Europe must work in tandem with the EU to support each other’s rulings. The EU also provides loans and grants to groups who are acting toward their specific goals, and this is especially prevalent in the field of environmental activism.
2. National Romanian Policy
The part of the Romanian national government in charge of environmental protection is the The Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests. This wing of the government is active in its endeavors and has produced many reports in recent years. According to Romania’s Sixth National Communication on Climate Change and First Biennial Report, Romania is committed to the EUs goals and is actively reducing its carbon footprint, as well as protecting important natural areas like the Danube Delta.
This report catalogues a large number of protected areas including “79 scientific reservations, 13 national parks… 190 natural monuments, 671 natural reservations, 15 natural parks, 3 biosphere reservations, and 273 sites of communitarian importance”.
Holistically, the national Romanian government is active in its duty to the environment and takes this role very seriously, but at the local level in Bucharest, there is less environmental advocacy. This is not because of general apathy towards the environment, but because of the numerous factors regarding the country’s recent history and the state of urban planning within the city as discussed earlier.
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