June 2013
Connecting on environmental issues in North & South Caucasus
INSIGHTS FROM 36 IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH JOURNALISTS, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISTS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARS IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN, GEORGIA AND RUSSIA
THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION About Internews Europe NTERNEWS EUROPE is an international development organisation specialising in supporting independent media, freedom of information and free expression Iaround the globe. The vast majority of our programmes are targeted at crisis-hit populations, emerging democracies and some of the world’s poorest countries.
This report is part of an Internews Europe project The power of new technologies to analyse, to improve the enabling environment for climate distribute and publish data and information is change response, biodiversity protection and creating significant opportunities to support our ecosystems management in the Northern and beneficiaries. Southern Caucasus by addressing the specific lack Our programmes increasingly amplify the reach of high quality information available to the media, and impact of local media through the innovative public and policy makers. deployment of new digital technologies (Internet, We believe access to information and resilient local mobile, and social media) to create dynamic and media are key to good governance, human rights, inclusive local information systems. and conflict resolution, and are effective responses Every year our work empowers and builds to humanitarian crises and public understanding of the capacity of dozens of independent media critical issues such as climate change. Internews’ organisations and hundreds of local media media development and information access professionals in some of the world’s most projects ultimately enable people to hold their challenging environments. governments to account, to develop tolerant and prosperous communities and to rebuild lives We are creating a new generation of professionals and livelihoods following destabilising conflict or that combine a solid grounding in sound, humanitarian disasters. ethical journalism with skills in the new digital communication technologies to support their local citizens and consumers. Acknowledgements
Internews Europe wishes to thank the following AUTHOR: Nino Japaridze on behalf of people and organisations for their advice and Japaridze & Associates support in producing this publication: SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES: Francesca Silvani Floriana Fossato, Maria Aslamazyan, Internews PROJECT MANAGER: Morgan Williams Armenia, Internews Azerbaijan, Internews Georgia, Green Cross Russia, Institute for Environment & DESIGN: Luis Vilches Development (IIED) IMAGES: Internews Armenia
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Internews Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
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Contents
1. FOREWORD 2 2. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS 5 3. ANALYSIS OF IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS 7 3.1. MEDIA CONTEXT AND QUALITY OF JOURNALISM ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 7 3.2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS 11 ISSUES OF CONCERN 11 PUBLIC AWARENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 13 3.3. ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION 15 3.4. STAKEHOLDERS AND THE LEVEL OF DOMESTIC COOPERATION 17 3.5. CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION 19 3.6. RECOMMENDATIONS 21 4. COUNTRY SPECIFIC SUMMARIES 25 ARMENIA 25 AZERBAIJAN 27 GEORGIA 29 RUSSIA 31 APPENDIX A: IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE 33 APPENDIX B: PARTICIPANT DEMOGRAPHICS 36 1. Foreword
HE CAUCASUS REGION is an area of huge environmental significance Tit comprises a variety of ecosystems centered around its soaring alpine mountains, from dense forests in the north to subtropical micro-climates in the west and south and near-desert in the southeast. Each of the four countries that this report focuses on has a diverse range of ecosystems inside their borders.
These precious natural resources are under increased pressure. Economic development, industrialisation, population growth, the effects of global climate change CREDIT: GRID-ARENDAL & MANANA KURTUBADZE, CARTOGRAPHER and increased tourism are all leaving their mark on the HTTP://WWW.GRIDA.NO/GRAPHICSLIB/DETAIL/THE-CAUCASUS-ECOREGION-TOPOGRAPHIC-MAP_A6B6 Caucasus region’s bio-diversity and natural resources. The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund’s 2003 Red List (of 2003) identifies 50 species of globally summary of biodiversity in the Caucasus is clear: threatened animals and one plant in the Caucasus. “Most strict nature reserves and national parks, These concerns radiate to local governance and the particularly in the southern Caucasus, are too small responsibility of local authorities to ensure that their to guarantee long-term biodiversity conservation. own policies and practices, as well as those of the Economic problems have resulted in an increase in private sector, meet their national obligations in accord poaching, illegal forest cutting and grazing in protected with the international agreements their governments areas where the protection regime is not always have signed. enforced. Buffer zones are often non-existent, so Internews’ work around the world has demonstrated consequences of resource use and human pressures over many years that high-quality journalism that outside reserves spill over the borders and impact highlights national and global environmental issues protected ecosystems. Furthermore, the existing in a professional and impartial way can improve protected areas system is not entirely representative of public debate about these issues, and in turn hold the full range of biodiversity in the hotspot.” governments to account in order to protect fragile There is widespread concern that governments in the ecosystems and manage their natural resources wisely. region are falling short of fulfilling their responsibility The aim of this study is to gain a deeper understanding to protect bio-diversity and natural resources, the of the potential role that media and journalism can play International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN) in improving public understanding and public policy 3 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
on environmental issues in the Caucasus region. It set governments for revenue and licensing. This impasse out to identify some of the critical challenges faced creates an ‘information void’ about what is arguably one by journalists and media professionals in attempting of the most pressing socio-economic issues that the to report on the environment, and to provide some peoples of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the states concrete recommendations for mechanisms and steps of southern Russia face. to address those challenges. The study also finds some small signs of optimism. The Quantitative studies on media coverage of climate Internet can serve as a vital information source and is change by Max Boykoff, at Oxford University,1 noted increasingly accessed by activists, journalists, experts that although documenting causality between media and members of the public. There is also the potential for coverage and a specific policy response is not always online media to raise the bar on environmental reporting possible, there are nevertheless ‘abundant instances and challenge the TV, radio and print media. This study of this (direct linkage), as many in government monitor also found a consensus amongst all those interviewed press coverage as a proxy for public discourse and that there is now an increased public appetite for news possible pressure;’ and ‘that improved reporting with and information about the environment, and a growing greater specificity and contextualisation through the expectation that more transparency would follow. combined efforts of journalists, editors and scientists Not all the countries are undergoing the same would help to more effectively engage the public, and challenges and changes – and as well as drawing some would widen the spectrum of possibility for appropriate common conclusions relevant across the region, this action.’ study also looks at specific findings related to each By commissioning an independent research country in the relevant sections. organisation, Japaradze & Associates, to interview Internews hopes this study will draw attention to the 36 experts from the field of environmental activism, need, largely ignored so far, to work closely with the academica and media, Internews is able to draw on media and other partners in the region to make a real significant data to present new findings and make improvement in the quality of environmental media recommendations. coverage over the next few years. The study shows that the state of professional media James Fahn reporting in the region has reached a kind of impasse – mainstream media clearly lack the professional Executive Director, skills and editorial commitment needed to tackle Earth Journalism Network environmental issues, which can be complex and require time to acquire the necessary technical knowledge and skills. Most importantly, journalists and editors rarely investigate stories that may challenge the ruling classes – politicians and big businesses – or their own media houses, which often depend on
1 Boykoff, M., Nature Reports Climate Change 21 February 2008; http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0803/full/climate.2008.14.html 4 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
Study Methodology This report presents the results of a baseline study of journalism and journalistic coverage of environmental issues in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 36 experts across the four target countries during April-May 2013 on the understanding that interviewees would remain anonymous (A copy of the discussion questionnaire is provided in Appendix A). All interviews were conducted with the support of locally contracted research firms with the overall analysis completed by Japaridze & Associates. Interviewed experts included journalists working on environmental issues, environmental activists, and environmental scholars (More detailed descriptions of study participants are provided in Appendix B).
Key Objectives The main objectives of the baseline study were: • Assessment of the quantity and quality of journalism on environmental issues and of the general media context • Identification of key environmental issues/concerns and assessment of environmental regulation • Identification of key stakeholders in society on environmental issues • Assessment of the level of cooperation between journalists, environmental activists, and environmental scholars in each country and across the region • Identification of shared environmental concerns which might be a catalyst for cross-regional cooperation • Development of recommendations that could help increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues 2. Key recommendations
Invest in increased nationwide Build on dynamism of online coverage of environmental information initiatives issues and media The study found that the field of online information professionalism across all is a more dynamic, trusted, and credible source of information about environmental issues than the current media platforms mainstream or more traditional media. It is important Each country must invest in targeted mechanisms for that this fledgling information system is supported ensuring the production or publication of high quality, as it can significantly raise the bar for environmental objective, diverse environmental reporting. Due to reporting, and could challenge TV, radio and print the wide viewership of leading television channels a media to do better. weekly TV show dedicated to environmental news and analysis would vastly improve public awareness of the Begin education on the increasingly urgent issues in their own environment, and help build credibility of TV, which currently lacks environment in schools early independence from government and private business The experts that were interviewed were unanimous in agendas. highlighting the importance of environmental education to raise the environmental consciousness among all Conduct more targeted, citizens, and that it is not the role of media alone to raise awareness. The suggestions included offering a specialised training on class specifically on protecting the environment from effective environmental pre-kindergarten through to high school. A weekly environmental programme specifically for children reporting would also be beneficial, as well as environmental This study found the level of environmental reporting literature being available in both print and online in in the North & South Caucasus, with a few notable public libraries. exceptions, is currently extremely poor. Journalists lack background knowledge on environmental issues and produce biased, un-substantiated reports. They may need specific training to overcome a culture of self-censorship, and to avoid criticising the government or the big businesses on which media outlets often depend. It is essential that a new generation of journalists and editors gain the skills to become specialised in environmental reporting, distill complex information and analysis and explain to their audiences the importance of the issues they are covering. 6 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
Governments must be held Establish a Regional accountable for improving Environmental Council environmental standards Although significant cross issues exist in this region interviewed experts felt cross border cooperation is The study found that experts believe that their essential due to the volume of environmental resources government ministries are responsible for improving between neighbouring countries. To this end, this study environmental standards in their own country. This recommends the formation of a Regional Environmental includes responsibility for sufficient staff numbers and Council initiated by the Ministries of Environment and to ensuring enforcement of existing legislation. include all stakeholder representatives on both the local and regional level from each target country. It was also Donors need to invest suggested that donors could fund research projects that would facilitate collaboration between academics in creating sustainable across the region and be reported on by nationwide links and greater levels of media in multiple countries. information sharing between environmental stakeholders It was found that other than a few exceptions, cooperation between stakeholders has been extremely rare. These stakeholders include environmental activists, the general public, media, environmental academia and the private sector. If this cooperation can be advanced the possibility of public engagement will increase. Businesses could be rewarded for responsible environmental practices through public awareness campaigns in the media. 3. Analysis of in-depth Interviews
did not reflect media use patterns by populations at 3.1. Media Context and large, which primarily follow news through nationwide Quality of Journalism on television stations. Environmental Issues In Armenia, experts listed a number of Armenian and Russian language news portals and social websites All interviewed experts are avid news and information they use to access information. The sources that were consumers, following news about their own countries repeatedly mentioned included Azatutyun, Lragir, and news about developments abroad. Their media A1+, Facebook, and YouTube. All experts criticised mix is diverse, including domestic and international nationwide TV media (state and privately owned media. While having access to all media platforms, their broadcasters) and print media for biased political news preferred news medium is the Internet, because of the reporting; some experts had stopped regular TV use for ease of accessing news and information online and also this reason and would only watch a specific TV program because of the diversity of views and perspectives one if it were mentioned in social media blogs, using YouTube can obtain. Experts recognised that their media choices or Ucom service for viewing. For environmental news all 8 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
experts highlighted www.ecolur.am, www.hetq.am, and tone, largely promising job creation and benefits and some added www.168.am and www.lurer.com through tax collection. to the list of online media with environmental coverage. Russian experts found nationwide Russian media Experts also spoke of environmental reporting on reports on environmental topics to be limited to www.econews.am, but environmental activists environmental crisis stories abroad, echoing the views of felt that their coverage was more superficial and experts in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Any Russia-specific biased, largely depicting views in favour of Armenia’s environmental coverage is either cautious or one-sided, government and the business sector. From TV channels due to the lack of independence of nationwide media. in Armenia, experts noted only occasional appearances Everyone believed nationwide media was controlled by of environment-focused news on Kentron TV (privately either the Russian government or businesses. Russian owned nationwide television), ATV (privately owned experts recalled how a critical story about Sakhalin oil television available in Yerevan and nearby regions), and production appeared for viewers in Sakhalin, but never Erkir Media (privately owned nationwide broadcaster). reached audiences in Moscow, due to direct pressure In the latter two cases, interviewed experts found from the Russian energy company Gazprom to remove reports to contain heavy political undertones and less the report from a nationwide broadcast. emphasis on actual environmental concerns, while Kentron TV’s coverage was deemed more balanced In contrast to nationwide media in Russia, Russian and professional. experts believed local media outlets have a greater degree of independence and environmental coverage Interviewed experts in Azerbaijan, similar to the views is available more frequently in the local press. For expressed by experts in Armenia and Georgia, believe example, experts said that Krasnodar’s local print that low-cost entertainment shows dominate national media often carries environmental reports about broadcast media. They were not satisfied with the Sochi. MK Kubanj publishes environmental reports quality of informative programmes on television, twice a month, basing their reports on materials found emphasising a lack of objective news coverage in most in online environmental blogs and feeds provided news programs. Armenian, Georgian, Azerbaijani and by North Caucasus Environmental Watch. Some Russian experts spoke of a high degree of politicisation experts recalled coverage of environmental problems of nationwide media and a lack of balanced and in Sochi on a local independent TV station, Maks-TV. analytical news programs; instead, superficial and Russian experts also noted occasional environmental scandalous coverage dominate. Armenian, Georgian, coverage in “oppositional” nationwide press, such as and Azerbaijani experts felt that the presence of large Novaya Gazeta. Some Russian experts also spoke entertainment content was meant to entertain and of radio programmes on scientific issues that contain pacify the viewers. Experts across the four countries some environmental content, but noted the low reach found the print media market to be more diverse, of those programs. Independent television stations, although they said that professional and politically e.g. Dozhd’ TV, also occasionally cover environmental independent publications are rare. developments, typically when an environmental story is The lack of environmental reporting in nationwide related to a public protest. media (both state and privately owned) and the In all four countries experts emphasised the important shortage of professional environmental journalism was role of the Internet in providing access to news and a shared feature across the four countries. Experts information, including news and information on spoke of limited to no coverage of environmental topics the environment. Russian experts highlighted the across widely watched nationwide media, which they importance of online environmental blogs that provide felt contributed to the populations’ low awareness of detailed information about environmental concerns in environmental problems. In Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Sochi and the North Caucasus region in general. Russian Armenia, experts could not recall a regularly produced experts named www.rufox.ru, www.livekuban.ru, programme on nationwide television channels www.sochi-24.ru, and www.kavkaz-uzel.ru as useful dedicated to educating viewers about environment, sources of news about Sochi and North Caucasus. In biodiversity, or the impact of climate change. Instead, addition, experts underlined the important work North they recalled occasional and brief reports depicting Caucasus Environmental Watch (www.wenc.org) environmental disasters, with no analysis of what plays in disseminating information through news feeds caused them, or stories about developments that have and list-serves about the environment across the North a negative environmental impact with a positive frame Caucasus. 9 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
All interviewed experts, even interviewed journalists, noticed an environmental story focused hoped to see better educated and trained journalists in on the North Caucasus region in the general and wished to see more media professionals dedicated to environmental news reporting. federal media in a very long time. Ria- Novosty focuses on environment and would like to see more provides environmental-economic “Iprofessionalisation of journalists in index data about Russia’s regions, environmental reporting. Analytical rating the degree of environmentally environmental reporting is practically sustainable economic development missing in regional media. Most across Russia. Sochi-24.ru is a daily journalists who write about the online newspaper on Sochi. I find a environment write on many other lot of environmental reporting about topics as well and I can tell that their Caucasus there and on kavkaz-uzel.ru.” understanding of environmental issues [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] is not deep.” [RUSSIA, EXPERT] ussian federal media have very am very disappointed in our “Rlittle coverage of environmental “Itelevision. We have low quality stories. They show global entertainment programs, soap operas. I environmental crisis, floods, droughts, think this is intentionally done to turn our or our government officials making people into less informed individuals. oratory statements on the environment. Our media holds us back. Armenian I have noticed self-censorship in media should be more independent.” Russian media in environmental [ARMENIA, SCHOLAR] coverage. In Sochi an independent TV station, Maks-TV [Макс-ТВ], shows entral and Federal media outlets critical reports on the environmental “Cshow life in a positive way, all is crisis in Sochi.” [RUSSIA, NGO] well in Russia. Print media sometimes provides environmental stories, but you t is not affordable to have one find this work mostly in oppositional “Ijournalist focused entirely on newspapers, like Novaya Gazeta. You environmental topics; we cover can tell that environmental focus is many issues and in the end produce not a priority. You find environmental fragmented coverage.” [GEORGIA, links in the stories that deal with social JOURNALIST] problems in Russia.” [RUSSIA, NGO] amersant newspaper has a n Russian main federal channels “Kgood journalist who covers “Oyou get an official line. I know environmental issues. But, overall, in that there are serious environmental Russia, I am not aware of more than concerns about Sochi from online four journalists who professionally cover reports provided by environmental environmental development of Russia. activists. Yet, our nationwide TV reports We have a shortage of specialised that all environmental concerns are environmental journalists.” [RUSSIA, being addressed. Honestly, I have not SCHOLAR] 10 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
n Sochi the quality of media reports nternet plays a unique role. Internet “Ion environmental issues is of “Iprovides space for an open mediocre or poor quality. I see such exchange of information and ideas. I environmental coverage online and regularly read environmental stories sometimes in print media and on Maks- on rufox.ru, which is an informational- TV. Media must promote awareness of entertainment online website. I also environmental problems in our region, love to follow www.livekuban.ru online otherwise people remain disengaged. journal.” [RUSSIA, NGO] Media must consolidate our public around the importance of protecting orth Caucasus Environmental our environment and biodiversity. We “NWatch group maintains a good are faced with serious environmental website – ewnc.org. They disseminate problems in Sochi.” [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] information through their network. In addition, there are many bloggers who ll TV stations are the same, all write on environmental issues. I like to “A offer entertainment directed at the use ecoreporter.ru site as it addresses same group of people who only want environmental topics across Russia.” entertainment. What about people [RUSSIA, JOURNALIST] who work, people who are educated, people who are scholars, people t does not make sense for the same who want to learn more, their needs “Ijournalist to write about sports are not met at all by our TV stations.” and culture and healthcare. We need [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] specialisation of journalists. Coverage of environmental issues is very difficult e cannot talk about and requires specialised preparation.” “Windependence of media in [GEORGIA, NGO] Azerbaijan, which is a problem across all former Soviet republics The media stopped watching Armenian TV. If are not independent from business “II see a reference to an interesting or government support; we don’t television program on Facebook, only have developed institutions that help then do I look this program up, I try guarantee independence of our media.” to find this program using Ucom TV [AZERBAIJAN, NGO] archival service. RUSSIA, NGO] 11 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
3.2. Environmental Problems ur nature is abused. In Krasnodar and Public Awareness “Oand in Karachaevo-Cherkasia the damage to the environment has reached criminal proportions. Forests ISSUES OF CONCERN are disappearing. In Sochi since the Not a single expert felt that the environment in their preparation for the Winter Olympics country was well protected. Instead, they expressed concern for the quality of air, water and soil. Across has started we have had a complete all four countries, experts found illegal hunting, illegal negligence of the environment, starting logging, and illegal fishing to be widespread. Loss of from construction waste being dumped forests and parks due to construction projects in urban into our national parks and rivers and and suburban areas also emerged as a significant concern. In addition, experts considered low standards ending with the destruction of our of household waste management to pose a significant forests.” [RUSSIA, NGO] environmental hazard. Georgia, Armenia, and Russia lack proper waste processing and storage facilities. In n Vladikavkaz there is the Azerbaijan, a modern waste processing and storage facility was recently developed for the city of Baku, but “IElectrocynk factory and local youth this is not sufficient to address the waste management groups protested against it. Local needs across the country. government representatives explained In Azerbaijan and Russia, experts felt inadequate that this factory has to function resources have been invested in environmental because it provides tax revenue and safeguards and clean up operations at oil and gas jobs. Clearly, pollution from this factory extraction and processing facilities, as corporations are driven by profit, paying little regard for the local harms the environment and public environment. In Armenia, experts levied similarly harsh health. This is a challenging question, criticism towards the extractive industry corporations how to combine industrial production that mine for precious and semiprecious metals across (exploitation of nature) and protection the country. In addition, Armenian experts voiced of the environment. The situation is concerns about small scale hydro-power projects, while Georgians feared that new large-scale hydro-power catastrophic: solid waste is visible in plants under consideration in Georgia would bring more and near urban areas. There is no harm than good. recycling. Waste is not processed, Experts expressed concern for the low safety standards instead it is burned. Trash is dumped of drinking and irrigation waters. This concern was into our rivers, roadways and along the particularly acute among interviewed experts in Black Sea shore.” [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] Azerbaijan and to some extent in Russia. Air pollution from cars and factories also emerged as a common environmental problem across the four countries. ater pollution stems from In Russia and Armenia, many experts expressed “Wmultiple causes, including concern about the outdated industrial facilities that are chemical waste from factories, still operational and represent a serious environmental agricultural production, household hazard to the environment. waste, broken down sanitary systems, Across all four countries experts recognised the pollution from oil production and challenge their countries face between the need transportation. The Black Sea is in for economic development and preservation of the environment. danger, there is not much life left in it. Oil pollution floats along the shore.” [RUSSIA, NGO] 12 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
ur cities are overcrowded with regular outside trash bins. The second “Ocars. Air pollution is terrible.” largest problem is an aggressive [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] development of hydropower plants. People were expecting that the here is practically no trout to Georgian government policy towards “Tbe found in the rivers of the this issue would change after the North Caucasus due to illegal fishing 2012 elections, but as we see now, -- fishing using electric probes. In the policy of promoting hydropower Dagestan, illegal fishing for sturgeon is plant development is still advancing. widespread.” [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] [GEORGIA, JOURNALIST]
large private residential section e need a real assessment of “Ain Sochi has no sewage system “Wthe degree of toxic content and the household waste flows across Georgia. We don’t know what underground and seeps into our rivers.” kind of environment we live in. Before [RUSSIA, NGO] we do anything about deciding how to protect our environment, we need a he sewage system is either comprehensive baseline assessment “Tnon-existent or broken down.” of our environment, to include the [GEORGIA, JOURNALIST] soil, air, water, and food. We need to develop laboratories across Georgia, either our air, nor our waters— with proper technologies, to test the “NKura or Araks or the Caspian quality of our environment and make Sea, are protected. Many of our this information public.” [GEORGIA, environmental problems stem from SCHOLAR] oil and gas production in Azerbaijan. Environmental movement is growing rmenia’s environment is in very slowly in our country and yet “A great danger. The situation is the effects of climate change are catastrophic.” [ARMENIA, NGO] increasingly noticeable. We’ll have more desert. We’ll have droughts. We’ll onstruction has taken over lose biodiversity. We’ll have floods. “CYerevan and we are losing [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] what little green space we have. Construction dust is everywhere. n Tbilisi, we have two large waste Another problem in Armenia is the “Isites where for years all the waste widespread development of small scale from Tbilisi was carried. Now they are hydro-power plants. Armenia is blessed closed down, but there is absolutely with many natural resources, however, no barrier between the waste material the extraction and mining industries and soil. Another serious problem in Armenia bring many environmental is the hazardous waste from the problems, damaging our environment hospitals. Everything is thrown into and our health. We need to start 13 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
thinking about what Armenia’s future whether the trees being cut down in will look like. Who will want to live here?” their yard can be removed or not. When [ARMENIA, NGO] citizens become active in the area of environmental protection, they tend to PUBLIC AWARENESS OF focus on their own, immediate, very ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES local issues. We try to change this, we Across the four countries the interviewed experts try to expand their focus so that they believed that knowledge of environmental legislation join other citizens, but we have not was weak even among the expert community and [RUSSIA, NGO] practically absent among the wider public. Experts been successful.” believed that if citizens were better informed about environmental laws they would be more able to protect e don’t have many active their rights and the environment. Experts felt that the “Wcitizens concerned with the general public tends to get involved in environmental environment in the North Caucasus. activism when an environmental problem directly impacts them. As examples, many experts named There are few enthusiasts, some construction projects that damaged urban parks, teachers, some doctors, some writers, the appearance of waste dumps in urban areas, or etc. The majority of our population does development of new industrial facilities with inadequate not pay attention to this; our society is environmental protection; such instances would garner some public outcry. passive and goes with some inertia. Most people think this way, “it does not Russian experts spoke about widespread public apathy, a sense that their individual actions do not matter, no matter what we do we won’t influence the country’s developments. As a result, they change anything.” [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] noted, the public are disengaged from environmental issues. Experts from Georgia and Azerbaijan also spoke itizens don’t even know when about the lack of citizen engagement on environmental issues, while interviewed experts in Armenia noted “Cthey burn grass they violate our some improvement in this area, which they attributed laws and harm the environment. Our to the activism of the environmental non-governmental agricultural workers burn dry grass sector in Armenia. In Russia, experts also highlighted during Spring. [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] the important work of environmental watch groups in protecting Russia’s environment. Overall, however, experts felt the immense socio-economic problems think only environmental activists across the four countries have placed environmental “Iand specialists are active and concerns as a low priority for the population; citizens informed. Common citizens show tend to be more concerned about jobs and their daily very little interest. While environmental subsistence. activism is slowly growing, still, public awareness and citizen responsibility to f our citizens had an idea about protect Russia’s environment is weak. Russia’s environmental legislation “I People tend to go to a public protest and international environmental only if an issue directly affects them. conventions, they would be more able to defend their rights and protect their [RUSSIA, JOURNALIST] environment. They would be able to judge better whether the construction project next to their home can be allowed to move forward or not, 14 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
ublic awareness of environmental ur public libraries have no “Pissues is very superficial. The “Obooks on the environment. importance of environment is not Our schools do not teach students part of our education in schools or at about the importance of protecting homes. This explains why our country’s one’s environment and biodiversity. environment is so unprotected. Our media does not have programs [ARMENIA, JOURNALIST] about the environment. These are the main reasons why our society is so f our society had environmental passive and why our own citizens harm “Iconsciousness, would our people Azerbaijan’s environment and do not be throwing trash into our rivers, would demand environmentally sound policies they be cutting down trees, would they from our government.” [AZERBAIJAN, illegally take over our parks to facilitate SCHOLAR] construction projects, would they illegally hunt, would they use electricity rmenian environmental activists to fish in Sevan? [ARMENIA, NGO] “A and youth groups are increasingly active in monitoring environmental hen I was in school during issues in Armenia. When you witness “Wthe Soviet period I had no how your water, your soil, your forests environmental education. The same are abused, you know those that abuse problem exists today. Why are we these resources will not live in Armenia throwing rubbish in the street when tomorrow, but we do and we cannot right around us there are bins? Plastic let this happen. Today our youth may bags are everywhere. Environmental not understand the environmental education has to happen from early concerns on the level of experts, but childhood. This is essential.” [GEORGIA, they already know that we cannot JOURNALISM] live the way we live and this is some progress.” [ARMENIA, JOURNALIST] 15 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
3.3. Assessment of modified products are grown in Environmental Regulation the Krasnodar region now. This is illegal and highly damaging to the The opinion of experts was divided on the quality of environment.” [RUSSIA, NGO] environmental legal frameworks in the South Caucasus countries. Some felt environmental laws were well developed, while others noted existing laws were ochi is a site of a complete insufficient and needed refinement. All interviewed “Secological nightmare due to experts in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan were in the ongoing construction projects agreement that the environmental legal framework was in preparation for the Sochi Winter too complex even for legal experts to understand and impossible for the general public to follow. Olympics. Construction debris is dumped in the Sochi nature reserve In contrast, Russian experts were unanimous in their criticism of the quality of environmental legislation in or is driven out of Sochi and dumped Russia. They spoke of frequent changes in the laws in other regional territories. Boxwood that reflected the needs of Russian business interests forests are being cut down. This is and paid little to no attention to environmental concerns how the “Zero Waste” Sochi Winter associated with Russia’s industrial development. To illustrate how business interests drive environmental Olympics policy is being implemented. legislation in Russia, several experts spoke of a legal Construction waste is dumped amendment under consideration by the Russian into rivers, increasing the danger of Duma permitting the dumping of deep sea drilling floods. Rivers Mzimta and Shakhe waste at the drilling sites. In addition, Russian experts [RUSSIA, recalled legislative amendments and government are practically ruined.” decrees lifting environmental restrictions to facilitate JOURNALIST] the development of infrastructure projects, e.g., to host Winter Olympics in Sochi or the Asia-Pacific Economic nti-environmental legislative activity Cooperation Summit in Vladivostok. Russian experts must stop. The government criticised the Russian Federal Government’s decision “A to place environmental protection functions within the must take the protection of Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources, as not progressive. This environment seriously. Russia’s restructuring gave both control over natural resource federal government should promote extraction and authority over protection of Russia’s sustainable economic development.” environment to the same organisation. [RUSSIA, NGO] In Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia experts spoke of widespread corruption being a factor rendering laws, including environmental regulation, useless. ost of our laws provide legal Corruption did not emerge as a problem in Georgia, “Mframeworks, but lack detailed although, Georgian experts also considered Georgia’s guidelines. We tried to analyse environmental legislation ineffective. Azerbaijan’s legal codes on forests. A 300 page long book was produced ublic servants build their vacation as a result. A common person cannot “Phomes along the Black Sea coast sit down and read this and determine in violation of environmental protection what is right or wrong conduct.” regulations. Look how construction [AZERBAIJAN, NGO] projects have devastated the natural habitat in the Imereti valley between the Mzymta and Psou rivers. Genetically 16 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
n order to hold the Olympics ur laws are evaluated by legal “Iin Sochi, Russian government “Oexperts from Europe ever since changed many laws to permit the Armenia started the process of deeper construction of different buildings inside integration with the European Union. of the Sochi nature reserve. Several I think on paper our environmental Federal Laws stopped being applied to legislation is sound. The problem Sochi. Similar developments took place lies elsewhere: laws are ignored. Do in Vladivostok in preparation for the Asia you think that the mining companies Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. in Armenia do not know that their The same problem is now occurring activities are violating Armenia’s in the Moscow region.” [RUSSIA, environmental codes? Of course they SCHOLAR] know, but they don’t care, they are above the law.” [ARMENIA, SCHOLAR] eorgia has rather underdeveloped “Genvironmental legislation and overnmental decrees weak environmental regulation. Clear “Goften contradict Armenia’s environmental guidelines are missing to environmental legislation and guide individual behaviour. This is a key companies follow decrees that are problem from which stems our reality: written around their interests. Our the environment in Georgia is not laws mean nothing. Our citizens protected at all.” [GEORGIA, SCHOLAR] don’t know their legal rights and their responsibilities. I see this when I ur laws are normal, but they are travel across the country.” [ARMENIA, “Obeing ignored. Environmental JOURNALIST] laws are not enforced and corruption is one big reason for this. Armenia is egislative process in our country a small country and it is easy to use “Lworks well in terms of taking into kinship contacts to avoid punishment account expert opinions on new drafts for the violation of the law. Look, we of laws under consideration. I have have a good law that clearly states that participated in such processes many fishing in Lake Sevan is prohibited. This times. The problem is that the laws law is constantly ignored.” [ARMENIA, we draft and ratify are not enforced.” SCHOLAR] [ARMENIA, SCHOLAR] 17 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
highlighted that without the participation and buy- 3.4. Stakeholders and the in from the private sector it will be difficult to advance Level of Domestic environmental safety. Cooperation usinesses do not care about Most experts described the current level of cooperation in their respective countries between media, “Benvironmental protection and environmental scholars, and environmental activists as does not invest the resources into the too limited in scope. Expert interviews revealed such prevention of environmental damage. cooperation was the weakest in Azerbaijan and Russia Our government does not sanction and a bit more advanced in Armenia; Georgia fell in anti-environmental business activity and the middle. Georgian and Azerbaijani experts felt such cooperation was donor driven and lacked impact. our environment remains unprotected. A few experts could name examples of positive Aggressive industrialisation is damaging cooperation between environmental stakeholders that Russia’s environment. Our wildlife and developed naturally. For example, some Azerbaijani nature is threatened by unregulated experts recalled an example when environmental industrialisation and urban development activists in Shirvan brought to the media’s attention the activity.” [RUSSIA, NGO] problem of low water levels in Shirvan’s lake and this rare cooperation prompted local government officials to pay attention to this issue. Some environmental scholars itizens are also responsible, but in Azerbaijan used an example of their interviews for “Cgood examples should follow Azerbaijani media as an illustration of the cooperation from the government and our citizens between media and environmental scholars. However, these scholars noted that such relations were not don’t have such examples. Instead, frequent and the journalistic quality was rather low. they see how the public servants build Russian experts emphasised the important role of their own vacation homes on nature environmental watch groups in Russia who on a weekly reserves.” [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] basis disseminate environmental news to Russian media, which, they considered successful in mobilising ome scholars are biased due strong environmental activism around the issue of environmental protection in Sochi. Environmental “Sto their ties to the businesses scholars in Russia were not always seen as working or government. Either out of their to protect Russia’s environment. The interviewed own will or pressure placed on them experts felt the Russian environmental scholars were they produce reports that show an dependent on the support of the Russian government absence of negative environmental or the business sector; as a consequence, Russian environmental scholars were sometimes led to produce consequences from certain production biased environmental assessment reports when projects. Russia has few independent conducting environmental impact assessments of the environmental scholars, because proposed industrial or construction projects. In Russia, they depend on funding either from much like in the South Caucasus countries, interviewed experts felt their countries do not have many qualified the State or business. Once a week I independent environmental scholars and identified this receive environmental news updates factor as a serious problem. from environmental watch groups. This All interviewed experts strongly felt that without I consider an important example of cooperation between relevant environmental cooperation between environmental stakeholders to include government, media, activists and media.” [RUSSIA, nongovernmental sector, environmental scholars, and citizens the protection of the environment and JOURNALIST] biodiversity will be ineffective. In addition, some experts 18 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
here is no systematic cooperation nvironmental activism by our “Tbetween media, environmental “Eyouth is under threat. Businesses activists, and environmental scholars in try to stop them. Just look at the court Russia.” [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] case against Yeghia Nersesian by the Armenian mining company. Interests o save Russia’s environment, of our business and our environmental “Twe need to attract many and activists clash.” [ARMENIA, NGO] diverse groups of people to this issue: volunteers, environmentalists, public never had a problem in receiving officials. We need to draw business I information from a nongovernmental into the process. Businesses is slowly organisation. I find folks at the Green starting to recognise the importance Alternative and the Centre for Energy of social responsibility. For example, Effectiveness to be very helpful. Vimpelcom recently organised a set of There are less frequent relations with round tables with environmentalists. I environmental scholars. Only recently am not sure what will come of this, but I started to reach out to professors the initiative is encouraging.” [RUSSIA, at our universities, but this is not an JOURNALIST] effective strategy as it is hard to find environmental scholars. [GEORGIA, looked at all dissertations related JOURNALIST] “Ito ecology and mining of natural resources since 1960 and I found that not a single dissertation was written on this topic in the last 20 year period. We don’t have real scholarship, real studies in this area. There are general monographs, newspaper articles at times. I looked at the archives of the Ministry of Ecology and was stunned to find so little. No works on climate, no works on heavy metal extraction, nothing, nothing, nothing. Azerbaijan needs to raise environmental scholarship.” [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] 19 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
3.5. Cross-border olitics is our obstacle. There Cooperation “Pare no real ties with Georgia because of this. I know that Russians In most cases the discussion of cross-border visit Georgia on holiday, so people to cooperation among environmental stakeholders lacked people contact on this simple level enthusiasm. Experts could not name a single ongoing cross-border environmental cooperation project across does take place. Politics between the Caucasus region. Instead, experts from the South our countries is such that it is not Caucasus recalled how countries in the region do not possible to imagine the development of enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements that would cooperation on environmental projects obligate them to share responsibility for environmental protection. in the near future. The only issue area which I see as potentially conducive to A couple of Russian experts who were interviewed recalled cooperation around the North Caucasus wildlife Georgian-Russian cooperation is the reserve issue between activists and scholars from Sochi development of eco-tourism.” [RUSSIA, and the North Caucasus republics and their Abkhaz JOURNALIST] colleagues, although they recognised that political tensions between Georgia and Russia make cross- border cooperation very difficult. Most Russian experts’ am not aware of cross-border long-term outlook excluded collaboration between “Icooperation projects. I am against Russian and Georgian environmental stakeholders even all the barriers and I wish to see more on mutually beneficial environmental projects. They felt cross-border cooperation. The tension without the political will for such collaboration, the ties between environmental stakeholders between Georgia between Armenia and Azerbaijan and and Russia will have a casual character, on the level of the tension between Georgia and meetings where only information exchange takes place Russia make region-wide cooperation and no action follows. One Russian expert, however, between environmental stakeholders felt that with the support of international organisations difficult.”[GEORGIA, JOURNALIST] cross-border cooperation around the issue of the North Caucasus wildlife nature reserve and the environmental protection of the Black Sea basin were ongoing efforts. here is not much regional Georgian experts expressed the most positive “Tcooperation and yet we need views about cross-border cooperation initiatives in this badly. I can recall only one the region, although, similar to the Armenian and project on trans-border rivers and the Azerbaijani experts, they also recognised the significant Caspian Sea; we met with experts barrier posed by the Nagorno-Karakakh conflict for such initiatives. Regarding the Georgian-Armenian from neighbouring countries. Such cooperation, a couple of experts from Armenia noted cooperation is driven by specific that their cooperation was minimal largely due to the projects, only when there is a specific absence of on-going contacts with colleagues in project to work on and when there Georgia. is the donor support. With Armenia As for potential areas of collaboration in the wider it is clear we have a military conflict, Caucasus region, experts felt that the development of ecologically friendly tourism was one issue area where but we also have disagreements all four countries could collaborate. In addition, experts with Georgia on water security; Kura felt that the environmental protection of trans-border and Alazani rivers are polluted and waters and cross-border wildlife and nature reserves Baku gets drinking water from there.” was an issue area fertile for wider regional cooperation. Experts felt that both political will and donor support [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] were needed for such initiatives to move forward. 20 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
eorgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan he key problem is the lack of real “Gneed to sign a cross-border “Tcontacts. I think cooperation waste management convention, but between journalists in Georgia and nothing is done because Armenia and Armenia should be very strong and we Azerbaijan are in a conflict situation. need to advance this cooperation. ” Georgia, Russia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan [ARMENIA, JOURNALIST] have not signed this convention. As a result, nobody is obligated to share any details about any industrial projects that may have hazardous effects on our environment.” [GEORGIA, JOURNALIST]
ross-border cooperation happens “Conly when the donor community develops such projects and funds them. I remember the study done to assess the environmental quality along the Kura-Araks river basin. This study showed important findings, but no action followed. Georgia and Azerbaijan have not signed an agreement on water cooperation. Georgia pollutes waters greatly and this damages Azerbaijan’s environment.” [AZERBAIJAN, NGO]
am not able to see region-wide “Icooperation. It is impossible to work with colleagues from Azerbaijan; we have tried many times before. It makes no sense to talk about cooperation with them when we are in a constant pre- war situation. As for Georgia, our prior attempts to cooperate were fruitless; it is hard to work with Georgians as I have not seen them being focused and actively pursuing cooperation with us.” [ARMENIA, JOURNALIST] 21 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
3.6. Recommendations Experts considered that media’s increased attention to, and professionalisation regarding environmental topics are essential for improving public awareness of the importance of protecting one’s environment and biodiversity. Experts asked to see environmental coverage across all media platforms, to include environmental reporting in nationwide media, local newspapers, and popular web portals, emphasising stories that media users could relate to -- linking environmental reporting to citizens’ lives. Recognising the wide viewership of leading nationwide television channels across four countries, most experts particularly urged the development of a weekly television program dedicated to environmental news and analysis. increasing environmentally savvy citizenry lies in the hands of the education institutions in each country. Some experts in Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, Experts believed that environmental education however, prefaced this suggestion with a caveat: should start during the pre-kindergarten period and having objective environmental coverage about be offered through high school, educating students internal environmental problems on leading nationwide about the importance of protecting their environment television broadcasts in Armenia, Russia, and and being aware of the beauty of local and global Azerbaijan would be difficult, as either the government natural landscapes and biodiversity. To supplement or business interests influence their content. In contrast, the role of schools, many experts suggested at according to the interviewed experts in Georgia, the least weekly television programs for children on Georgian media context allowed for more diverse environmental topics. In addition, some experts asked environmental reporting on nationwide media, while for environmental literature to be available in print and recognising that such coverage was largely absent. online forms across public libraries. Experts also recommended the use of media for the placement of targeted advertising that All experts placed the primary responsibility promotes environmentally friendly behaviour for improving environmental standards by citizens and the private sector. in their countries on their governments, especially all the relevant ministries, including the All interviewed experts stressed the importance of Ministry of ecology, Ministry of energy, Ministry of improving the quality of general journalistic economy and development, and Ministry of health, standards and environmental specialisation as well as local municipal authorities. Increasing of media professionals to generate higher quality environmental protection mechanisms to include environmental coverage. Experts welcomed more sufficient staffing of environmental inspection structures targeted environmental journalism trainings and was deemed important. Further, experts emphasised workshops for practicing journalists and the introduction the importance of enforcing environmental legislation of special courses on environmental reporting in to prevent anti-environmental public and corporate journalism departments at local universities. Experts behaviour. While considering governments as having especially encouraged journalists to provide coverage the primary responsibility to protect the environment that is analytical in substance, reporting not only on and biodiversity across the four countries, the facts, but providing background and analysis of why interviewed experts felt cooperation between these facts matter and what consequences may follow. all environmental stakeholders including Interviewed experts were unanimous in environmental activists, common citizens, media, highlighting the importance of environmental environmental scholars, and the private sector is vital education to raise environmental to address the existing environmental concerns and to consciousness among all the citizens. Along promote sustainable environmental practices. Many with the media, they felt the primary responsibility for experts felt that such cooperation can be advanced if 22 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
important environmental concerns are brought to the development of safe natural resource extraction policies public attention through active collaboration between and techniques and the protection of migrating animals, the environmental non-governmental sector and the including panthers and mountain goats. Additionally, media. This collaboration would produce environmental the protection of cross-border wild-life nature reserves reporting that could raise public activism, which in turn was seen as vital for many interviewed experts, as well could place sufficient pressure on governments and for those who felt that the promotion of eco-friendly businesses to act in the interest of the environment. In tourism in such areas could be one way political addition, some experts felt that encouraging business disputes could be put aside (e.g. between Georgia to act in a socially responsible manner, and rewarding and Russia) to advance cross-border cooperation in such behaviour with support for the public image of general. Armenian experts suggested that Armenia, such businesses, could produce positive results. Georgia, and Turkey should cooperate and develop an Recognising the paucity of cross-border open cross-border international natural park, to include environmental cooperation and the presence Arpi Lych natural preserve in Armenia, which borders of many political barriers for such interactions Turkey and Georgia. in the Caucasus region, interviewed experts Experts welcomed international donor still felt such cooperation should be advanced support to promote cross-border to help address the environmental problems environmental cooperation initiatives, that are shared among the countries in this although, several Russian experts felt that the region. To advance such a cooperation, experts Russian government will be less likely to encourage suggested to launch focussed discussions and such programs; these Russian experts specifically exchanges of opinion on environmental concerns in mentioned the Russian Treason Law as already individual countries between representatives of the creating obstacles for Russian environmental nongovernmental sector, environmental scholars, activists seeking to collaborate with their international and media, but noting that these discussions should colleagues. Overall, interviewed experts suggested be initiated by the Ministries of Environment in each that donor support should focus on developing the country. Experts felt that these discussions will bear kinds of projects that would reach wider audiences, results if the media provide focused reporting on these deepen lasting relationships between environmental discussions and disseminated information about them stakeholders, positively impact public awareness among wider audiences. Experts further added that a of environmental issues, and help foster policies similar format of discussions should follow on the local and programs to increase environmental protection. level, across different regions, which would allow media, Several experts suggested that the international donor environmental activists, scholars, and local government community should fund environmental research officials to engage with citizens on the ground around projects that would facilitate collaboration between specific issues. Some interviewed experts suggested environmental scholars and activists and that would to establish a Regional Environmental Council that be advertised to the public by the media in order to would include all environmental stakeholders from increase public awareness of the programs and citizen the Caucasus. This Council would allow all interested activism on environmental protection initiatives. parties to bring to its attention any set of environmental concerns in the region. The Council’s purpose would edia play the key role in be to coordinate the efforts aimed at resolving shared environmental concerns. In addition, some interviewed “Minforming Russia’s population experts suggested holding regular bilateral and on developments in our country and multilateral stakeholder visits and joint research and they should play a more active role in environment conservation projects across the region. providing audiences with information Areas for cross-regional cooperation suggested by the about Russia’s environment. Media interviewed experts primarily focused on air and water can increase the public interest in pollution. Specifically, they envisioned cooperation on shared water resources, e.g. cooperation around Kura protecting our environment. Media can (Mtkvari)-Araks river, protection of the Black Sea and set the “standards” for environmentally the Caspian Sea. Further, experts felt that region-wide friendly lifestyles, work, and production. cooperation could also include issues, such as the However, media alone cannot achieve 23 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
this. Environmental education and n order for people to start paying environmental responsibility should “Iattention to the environment, they be shouldered by our schools, by our need to be told why these issues are universities, and by our government. important and how they affect them. Government must set a good example.” Unless this knowledge is shared with [RUSSIA, SCHOLAR] them and the media in collaboration with environmental activists they f, on a daily basis there was an cannot make a difference to the level “Ienvironment focused program on of environmental awareness and Channel 1, I think our people would activism.” [GEORGIA, NGO] become interested in this issue. Or, if a major internet website focused on nvironmental activists need to the environment that would spark the “Econstantly inform media about discussion. Now, we have a vicious environmental concerns they are cycle: society is not interested, the working on, providing information government is not interested, and about these issues in order for media media does not have this focus.” to produce stories. This would be [RUSSIA, NGO] the most effective way to improve the quality of our environment.” e need to work hard and [AZERBAIJAN, JOURNALIST] “Wsystematically change the situation. This work has to start from e need socially conscious early childhood education in our “Wadvertising telling people why kindergartens, in our schools and it is important to throw trash into bins. universities. Only the generation of We have lots of ads in all our media, adults that is raised with environmental but you never see or hear a socially principles can take responsibility for focused add that tells you how bad it protecting their environment and is to burn trash, how damaging certain biodiversity.” [RUSSIA, JOURNALIST] materials are for our health, etc. Such ads will help our society understand ationwide television channels the importance of clean environment.” “Nshould provide regular programs [AZERBAIJAN, JOURNALIST] on the environment, targeting older viewers. There should be separate cholarly works on ecology do programs targeting children. Media “Snot reach our population widely. should inform our society, not pacify My colleagues and I travelled and it. If you look at our broadcast media examined public libraries in many content now we have entertainment, regions of Azerbaijan and we found shows, soap operas, scandals. Many that libraries lacked separate sections educated people I know stopped dedicated to materials on ecology and watching television for this reason environment. Access to such materials and switched to online media use.” is essential. Internet should also be [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] accessible in all public libraries. I found one book on ecology published in 1964 in our Baku public library.” [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] 24 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
t is clear that we have a military onors need to develop small “Iconflict with Armenia, but we also “Dgrant programs. No organisation, have disagreements with Georgia on especially in the regions, has the luxury water security. To foster cooperation we of training journalists. Such a program need to first of all exchange our views,in needs to be developed. There are order to find the agreements and very few conferences and workshops, solutions. The exchange of views would but the outcome is not what funders be beneficial as a start. If we don’t solve expect from media because we still existing water pollution problems, that have low quality media reporting on means we do not respect each other. environmental issues. When a journalist Kura and Alazani rivers are a disaster. who covers culture is sent to attend a We need to gather scholars, NGOs, press conference on hydro plants, this and media to start the coverage of journalist will not return and be able to these processes. We need to show this develop a quality media report on hydro on TV, not just keep the record of who plants because this journalist does not attended and put it in print. Audio and have the background and education video files must be available, at least on to cover such a story. This kind of YouTube, in order for our society to find environmental education needs to be out what was said on these issues.” spread. [GEORGIA, JOURNALIST] [AZERBAIJAN, SCHOLAR] wish I could have a funder who hen the government does I would buy 15 minutes of airtime on “Wnot declare protection of the local and regional TV stations, allowing environment as a priority, clearly the the placement of environmental donor support for this area will also be programs that I would produce and minimal. This needs to be changed. this product would have to have In Georgia we do not have research interactive components to have contact institutes that work on the assessment with audience on TV, call ins from of environmental problems and their people, NGOs and local government. effects on public health, at large. There [GEORGIA, JOURNALIST] are very few scientists that work on this issue, very few, with minimal resources. In our country there is not a developed system of scientifically gathering data on environment.” [GEORGIA, NGO] 4. Country specific Summaries
interests with strong political links. Overall, however, interviewed experts noted that journalists in Armenia Armenia needed further professionalisation and access to a better journalistic education. Experts’ media use habits Assessment of environmental and assessment of Armenia’s reporting in Armenia media quality • Experts spoke of the presence of a dynamic, • The primary sources of information for all interviewed environment-focused media space online. They experts were online Armenian and Russian language particularly praised Ecolur and active use of news portals and social websites. Experts frequently Facebook for exchange of environmental information cited Azatutyun, Lragir, and A1+ as sources they turn and mobilisation of citizens to protect Armenia’s to for news and information. All interviewed experts environment through online groups, such as “SOS were very active information consumers. Sevan,” “We are Protectors of Our Own Town,” • All experts criticised nationwide broadcast media in and “Defenders of Tekhut.” Some experts recalled Armenia for biased political news reporting, which timely environmental reporting on the problem in some cases prompted them to stop their regular of deforestation in Armenia by hetq.am and usage. Some experts noted that in those instances armenianow.am in 2007-2008. Some experts also when specific TV programs are referenced on social noted www.civilnet.am for environmental reporting in media, they look those programs up online, often Armenia. with the use of Ucom service which allows one to • Environmental reporting on nationwide TV stations download archived TV programs. is missing or has a propagandistic spin. It often uses • Armenian experts spoke of highly politicised news a positive tone to cover stories that in reality have a content in print media. With the exception of most negative environmental impact, framing many stories radio programs with music-centred formats, around job creation and increasing state revenue. Armenian media prioritises reports on political themes and entertainment. Most of the content is Assessment of quality of viewed as superficial, scandalous, and distracting for media consumers. In general, it discourages Armenia’s environment and active civic participation in social and political life in environmental regulation Armenia. • When thinking about the environment in Armenia, • Several experts felt that many talented and most experts’ first association was negative. They professional journalists in Armenia have a limited believe that Armenia’s environment and biodiversity sphere and set of opportunities for their work, as is not protected. Experts named a long list of serious most media outlets in the country are directly or environmental problems in Armenia, including indirectly controlled by political actors or business 26 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
contaminated food, large scale mining abuse of natural resources due to inadequate methods of Recommendations extraction, endangered forests, unprotected water • Advance economic development and resources, soil erosion, uncontrolled construction education. Poverty and low levels of education of hydropower plants, pollution in Lake Sevan, are key obstacles to citizens’ awareness of the construction projects in urban parks and gardens, importance of protecting Armenia’s environment shortage of green spaces in Yerevan, environmental and willingness to actively participate in this task. devastation in the village of Tekhut, and polluted Experts noted that improving Armenia’s economic urban spaces, to include Dzermuk, Tsakhkadzor and development and quality of education system -- to Yerevan. include information on environment, biodiversity and • Armenian experts believed that environmental climate change from early childhood--are essential to legislation in the country is well developed, advance Armenian citizens’ focus on environmental however, laws are not enforced. Experts highlighted issues. widespread corruption in the country whereby • Produce TV programs on the environment. government officials, individuals and businesses Experts stressed the importance of producing regular close to the country’s political elite can bend the rules TV programs on environmental topics to increase to fit their interests. citizen awareness of the importance of protecting one’s environment. Assessment of cooperation • Media professionalisation. Experts highlighted the importance of promoting the independence between media, the non- of media in Armenia and increasing media governmental sector, and professionalisation through better journalistic environmental scholars in education and training. • Strengthen cooperation between Armenia, and the wider environmental stakeholders to increase Caucasus region public awareness of environmental issues in Armenia. Experts believed that environmental • Experts acknowledged that citizens of Armenia activists and environmental experts should closely are not environmental experts, but some degree cooperate with Armenia’s media as Armenia’s of environmental awareness does exist among public officials are more likely to pay due attention the public. This is largely due to the activism of the to Armenia’s environmental problems when media non-governmental sector in Armenia and active focuses on these issues and mobilises public opinion. cooperation between environmental activists and • Enhance region-wide environmental media professionals focused on environmental cooperation. Armenian experts suggested issues. Experts noted that environmental problems the establishment of a Caucasus- are highlighted first by environmental activists, who wide Environmental Council to include in turn mobilise the media. The activists’ networks all environmental stakeholders from the region. and media together then mobilise the public. Experts All interested parties would be able to bring to noted that only when environmental issues receive the Council’s attention any set of environmental media and public attention do politicians pay concerns in the region. The Council’s purpose should attention to the concerns. include coordination of efforts aimed at resolving • Armenian experts evaluated the level of cooperation shared environmental concerns. Furthermore, among environmental stakeholders across experts suggested holding regular bilateral and the Caucasus region as very poor. There is no multilateral stakeholder visits and joint research and cooperation with Azerbaijani experts. Armenian environmental conservation projects across the experts wished for more active cooperation with their region. Georgian counterparts and expressed the hope that Georgian environmental stakeholders would be more responsive and dedicated to the resolution of shared environmental concerns. 27 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
disagreement, experts were unanimous in their view that environmental laws and regulations were Azerbaijan ineffective, not implemented, and largely blamed widespread corruption in governmental institutions for this. Assessment of Azerbaijan’s media quality Assessment of environmental • Most experts expressed low trust in Azerbaijan’s reporting in Azerbaijan media due to their dependence on Azerbaijan’s • Experts consider the segment of Azerbaijan’s government or commercial structures with ties to population for whom environmental concerns are the government. All experts criticised the quality of among their most pressing priorities to be small. They television in Azerbaijan, where low cost entertainment explain this through low awareness of environmental content and shows dominate. Experts’ media mix problems across Azerbaijan and attribute this lack of is diverse : although, internet usage dominates, it knowledge to very limited coverage of environmental includes Azerbaijani language news portals and topics in widely used Azerbaijani media and the social platforms. absence of environmental education in Azerbaijan’s • All experts noted a near-absence of educational and elementary and higher education institutions. analytical programming across all media. Experts • Most interviewed experts could not recall a single were also unanimous in their criticism of the level of program on nationwide television channels that professionalism of most journalists in Azerbaijan, is dedicated to educating viewers about the which largely reflects on their weak education, lack of environment, biodiversity and the impact of climate professional journalistic training and lack of issue- change in Azerbaijan. Only short reports depicting specific specialisation. environmental calamities appear at times, without any explanation of what causes such floods or droughts Assessment of quality of and how they could be prevented. Azerbaijan’s environment and • Experts could not name a single Azerbaijani language daily or weekly newspaper that is solely focused on environmental regulation covering environmental issues. Regular focus on • All experts feel that Azerbaijan’s environment is not environmental themes is present only in Ekho and protected. They voiced concerns about high levels Zerkalo publications, both available in Russian. of pollution of air, water and soil. Experts recognised that Azerbaijan inherited many environmental Assessment of cooperation problems from past oil and gas production projects and noted that a recent increase in the extraction of between media,the non- Azerbaijan’s natural resources has aggravated the governmental sector, and problem. environmental scholars in • All experts consider household waste management to be a significant environmental hazard. Azerbaijan and the wider Furthermore, experts voiced strong public health Caucasus region concerns due to low safety standards of water used for drinking, agriculture and leisure, citing the abysmal • Experts felt that cooperation between media, environmental conditions of Araks and Kura rivers scholars and the non-governmental representatives and the Caspian Sea. occurs periodically when a donor supported project is being implemented, often resulting in a publication • Experts were divided in their assessment of the of a brochure with minimal distribution. quality of the environmental legal framework in Azerbaijan, some saying that it was well- • Few experts recalled examples of positive developed but too complex even for legal experts to cooperation between media and nongovernmental comprehend, while others stated it was insufficient sector (e.g. reporting on low water levels in one and needed further refinement. Despite this of the lakes located in Shirvan region highlighted 28 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
by activism of the NGO sector) or media and experts suggested that literature on the environment, environmental scholars (e.g. request for interviews), biodiversity, climate change, flora and fauna become stressing that such relationships should be more available in public libraries across Azerbaijan. Further, systematic to promote media content on pressing experts noted that every public library should have environmental concerns in Azerbaijan. computers with online access to websites providing • Discussion of cross-border cooperation lacked users with information on environmental issues. enthusiasm, largely due to the Nagorno- Karakakh • Effective law enforcement. Experts also conflict, although, many experts noted that the hoped that the law-enforcement of environmental concern for environmental protection should rise violations in Azerbaijan will become more effective above political conflicts. Experts felt that both political and that broadcast media would bring such stories will and donor support was needed to address acute to the attention of wider audiences to improve pollution levels in trans-border waters. Experts could environmental consciousness among Azerbaijan’s not name a single ongoing cross-border cooperation population at large. project. • Cross border cooperation lead by policy makers. Experts recommended that the advancement of cross-border environmental Recommendations cooperation should start from the discussion and exchange of opinions on environmental concerns • Pressure the politicians. While all experts in the region. Experts felt such discussions should urged Azerbaijan’s media to play a more active role in be initiated by relevant ministries and must include informing and educating Azerbaijan’s society about non-governmental sector, environmental experts the importance of protecting one’s environment, and media. Media must report in detail about experts unanimously placed primary responsibility these discussions, providing analysis, not just for improving environmental standards in Azerbaijan official protocol of who attended and what general in the hands of Azerbaijan’s government, mainly issues were discussed. These discussions should the Ministry of Ecology and all relevant parts of transition into public spaces across different regions Azerbaijan’s executive government, including local through the continued cooperation among media, government municipal authorities. non-governmental sector, local governments and • A professional media is a respected media. common citizens. Increasing professionalism of journalists in Azerbaijan • Target donor support on the projects with is an urgent priority. Short-term training workshops, greater impact. Experts suggested that the while helpful, will not be able to substitute the effects donor support should focus on developing the kinds of improved quality in the journalism departments at of projects that would reach wider audiences and Azerbaijan’s universities. deepen lasting relationships between environmental • Link actions to consequences. Experts stakeholders. One expert suggested that donors stressed that journalists should provide not only should fund environmental research projects factual reporting about the environment, but analyse that would facilitate the collaboration between the consequences when citizens, corporations and environmental scholars and activists and would be the government neglect the country’s environment. brought to the public attention by the media. Such reporting should become more regular across all media platforms. • Education is the key. Environmental education should begin from early childhood. In this area, the Ministry of Ecology, Ministry of Education, non- governmental sector and environmental scholars must cooperate. Media must also play an important role by producing at least weekly television programs for children on environmental topics that are both attractive to watch while being educationally enriching in content. • Improve access to information. Some 29 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
environmental regulation and standards. Every expert spoke about Georgia’s hydropower potential, Georgia however, they expressed significant concern that not enough attention is paid to independent assessments of potential costs and benefits associated with such Assessment of quality of development initiatives. Georgia’s environment • Every expert expressed grave concern about pollution in the Mtkvari river, which flows from • All experts strongly felt that Georgia’s environment Turkey through Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and biodiversity is not adequately protected. (providing irrigation and drinking water for Azerbaijan). Experts cite an absence of modern waste Experts noted that the river is polluted along the management and processing facilities in the way, specifically mentioning Georgia’s need to stop country as a key environmental problem, which dumping raw sewage into it. The latter would require some believe reflects not only on the country’s large scale investment in human waste management economic underdevelopment but also on the fact systems across the country, which are either not that environmental protection is not a priority for the developed at all in many parts of the country or are government of Georgia. Experts were unanimous outdated and broken down. in their criticism of the quality and effectiveness of • Some spoke of Georgia’s outdated water filtration Georgia’s environmental legal framework, finding it infrastructure in urban locations and the lack of insufficient, needing development, refinement, and access to drinking water in rural parts of Georgia, enforcement. both posing a health hazard to local populations. • Most commonly cited environmental concerns included the lack of household and industrial waste management system, water pollution (e.g. Black Sea), Assessment of environmental and air pollution (e.g. increased transport; absence of reporting in Georgia emission standards; usage of low quality fuel). • Experts found Georgian broadcast media, which is • Another concern voiced by several experts was the most widely used by the Georgian population, to be absence of a proper waste management system full of political reporting and entertainment content, across Georgia’s hospitals and clinics, placing highly but having practically no coverage of environmental hazardous waste in common public bins located issues. Environmental stories occasionally appear outside of medical clinics, frequented by dogs and in Georgian newspapers (e.g. Rezonansi and cats, posing a serious sanitary threat to Georgian Batumelebi). Environment coverage is more regularly society. seen in online publications, such as Liberali, • Experts also criticised low standards of industrial Netgazeti and Guria news. production in the country and absence of • Experts noted access to the internet is still low in environmental safeguards having negative effects on Georgia, however, among internet users, popularity air, water and soil quality in Georgia. of social websites, such as Facebook, is increasing. • Illegal logging or government-sanctioned logging They recalled examples of public protests with was considered highly damaging to Georgia’s specific environmental concerns being galvanised environment and biodiversity. Experts believe this through social media. logging is causing mud slides in Georgia. Illegal • While newspapers occasionally provide reporting on hunting and fishing were also named as significant environmental topics, experts felt such reports often problems in Georgia, hurting Georgia’s biodiversity. lacked adequate development and follow through, Some experts said the hunters lacked awareness producing fragmented coverage and no effect on about Georgia’s endangered species and that this public opinion. was a factor which hurts preservation of Georgia’s natural habitat and biodiversity. • Experts appreciated the need for Georgia to Assessment of cooperation attract foreign investment to advance the country’s between media, the non- development, although, feared that often such investment is drawn to Georgia because of its weak governmental sector, and 30 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
levels. Many experts stressed that development of environmental scholars environmentally conscious citizenship must start in Georgia and the wider from a young age. Media’s contribution could be through regular television programs for children on Caucasus region environmental topics that are both attractive to watch • Most experts felt that the current level of cooperation and educationally enriching in content. between media, scholars and the non-governmental • Increase targeted donor assistance. Experts sector was weak. Some cooperation occurs and is asked for better targeting of donor assistance. For donor driven, but remains small in scale, and has not example, some experts stressed the need to prioritise achieved impact. One exception cited nearly by all development of the professional bureaucracy in interviewed experts was the role played by the Green Georgia who are responsible for environmental Alternative NGO and some regional environmental protection. To illustrate how ineffective donor groups who provide interested media professionals assistance could be some experts referred to over with information and training opportunities, including 3 million Euros being spent on foreign expert advice access to environmental expert opinions, and help on waste management legislation over the past 15 improve quality of environmental reporting. years, which still has not produced an effective waste • Georgian experts welcomed cross-border management law. environmental cooperation and said not enough was • Stakeholder engagement. All experts done to promote such initiatives. While recognising believed that to improve environmental protection the presence of political obstacles in advancing in Georgia cooperation among all relevant cooperation between Armenia and Azerbaijan and stakeholders is essential. In the words of one media Armenia and Turkey, Georgian experts stressed the expert, “Georgia’s Ministry of Environment with commonality of environment problems in the region one Minister and a staff of 200 cannot solve all of and the benefits cooperation on environmental issues Georgia’s environmental problems. The effort must could produce. include all stakeholders, starting from our citizens.” Furthermore, many interviewed experts stressed the need to reinstate the inspection authorities of the Recommendations Ministry of Environment which were removed from its jurisdiction in 2011 and placed within the Ministry of • Media can play an important role. All experts Energy. believed Georgia’s media has the ability to improve • Link environmental news to public health environmental awareness among the Georgian the concerns. Experts also noted that Georgian population and increase responsible governance citizens have the right to know what quality air they of country’s environment and biodiversity. Experts are breathing. Such information should be gathered hoped for increased professionalism of Georgian daily by relevant authorities and made available journalists to produce informed factual and analytical daily through Georgian media. Furthermore, experts materials on pressing environmental issues. Such noted that health statistics published by the Ministry reporting should become more regular across all of Health should contain region-specific data so media platforms. Some experts suggested that the that the Georgian population can have access to Georgian public broadcaster should have a weekly more detailed information. This information should prime time program with a discussion/debate format, be linked with data on the environmental problems with a real focus and exchange of views on a topical in specific regions, thus increasing environmental environmental issue. awareness among Georgia’s population. • Education is the key. In addition to media, • Increasing journalists’ understanding of experts believed it is the responsibility of the environmental issues through donor grants Georgian Ministry of Education and the Ministry of and training support to Georgian media outlets Environment to promote the development of an would enable media editors to have dedicated environmentally savvy citizenry. They suggested the environmental journalists This in turn would produce two ministries should cooperate in the development improved environmental reporting by Georgian media of environmental education modules appropriate for and increased audience demand for such coverage. early childhood, elementary and higher education 31 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
industrial infrastructure, uncontrolled urbanisation and industrialisation, and unregulated mining and Russia extractive industries. These trends, experts believed, threaten Russia’s environment and biodiversity. Experts believed that environmental problems Assessment of environmental across Sochi and the North Caucasus region were representative of Russia’s overall environmental reporting in Russian media condition. • Experts all commented that nationwide Russian • Experts believed that global warming has negatively media pay little attention to environmental issues. impacted Russia’s environment. Specifically, they They described Russian national media as being attribute an increase in forest fires, melting of snow dependent on the government or business owners, glaciers, and changes agricultural growing seasons leaving little space for independent journalism. to climate change. The melting of glaciers has Regional media, including local editions of nationwide become a serious problem in the North Caucasus print publications, occasionally provide environmental and has resulted in lower supplies of water. Experts reporting, although, experts believed the analytic also feared that global warming will have a negative quality of environmental stories could be significantly impact on winter sporting facilities across the improved. Overall, experts felt there was a significant Caucasus. absence of highly skilled environmental journalism in • Experts criticised environmental legislation in national media in Russia. Russia as overly bias in favour of corporate interests • Unlike nationwide media, experts believe the internet versus environmental preservation. For example, has a rich selection of information on environmental experts criticised the Forest Code of the Russian issues available through diverse internet blogs, social Federation, adopted in 2006, which mentions journals, Russian environmental non-governmental important environmental concepts but is abstract sector websites, and online newspaper publications. and not enforced; instead it is perceived that it has Still, the lack of environmental reporting in nationwide helped stimulate increased commercial activities in media was seen as a significant obstacle for the forestry sector. In addition, experts deemed the improving public awareness of environmental issues. placement of environmental protection functions within the Ministry of Natural Resources as not a Key environmental concerns progressive step by the Federal Government of the Russian Federation, as they felt this organisation and assessment of was primarily focused on commercial uses of natural environmental regulation resource and that the goals of promoting natural resource use and of protecting Russia’s environment • The interviewed experts believe the environment in conflict. Sochi, North Caucasus, and across other parts of • Environmental activists warned against changes in the Russian Federation is under threat. Interviewed the legal classification of federal lands, which allow environmental scholars and activists felt it was for production activities in previously protected in a “pre-crisis situation” as Russia’s economic territories. For example, experts cited reclassification development has been largely “anti-environmental,” of federal lands in Sochi to permit development of with only minor improvements in the Russian Sochi Winter Olympics facilities in areas previously government’s stated environmental policies. classified as federal nature reserves. • However, experts felt that these improvements, e.g. adoption of the Russian Federation Environmental Policy through 2030, signed by the President of Russia in April 2012, came about as a result of public pressure on Russian authorities to address Russia’s grave environmental concerns. • Key environmental concerns in Russia include urban air pollution, absence of effective solid and industrial waste management and processing facilities, aging 32 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
Public awareness of Recommendations environmental concerns • Raise public awareness about the importance of the environment. Experts • Experts rated general public awareness of believed this can be achieved through environmental environmental issues as low. Experts observed education in schools and advertising campaigns to that public activism rises only when environmental encourage awareness of environmental issues and problems impact them directly, e.g. when rubbish environmentally friendly citizen behaviour. starts to be dumped nearby, or when construction of a hazardous industrial facility is launched. Russian • Improve public awareness of experts said that one recent positive change they environmental legislation. Experts felt that by have noticed is the engagement of Russian youth in improving public awareness of environmental laws, environmental protection issues and activities. Russian citizens would be better able to monitor and hold accountable the activities of Russia’s • Experts believed that knowledge of environmental government and businesses in order to minimise legislation and regulation is weak, even among the environmental damage. expert community, and they were confident that common citizens had practically no understanding • Develop regular media programs on of environmental legal statutes. Experts stressed environmental topics. Nearly all experts that greater public awareness of environmental suggested that a weekly television program laws would help Russian citizens be more capable dedicated to environmental issues on a nationwide in protecting their rights and the environment and Russian television channel would improve Russian biodiversity in Russia. citizens’ awareness of the importance of protecting the environment and biodiversity. More regular environmental coverage in online and print media Environmental stakeholders was also encouraged. Some experts noted that if environmental stories appeared among top news • Experts felt environmental activists are the most stories during online searches on yandex.ru or other ardent defenders of Russia’s environment. They Russian portals, more users would receive this emphasised the presence of an active environmental content. Several experts noted that without a more non-governmental sector in Sochi. They noted, independent media environment in Russia it would be however, that similar groups were less numerous difficult to imagine objective environmental coverage across other North Caucasus republics. in the federal media. • Experts complimented the work of the North • Develop journalists with environmental Caucasus Environmental Watch in raising public specialisation. All experts felt that professional awareness of environmental problems across journalists with a dedicated environmental beat were this region. Interviewed journalists said they rare in Russia and that such professionalisation was receive weekly environmental news updates from essential to improve the quality of journalism on environmental groups. environmental issues in Russia. • Experts believed the Russian media has the power • Foster cooperation between environmental to increase environmental awareness and activism of stakeholders in Russia. Some experts Russian citizens by having more regular reports on suggested that such cooperation can be fostered relevant environmental issues for Russian viewers; through organising public hearings around specific serving as a forum that connects environmental environmental issues. Experts felt that by organising activists and the wider public; utilising diverse expert such public hearings with the participation of opinions in coverage of environmental issues; and environmental activists, environmental scholars, bringing public concerns about Russia’s environment media, public officials, businesses and citizens there to the attention of Russian government and the would be more opportunities to foster cooperation private sector. among environmental stakeholders. • Experts emphasised that Russia’s government must • Build on citizen activism around local create and implement policies that protect Russia’s environmental concerns to expand environment and biodiversity and regretted that thus citizen participation in country-wide far Russian authorities are failing in this task. Experts environmental campaigns. Several believed the Federal Government should provide the environmental activists and journalists noted that necessary funds to implement environmentally sound such cooperation can be promoted if local media programmes across the country. outlets covered environmental problems taking place outside of their immediate region. Appendix A: In-Depth Interview Questionnaire
SECTION 1 SECTION 2 Objective: To understand Objective: To understand experts’ media use patterns the quantity and quality of and their views on the quality environmental journalism in of media available to them. respective countries and to • How important is it for you to stay informed about identify the most pressing current events in your country? Your region? World? environmental concerns and • Thinking about all the media sources and media platforms available for your consumption, where do key stakeholders. you turn first for news and information? • Is your country’s environment adequately protected • How would you describe your news consumption or not? Why do you think so? behaviour on a typical day? Is your news behaviour • What would you say are the most pressing representative of media consumption habits by your environmental problems/concerns in our country? peers? How are your friends and family similar or • [Used only in Russia] Now, thinking specifically about different from you in terms of media consumption? Sochi, what environmental issues come to mind? • If you were to think about different content available in What can you tell us about the environment/ecology/ local media, how would you break it down in terms of biodiversity in Sochi and what, if any, concerns do topics? What type of news dominates? What would you have about Sochi’s environment and ecology? you say falls in second place? Third? • [Used only in Russia] Now, thinking about the • Do you notice any shifts in the balance between news environment and ecology in the North Caucasus and information vs. entertainment in [country] media? region, what can you tell us about the quality of Is the balance tipping in favour of one area more than environment there? What would you say are the most the other? pressing environmental problems/concerns in the • If you were to think about your level of trust in North Caucasus, if any? [country] media, how would you describe your • In your opinion are citizens in your country aware thoughts? How do you assess the trustworthiness of of these environmental problems or not? How well the news stories you receive? do you think they understand them and how much • How do you assess the level of professionalism of priority do you think they assign to addressing these [country] journalists? problems? • If given a choice between turning to friends and family • How aware is the [country] public about the linkages for news and information vs. media outlets, where between climate change and biodiversity? would you turn first? • In your opinion whose actions or inaction poses • What changes would you like to see in the media danger to the quality of your country’s environment? environment in your country in the near term and in Why do you think so? the long term? 34 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
• In your opinion, who are the stakeholders in think these obstacles could be overcome? Is there protecting environment in your country? [Probe for: any local demand for environmental news reporting in local government, national government, citizens, your country or not? What causes this? NGO activists, scientists, international community, • If you were to consider the relationship between the corporations, media, etc.] journalists, media editors, media owners, political • What role does [country] media play in protecting actors and citizens, who do you think is setting [country] environment? the agenda for environmental reporting? How are • [Used only in Russia] Do Russian media work under environmental stories developed? Who drives the specific security concerns when reporting on demand? environmental issues? If so, what are they? • What do you think are the most effective ways for • How frequently do you encounter media reports media in our country to increase awareness about on environmental issues? [For use in Russia only: climate change, biodiversity protection, ecosystems How frequently do you encounter media reports on management in your country? What specific environmental issues in general and/or environmental recommendations/suggestions can you offer? conditions in Sochi and North Caucasus specifically? Would you say you come across media reports on SECTION 3 environmental issues on a daily basis, once a week, once a month or less frequently? ] Objective: To assess the • Which media provide content on environmental issues? [For use in Russia only: How about coverage quality of environmental laws of environmental issues in Sochi and North and regulation. Caucasus?] • Thinking specifically about your country’s • Can you think of specific examples of environmental environment, ecosystems management, how reporting in [country] media? What issues were would you describe existing laws and government highlighted in those stories? [For use in Russia: Can regulations and ecosystems management practices? you share some specific examples that come to mind on environmental reporting on Sochi and on • Which laws come to mind when you think about our North Caucasus in Russian media? What issues were country’s environmental protection? Are these laws highlighted in those stories?] adequate, broad enough, and effective? • Can you name any journalists who on a regular basis • In your opinion, are citizens in your country aware of cover environmental issues? [In Russia use: Can you these environmental laws and regulations? name any journalists who cover environmental issues • Are these laws and regulations lived out in practice? in Sochi and North Caucasus?] • Can you think of specific examples that illustrate most • How would you evaluate the quality of environmental common ways citizens ignore existing environmental reporting in [country] media? [Probe for: informational laws and regulations? value, analytical depth, journalistic professionalism] • If you were tasked to think of ways to bring about a • Does [country] media serve as a platform for public positive change in citizen behaviour, how would you discourse and learning about environmental issues, go about it? What actions would you take? or do you think [country] media does not yet play this role? Why do you think so? • Is [country] media influential or not in changing public opinion on environmental concerns? Can you think of specific examples where media impacted public opinion on an environmental issue? • What are the important environmental stories that are missed and in your opinion should be covered by [country] media? • What are the key challenges of producing quality environmental reporting in your country? How do you 35 CONNECTING ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN NORTH & SOUTH CAUCASUS
SECTION 4 between these groups (media, environmental activists, and environmental scientists)? How do they interact or when do you anticipate their interactions to Objective: To identify ways take place? Are the relationships cooperative, neutral to increase cooperation or confrontational in nature? between media professionals, • How can more cooperative interactions/relationships be developed? What specific suggestions can you environmental activists and offer to achieve a greater degree of cooperation scientists/scholars and among these communities? identify effective ways to raise • How would you describe the level of cross-border regional cooperation in the area of environmental visibility and generate debate protection in the Caucasus region among these about the environment, communities? What key drivers of cooperation do biodiversity protection and you see and how would you describe the obstacles? • Would you like for the barriers for cross-border ecosystems management cooperation to be minimised? If so, how best to in your country and the achieve this? • If you were to identify three key areas for cross- Caucasus region in general border environmental cooperation, what would you [note: in Russia this objective include in your list and how would you start and tailored to Sochi and North advance cooperation? • In your opinion, what concrete steps should be Caucasus]. pursued to raise visibility and generate debate about • If you were to think about the level of cooperation environment, biodiversity protection and ecosystems and the degree of interconnectedness among management in your country? How about in the media professionals, environmental activists and Caucasus region in general? environmental scientists, how would you describe THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR their relationships in your country? STUDY! • Can you think of specific examples/scenarios that help us understand the nature of relationships Appendix B: Participant Demographics
ARMENIA GEORGIA
PROFESSION GENDER AGE EDUCATION PROFESSION GENDER AGE EDUCATION Journalist Female 61 Higher Journalist Female 27 Higher Journalist Male 54 Higher Journalist Female 28 Higher Journalist Male 31 Higher Journalist Male 36 Higher NGO Male 34 Higher NGO Female 41 Higher NGO Male 29 Higher NGO Female 57 Higher NGO Male 27 Higher NGO Female 39 Higher Scholar Male 73 Higher Scholar Male 58 Higher Scholar Female 52 Higher Scholar Male 51 Higher Scholar Female 53 Higher Scholar Female 65 Higher
AZERBAIJAN RUSSIA
PROFESSION GENDER AGE EDUCATION PROFESSION GENDER AGE EDUCATION Journalist Female 40 Higher Journalist Female 35 Higher Journalist Female 39 Higher Journalist Male 28 Higher Journalist Female 32 Higher Journalist Female 27 Higher NGO Male 50 Higher NGO Male 43 Higher NGO Female 52 Higher NGO Male 54 Higher NGO Male 41 Higher NGO Female 41 Higher Scholar Male 70 Higher Scholar Male 62 Higher Scholar Male 54 Higher Scholar Male 61 Higher Scholar Male 65 Higher Scholar Male 58 Higher About Internews Europe NTERNEWS EUROPE is an international development organisation specialising in supporting independent media, freedom of information and free expression Iaround the globe. The vast majority of our programmes are targeted at crisis-hit populations, emerging democracies and some of the world’s poorest countries.
This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Internews Europe and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
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