NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF

Key Provisions

Minsk Unipack 2004

1 UDC [338.1+316.42] (476) (0473)

The National Strategy for Sustainable Development for the Period to 2020 of the Republic of Belarus has been approved by the National Sustainable Development Commission of Belarus (Protocol № 11/15 PR of 6 May, 2004) and the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of Belarus (Protocol № 25 of 22 June, 2004).

National Sustainable Development Commission of Belarus:

V. N. Drazhin — Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus (Chairman of the National Commission); N. P. Zaichenko — Minister of Economy of Belarus (Deputy Chairman of the National Commission); V. M. Podolyako — First Deputy Minister of Environment (Deputy Chairman of the National Commission); A. N. Sychev — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Chairman of the National Commission); A. E. Raiman — First Secretary of the Office of Humanitarian, Ecological, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Executive Secretary of the National Commission); A. N. Rachevsky — Head of International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Environment (Secretary of the National Commission).

Members of the Commission:

A. V. Bogdanovich (Research Institute of Economy (RIE), Ministry of Economy of Belarus), B. V. Ivanov (Ministry of Education), I. M. Kachanovsky (Office of the Council of Ministers of Belarus), V. I. Klyuchenovich (Ministry of Health), L. V. Kozlovskaya (Belarusian State University), E. P. Kolos (Ministry of Labor and Social Protection), V. G. Korduba (BelEnergo Concern), A. M. Kurlypo (Ministry of Finances), V. V. Melnikov (Ministry of Internal Affairs), P.G. Nikitenko (National Academy of Sciences of Belarus), A. I. Nichkasov (Ministry of Construction and Architecture), V. K. Parhotz (Ministry of Defense), I. G. Tushinsky (Ministry of Justice), V. G. Ulasen (Ministry of Justice), N. T. Yushkevich (Ministry of Forest Management).

Editorial Board:

Y. M. Alexandrovich, Doctor of Economy A. V. Bogdanovich, PhD L. M. Kryukov, PhD S. S. Polonik, PhD O. V. Sivograkov, PhD T. M. Starchenko

National Strategy for Sustainable Development for the Period to 2020 of the Republic of Belarus/ The National Sustainable Development Commission of Belarus. – , 2004. – 76 pp.

© National Sustainable Development Commission, 2004 ISBN 9856745136 © Design by Unipack, 2004

2 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction ...... 6

1. Sustainable development model of Belarus ...... 8 1.1. New global development trends and place of Belarus in the world ...... 8 1.2. System modalities and principles of sustainable development ...... 8 1.3. Principal components of sustainable development...... 11 1.3.1. Social and economic components and imperatives of sustainable development ...... 11 1.3.2. Ecological component and imperative ...... 12 1.3.3. Potential threats to sustainable development and threshold values of socioeconomic and ecological security indicators ...... 13

2. Strategic goals and objectives, stages of transition to sustainable development in Belarus...... 16

3. National resources and socioeconomic capacity of sustainable development in Belarus ...... 18 3.1. Economicgeographic and geopolitical position ...... 18 3.2. Population and labor resources ...... 18 3.3. Natural resources potential ...... 19 3.4. Scientific, technological and innovative potential ...... 21 3.5. Information and communication technologies...... 21 3.6. Production potential...... 22 3.7. Social infrastructure ...... 23 3.8. Potential of regions, settlement system and community infrastructure development ...... 25 4. Transition of Belarus to sustainable development: essential avenues and directions ...... 28 4.1. Social policy, development of human capacity and social sector ...... 28 4.1.1. Essential directions of social policy, raising the quaity of life and living standards ...... 28

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4.1.2. Education system improvement ...... 29 4.1.3. Health improvement and health care development ...... 30 4.1.4. Development of national culture, spiritual and physical recovery.....31 4.1.5. Housing development ...... 32 4.1.6. Combating antisocial phenomena ...... 33 4.2. Development of the real sector of economy ...... 33 4.2.1. Industrial structural adjustment. and energy complex ...... 34 4.2.2. Transformations in development of agroindustrial complex ...... 35 4.2.3. Transport and communication: main development areas and parameters ...... 37 4.2.4. Improvement of construction complex ...... 37 4.2.5. Development of services sector ...... 38 4.2.6. Application of modern soft technologies...... 39 4.3. Wise environment management and nature conservation for future generations ...... 40 4.3.1. Improved environment policy and better economic mechanism of nature use...... 40 4.3.2. Conservation and wise management of natural resources ...... 41 4.3.3. Safe applications of biotechnologies and biological safety ...... 43 4.3.4. Safer use of toxic chemicals ...... 44 4.3.5. Reclamation and detoxification of industrial and municipal waste...45 4.3.6. Protection of people and territories from natural and technological disasters. Ecological security for defense facilities ...... 46 4.3.7. Development of disadvantaged areas. Mitigation of consequences of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident...... 47 4.3.8. Harmonization of the national environmental legislation with international agreements and legal acts...... 48

5. Important tools and financial mechanisms of sustainable development ...... 50 5.1. Fiscal, monetary and pricing policy ...... 50 5.2. Facilitating market and other institutional transformations in economy ...... 51 5.3. Resourcesaving technologies and environmentally safe productions: research and innovation ...... 52 5.4. Programs and mechanisms of production modernization, enterprise restructuring ...... 53 5.5. and structural policy...... 54 5.6. Regional sustainable development programs ...... 55 5.7. Activation of foreign economic policy and international cooperation ...... 56

4 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS 6. Sociopolitical sustainable development mechanisms ...... 59 6.1. Increased government role in promoting sustainable development ...... 59 6.1.1. Economic management system development...... 59 6.1.2. Spatial planning and governance improvement in regions and communities ...... 59 6.1.3. Mechanism for integrating environmental concerns in decisionmaking process. Environmental expert review of innovation and investment projects ...... 60 6.2. Development of sociopolitical relations ...... 61 6.2.1. Advancement of democracy and civil society. Empowerment of NGOs, working class, trade unions, business and science for promotion of sustainable development ...... 61 6.2.2. Empowerment of key population groups: women, children and youth...... 63 6.2.3. Regional and local sustainable development initiatives ...... 65 6.3. Ecological education, training, public information support ...... 66

7. Creating sustainable development monitoring system ...... 68

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction

The National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus covering the period to 2020 (NSDS2020) is formulated pursuant to the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On State Forecasting and SocioEconomic Development Programs of the Re public of Belarus”. For the first time, Belarusian NSDS was elaborated and approved by the Govern ment in 1997 (NSDS1997). It was predicated on the precepts and guidelines of “The Agenda 21” formulated by the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992). NSDS2020 serves to take into consideration domestic and foreign developments and changes of recent years, as well as the essential policy documents adopted by Belarus, new international agreements, including the UN Millennium Decla ration, adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 8, 2000, Political Declaration and Action Plan of the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannes burg (September 2002), etc. The key provisions of the current forecast plans and programs approved by the President or the Council of Ministers of Belarus have been further developed in the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Republic of Belarus until 2020. These documents include: the Main Areas of SocioEconomic Development of Belarus until 2010, 20012005 SocioEconomic Development Program of Belarus, 2001–2020 Inte grated Forecast of the Scientific and Technological Progress, 1998–2015 Industrial Com plex Development Program of Belarus, Program of Economy Restructuring and Com petitiveness Enhancement of Belarus, National Security Concept of Belarus as well as a number of other dedicated and sectoral programs. NSDS2020 primarily focuses on the peculiarities and patterns of the forecast peri od, followup to the “Agenda 21”, harmonization of social, economic and ecological development as equipollent and complementary elements in the “manenvironment economy” balanced system. Structurally, the National Sustainable Development Strategy of Belarus follows the next logic. The first sections describe startup conditions in Belarus in the context of global economic trends, define the key components (subsystems) of sustainable devel opment models and imperatives (requirements) ensuring they work in concert, contain evaluation of national resources and socioeconomic potential of the country. In the subsequent sections, this helped provide justification for strategic goals, stages and sce narios of moving toward sustainable development, determine key vectors and ways for the Belarusian economy to transit to sustainable development based on the cardinal triad “man – environment – economy”. Later the report expounds on the most impor tant tools, financial, economic, social and political mechanisms of sustainable develop

6 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS ment. The final chapter contains proposals on the establishment of a required monitor ing system. National Strategy for Sustainable Development for the Period to 2020 of the Republic of Belarus has been prepared by the Research Institute of Economy of the Ministry of Economy jointly with the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Food and , Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Construction and Architecture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Finances, Ministry of Justice, Committee of Science and Technology, Chernobyl Committee, Committee on Land Resources, regional executive committees and Minsk City Executive Committee, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Belarusian Research Center “Ecology”, Central Research Institute of Integrated Use of Water Resources, Institute of SocioPolitical Studies under the Presidential Administration of Belarus, as well as nongovernmental organizations involved in the NSDS development under the UNDP/Belarus Ministry of Economy Project BYE 01/001 “Development and Internalization of National Sustainable Development Strategy within the Context of the Republic of Belarus”. Draft NSDS2020 was considered and found of substantive value by the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of Belarus on March 23, 2004 (Protocol №12), approved by the National Sustainable Development Commission of Belarus on May 6, 2004 (Proto col №11/15PR).

7 INTRODUCTION Sustainable development model 1.1.of Belarus

1.1. New global develop These trends build the scenery for ment NSDS2020 development, which should be trends and place taken into account in the identification of of Belarus in the world key areas and mechanisms of national sus tainable development. As we entered the 21st century, the human st kind encountered an array of intricate Belarus entered the 21 century with problems caused, on the one hand, by col an open, exportoriented economy. Near lision of the society and nature and, on ly 60% of the country’s GDP is organically Globalization takes the other, by political, economic and cul linked to the external marketplace lead most of the credit for the tural contradictions between the highly ing to a high degree of national depen current transformation industrialized countries and the rest of the dency upon global economic trends. processes around the globe: world. According to UNDP data1, in 2002, it is an objective process of Belarus ranked 62nd in terms of human transforming individual Globalization takes most of the cred economies into the single it for the current transformation process development index (0.790) among 177 world economy. es around the globe: it is an objective pro countries grouped with countries with cess of transforming individual economies middle human capacity development. from relatively isolated systems into the Major socioeconomic indicators single world economy. Globalization given in Table 1 indicate the place of Be builds upon the international labor divi larus in the world community, European sion and economic, political and other Union and the Commonwealth of Inde relations arising out of that between states, pendent States. enterprises and companies that bring na tional economies together and create the common world market with its infrastruc ture. 1.2. System modalities and principles of sustainable The basis of the new global economy development are sectors of the 5th and 6th technological order heavily relying upon new knowledge General system modalities include both and information. The services share in the external and internal aspects of sustainable GDP of the economically developed coun development. tries is estimated at 70–75%. The role of From a civilization perspective, sus the state policy will be increasing, espe tainable development should be under cially in selecting and supporting priority stood as globally manageable development areas of science and technology. of the entire world community for the

1 Даклад аб чалавечым развiццi 2004. Mн.: Тэхналогiя, 2004.

8 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS Table 1 Place of Belarus in the world community2

Unit World European CIS Belarus of measurement community Union

Share of Belarus: total area % 0.15 0.9 0.94 population – ” – 0.16 1.4 3.6

Life expectancy: men years 63.43 75.3 62 62.8 women ” 67.73 81.4 72 74.5 Natural growth per 1,000 residents ‰ 15.7 2.8 2.0 4.9 Share of the unemployed, % % 7.3 2.3 2.3 GDP per capita (PPP) USD 7,410 25,532 5,155 7,620 Share in GDP: final consumption % 78 65 80 gross savings ” 20.1 22 24 net export ” 13 4 Commodity export per one resident USD 946 5,948 507 747 Commodity import per one resident USD 978 5,800 293 831 Production of staple commodities per capita: electrical energy kW/h 2,448 6,621 4,472 2,514 ferrous metal rolls Kg 140 419 277 146 TV sets, per 1,000 people units 22.4 7.3 73 Refrigerators and freezers, per 1,000 people units 11.4 11.1 83 animal oil Kg 1.2 1.8 6.7 grain Kg 342 537 617 517 meat, carcass weight Kg 38.6 95.3 30 63 milk Kg 80.8 319 230 485

2 Comparative analysis covers either 2000 or 2001. 3 Reference book “Status of World Population”. UNFPA, 1998.

9 1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF BELARUS purpose of conserving the biosphere and an ideological, political and socioeco human existence and ensuring the conti nomic nature for all the aspects of life and nuity in its development. Only the world sustainable development of people, fami community as a whole can be sustainable, ly, society and state or internal system for biosphere and anthroposphere are an modalities. Among them, the following entity of the planet Earth. will play a dominating role in the forma General adherence of the world com tion of a future sociopolitical system, new munity to the concept of sustainable de economic order, affirmation of values and velopment, its acknowledgement in the principles of sustainable development: “Agenda 21” and other UN instruments • formation and development of a places a commitment on all states to as unitary democratic social ruleof sume “collective responsibility for the law state; strengthening of interrelated and mutual • development of a modern civil so ly supportive basics of sustainable devel ciety; opment – economic development, social development and environmental protec • formation of a sociallyoriented tion – at local, national, regional and glo market (mixed) economy system. bal levels” (Final documents of the World The Belarusian model of a social Summit on Sustainable Development, Jo lyoriented market economy system, hannesburg, September 2002). What is in its complete form, is a highly effi more, each country is to observe a number cient economy with welldeveloped of principles, implement certain impera private enterprise and market infra tives and take into account UNset indica structure, efficacious government tors on social sector, economy and ecolo regulation stimulating entrepre gy in their linkages. neurs to expand and improve produc This global imperative of sustainable A national strategy is tion, and employees – to work better. a longterm program of a development reflecting the Agenda 21 It guarantees a high level of income for stepbystep transition to principles and recent global human devel conscientious workers, decent social wel sustainable development. opment trends, forms, strategies and par fare for the disabled, elderly and physically adigms is converted into national strate challenged, it bases itself on the principles gies and imperatives of sustainable devel of constitutional guarantees of rights and opment depending on the place and role liberties of the people, laissez faire and of a country in the world community and bona fide competition, choice of occupa national specifics. tion and employment, equality of state and A national strategy is a longterm pro private ownership (guarantees that it will gram of a stepbystep transition to sustain stay intact and be used for the boon of in able development. It identifies specific ar dividuals and society), linking employee eas of transformation and activities required incomes to performance, building social to achieve the strategic goals, necessary re partnership of the state, trade unions and sources and mechanisms, management and entrepreneurs’ associations. coordination arrangements at local, region Given the experience of implement al, national and international levels. ing NSDS1997, Agenda 21, Final Docu A set of values existing in a given so ments of the World Summit in Johannes ciety and state is instrumental in the for burg, the national strategy of Belarus builds mulation and implementation of a strate upon the following sustainable devel gy. It creates a fundamental framework of opment principles:

10 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS • the goal of any progress is man; the 1.3. Principal components level of human development shows of sustainable how mature a society, state, its so development cioeconomic policy are; “Agenda 21”, NSDS1997 and NSDS Con • growing prosperity of the nation, cept2020 define a sustainable develop poverty alleviation, alterations in ment model as a system of perfect relations consumption patterns; in the triad “man – environment – econo • prioritized development of health my” ensuring the balance of peoplecen care, education, science and culture – tered, economically efficient and environ the cornerstones of the spiritual life mentally friendly development of the of society, factors of lasting growth country in order to meet the needs of of people’s productive and creative present and future generations. The prin activities, evolution of national cipal elements of sustainable development economy; are social sector, economy and ecology, • improvement of demographic sit related activities and policy areas which uation, promotion of community ensure their steady and mutually support sustainable development; ive progress. Each of these elements derives from the basic principles of sustainable An important factor • transition to environmentally development and, at the same time, is not ensuring sustainable friendly, resourcesaving, innova development of the society is without distinctive operational features, tive type of economy; creating economic, social, objectives and imperatives of their own • strengthening linkages between cultural, legal and other within the framework of integration and conditions for the full economy and ecology, building common policy of sustainable develop development and socially ecologycentered economic system ment. positive lifestyle of an and developing it within the eco individual, as well as the nomic capacity of ecosystems; 1.3.1. Social and economic implementation of the • wise nature use implying unwaste components and impe internationally recognized constitutional rights and ful consumption of renewable re ratives of sustainable freedoms of people. sources and minimization of con development sumption of nonrenewable re sources, wider use of secondary re An important factor ensuring sustainable sources, safe waste disposal; development of the society is creating eco • development of international co nomic, social, cultural, legal and other con operation and social partnership ditions for the full development and so for conserving, protecting and re cially positive lifestyle of an individual, as storing ecosystems; well as the implementation of the inter nationally recognized constitutional • bringing ecology into minds of rights and freedoms of people. An active people, system of education and versatile man of harmony, in good physi morals in the context of new civili cal health, with education and religious zation values; fulfillment fits the needs and principles of • leading role of the state in achiev sustainable development of a modern so ing the goals and objectives of sus ciety to a tee. Gradual economic and soci tainable development, improve etal development, building a strong na ment of management systems, po tion, social consolidation which is a pre litical mechanisms of decision requisite for the strengthening of demo making and implementation. cratic institutions and the civil society all

11 1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF BELARUS contribute to personality development tention (priorities) in light of the Plan of and promotion of social interests. Implementation of the World Summit on The social aspect of a sustainable de Sustainable Development in Johannesburg velopment strategy is based on the princi are: ples of unity and interplay of social sector, • sustainable livelihoods and quality economy and environment. And it is im of life; portant to provide social policy with a • poverty alleviation; leading role in the society management • changes in consumption and pro system, identify the key areas and imple duction patterns; mentation techniques, and prioritize them based on the sustainable develop • health care and improvement; ment objectives. • improvement of demographic sit In social sector, the primary ob uation; jective is to achieve scientifically • counteracting crime in the life of so grounded parameters of living stan ciety. dards, increase life expectancy, improve the living environment of people, de 1.3.2. Ecological component velop their social activities, family plan and imperative ning, rationalization of personal con sumption scales and patterns, provid NSDS’s ecological component repre ing equal access to education, medical sents a seminal constituent of the sus assistance and health recovery; social tainable development triad “man – en protection of the elderly, physically vironment – economy”. It comprises challenged and other vulnerable target three aspects: groups. It is envisaged that the environ • environment per se, natural re mental awareness of the population sources; should be raised to mould a responsible attitude to the biosphere as a cornerstone • the process of man/environment of life, observe the laws by which it func interaction; tions as well as restrictions and bans relat • environmental policy supporting ing to and arising out of them. Thus, it is a the ecological imperative in the in model of effective economic practices, terest of the society’s full range of wise consumption and nature use, and activities. healthy lifestyles that we seek to build. In moving toward a sustainable de Social imperative is therefore a velopment model, the first aspect includes need to develop and effectively utilize hu continual tracking and evaluation of the man capital, meet its needs in the fullest current condition and changes in environ way possible. ment’s capacity, including the capacity of Economic imperative is, in turn, ecosystems used for economic purposes, about transforming the national econo to keep the anthropogenic pressure from my into an effective, competitive, social exceeding maximum allowable levels. lyoriented, resourcesaving, energyeffi The second aspect deals with the cient and environmentally friendly system. implementation of a set of activities de The most essential socioeconomic signed to gradually reduce the human pres parameters of sustainable development for sure on environment, create conditions for the period to 2020 and a matter of top at the environment’s capacity to grow and

12 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS restore natural ecosystems of Belarus up to The content and substance of the a level where the stability of environment, ecological imperative changes as a time conservation of biodiversity and protec function and depending on the progress tion of human health will be guaranteed. toward set objectives, with a bias to trans formation of economicecological rela The third aspect synthesizes all sys tions (economic objectives take priority) tem characteristics of the ecological com into ecologicaleconomic (ecological ob ponent in general and is implemented in jectives take priority) and later also social NSDS in the process of elaborating and ecological relations of nature use (social carrying out ecological policy based on the and ecological objectives take priority). ecological imperative – a requirement by which ecological concerns are to be main streamed into socioeconomic develop 1.3.3. Potential threats ment policies. to sustainable develop The ecological imperative includes ment and threshold the following requirements: values of socioecono mic and ecological • at the center of attention there security indicators should be man who has the right to lead a healthy and fruitful life in har The Republic of Belarus is a small country mony with the nature; with highly open economy and a large degree of dependency on external natural • equal opportunities for the devel resources and energy. Largescale transition opment and conservation of envi processes determine a new stage in its de ronment for the present and future velopment – an ongoing complicated generations; process of redesigning a decadelong eco • environmental protection should nomic system. This creates a series of in become an integral part of the over ternal and external threats, the vast ma all socioeconomic process and jority of which are economydriven and cannot be considered in isolation can be to a great extent addressed depend from it; ing on the condition the Belarusian econ • unlike in conventional nature con omy is in. servation practices, the emphasis In terms of substance, socio should be shifted to ecoawareness economic security of the country is a con raising activities relating to econo dition of social sector and economy and my, above all, to eliminate the caus their institutions, which ensures the pro es, not effects, of negative techno tection of national socioeconomic inter genic impact; ests against internal and external risks. • socioeconomic development Internal threats are the most danger should be given a clear sense of di ous. Listed below are the key threats: rection toward the improvement of • inadequate legislation regulating people’s living standards within the economic relations and ineffectual allowable boundaries of ecosystems’ mechanism of law implementa economic capacity; tion; • bringing ecology into minds and • underdevelopment of civil society world perceptions of people, their institutions, inconsistent reforms education systems. and preservation of a large number

13 1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF BELARUS of direct controls in the hands of which has the following government agencies with no actu potential internal threats: unallowable al monitoring mechanism as to (above the critical mark) depreciation of how they are applied; fixed assets at fuelandenergy enterprises • economic crime, accompanied by and energy consumers. rising criminalization of economy, External threats to national energy corruption, widespread conceal security are: sharp oil market fluctuations; ment of profits and tax evasion; monodependency on energy imports; re • structural distortions of the econo gional conflicts in the world; contingent my we inherited from the past, ag situations arising out of breach of contract gravated by crisis in a number of vi by foreign partners. tal industries; To prevent these risks from materi • poor competitiveness of the na alizing, it is prudent to diversify imported tional economy caused by obsolete resources by type of fuel and supplier based technologies in most of the indus on the development of alternative energy tries, high degree of energy and re supply schemes and increase in their stra source intensity, prohibitive pro tegic reserves; increase a share of domestic duction costs; energy resources in the fuelandenergy structure up to 30%; develop joint pro • investment downturn; grams of collective security scaleup with • deterioration of scientific and tech the world community, first of all, with the nological potential. countries supplying energy resources to External socioeconomic threats to Belarus. sustainable development include: Socioeconomic security is closely • high dependency of Belarus on de related to ecological security – a prereq liveries of mineral resources, many uisite for sustainable development – which types of commodities, including of reflects how well human life and health strategic use, some food products, and living environment are protected and accessories; against possible harmful effects of eco nomic and other activities, natural disas • loss of traditional markets for mili ters and technological emergencies. tary equipment and engineering in dustries; The current level of ecological secu rity in Belarus is so far incompliant with • discriminatory measures adopted sustainable development goals. Nature by foreign countries or their com conservation activities undertaken in the munities with regard to trade with country fail to bring the quality of envi Belarus, which are particularly ronment to sought levels. Virtually all strong in industrial export, tech major towns and cities regularly report a nology and knowhow transfer variety of pollutants (formaldehyde, car markets; bon oxide, dioxide, phenol, am • domestic producers of goods and monia, dust, etc.) exceeding maximum al services (especially consumer lowable concentrations by 2–3, and some goods) are pressed out of the mar times even 10+ times. ket by foreign agents. Concentrations of pollutants (oil A special role in ensuring sustainable products, nitrogen compounds, heavy development of the country is attached to metals, etc.) are occasionally found in sur

14 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS face water exceeding the standards by 20 The primary objective of state policy and more times. Groundwater of most of in the field of ecological security is keep the shaft wells used for rural drinking wa ing it at a high level in the context of eco ter supply is not up to quality standards in nomic growth. This means reaching the terms of chemical and microbiological following subobjectives: firstly, preven content. tion of a threat to human life and health as High radioactive soil contamination a result of environmental pollution; sec is still very widespread. The problem of ondly, prevention of degradation of natu toxic waste piling up at industrial sites of ral resources potential and gene pool, as large enterprises continues to be unre well as the destruction of natural and cul solved. Every year local technogenic acci tural monuments; thirdly, prevention of dents happen at different sites with mas accidents at risk sites; fourthly, minimiza sive pollutant discharges. Economic use of tion of socioeconomic and ecological the land brings about soil erosion and deg consequences in case of an emergency radation. situation.

15 1. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MODEL OF BELARUS Strategic goals and objectives, stages 2.2.of transition to sustainable development in Belarus

The current trends, global and national ing standards and quality of life based on imperatives define the strategic goal of the development and wise use of human sustainable development in Belarus capacity, enhancement of economy’s effi as the dynamic improvement of pub ciency and competitiveness. Priority areas lic welfare, enrichment of culture during this period are: and morals of people on the basis of • human capacity development based intellectual and innovative develop on improved education, health ment of economy, social sector and care, housing construction and oth spirituality, conservation of envi er services sectors; ronment for the present and future generations. • innovative development of the na tional economy; The key sources of sustainable devel opment should be: human capacity, scien • building export potential through tific, production and innovation poten increased competitiveness, techno tial, natural resources, advantageous geo logical retooling, application of sci graphic location of the country, while the enceintensive, resourcesaving, en “high intellect – innovation – prosperity” vironmentally friendly produc constitute top priorities. tions; Transition to innovative develop • boosting agroindustrial complex Strategic goal of and social recovery of rural areas. sustainable development in ment, system reforms in economy and so Belarus as the dynamic ciety are the essential tasks of sustainable Stage two (2011–2020). The pur improvement of public development in Belarus. pose of sustainable development is to bring welfare, enrichment of Figure 1 shows the top level of NSDS harmony into relationships of the society culture and morals of 2020 objective tree, key tasks and tools to and nature based on economic develop people on the basis of implement them. ment that does not exceed the reproduc intellectual and innovative tion capacity of the biosphere and rear development of economy, It will take a lengthy period of time range priorities in human values from the social sector and spirituali comprising several stages of socioeco material to the spiritual. It is at this stage ty, conservation of environ nomic development to achieve the ulti that the groundwork of a new postindus ment for the present and mate goal of the national sustainable de future generations. trial information society will be laid, with velopment strategy. a new technological basis designed to en Stage one (until 2010). The objec sure a smooth transition to resource tive of this stage is to further improve liv saving production.

16 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS 17 2. STRATEGIC GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, STAGES OF TRANSITION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BELARUS National resources and socioeconomic 3.3.capacity of sustainable development in Belarus

The role and place of a country in the meet on the territory of Belarus supple world community, its natural resources, mented by national and regional transport socioeconomic capacity and opportuni infrastructure which connects urban and ties to build it further are determinants of rural settlements of the country and affords country’s transition to sustainable devel foreign trade opportunities. opment. Geopolitically, Belarus, member of In terms of the total area (207,600 sq the CIS, is situated between the largest CIS km), Belarus is 6th among the CIS states (fol states ( in the east and northeast, lowing Russia, , the , the Ukraine in the south) and the EU states Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and 13th in Eu ( in the west and and rope. In Europe, Belarus is somewhat small Latvia in the northwest). er than Great Britain and , 2.2. Belarus intends to expand recipro times larger than Portugal and Hungary and cally beneficial cooperation with all the nearly 5 times larger than Holland and neighbors and other countries in the na Denmark. tional interests, especially in addressing In terms of population (9.9 million general regional socioeconomic and eco as of January 1, 2004), Belarus is 5th among logical issues that are of importance when Belarus boasts a the CIS states (following Russia, the moving toward sustainable development. combination of favorable Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) and factors and conditions that 14th in Europe (ahead of Austria, , contribute to its movement 3.2. Population and labor toward sustainable ). resources development. Belarus boasts a combination of fa vorable factors and conditions that con Sustainability of a country’s socioeco tribute to its movement toward sustain nomic development is determined by the able development. number and quality of population, its la bor potential, balance of skills and crafts 3.1. Economicgeographic and labor force demand, level of its com and geopolitical position petitiveness on the labor market.

Belarus enjoys a favorable economicgeo As of early 2004, the population of graphic location, placed at the heart of the Republic of Belarus was 9,847,700. The Europe and at the crossroads of important current demographic situation is marked trade and communication systems be by natural loss of population caused by tween the industrially developed countries steadily declining birth rate and rising of Western Europe and parts of Eurasia rich death rate, deterioration of age structure in abundant natural resources. and, as a consequence, ageing of the na tion. Incountry migration flows mainly TransEuropean transport corridors take a villagetocity course leading up to

18 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS 1.5% reduction in rural populations every cational and occupational level of employ year. ees and create real incentives for highyield Demographics of Belarus are distin labor. Improvement of employment pat guished by low birth rate – 8.9 per mille terns by occupation, labor quality upgrades (in European countries – 9–11) and high, depending on the requirements to specif untypical for the developed countries, ic skills on the national and international mortality rate (14.6 and 10–11 per mille, labor market will be placed in tight focus respectively). As a result, the natural popu of priority. A labor force competitiveness lation loss (5.6 per mille) is much greater strategy presupposes tackling the issue of than in Western European countries (0.1– external labor migration, including such 0.7 per mille). tasks as assisting Belarusian citizens in se curing employment abroad, monitoring The population decline tendency is of foreign labor force, prevention of ille bound to prevail in a longterm perspec gal labor migration, protection of the na tive. The average annual population will tional labor market. be dropping from 9.9 million in 2003 to 9.5 million in 2010 and down to 9 million in 2020. Rural population will shrink most 3.3. Natural resources intensively because of further depopulation potential and outflow of people to the city. By 2020, urban population is also expected to de The availability of natural resources and crease and positive migration gain will not their wise management and use in many ensure the replacement level. respects determine the opportunities for In order to mitigate these adverse sustainable development. trends, demographic development should The supply of water resources in aim to improve health of people and re Belarus is relatively high. The available nat duce mortality rate, especially in working ural water resources are sufficient to meet age men. Special attention should be paid water needs, present and future. The sur to creating a supportive family environ face water resources amount to 57.9 km3 in ment in which giving birth to and raising an average year, including the ones gener several children would be encouraged. ated within the country’s borders – 34 km3. Labor force serves as a resource basis In highwater years, the total river runoff ensuring sustainable development. Belarus rises to 92.4 km3 and in lowwater years it possesses substantial labor potential. The drops to 37.2 km3 a year. Annual renewable labor force strength reached 6.1 million (natural) underground water resources are people in 2002, or 61.6% of the country’s 15.9 km3, the annual underground water population. storage is 2.3 km3. In the long term, labor potential will The strategic goal in the field of be influenced by ablebodied population country’s water conservation is to improve growth until 2006 which will reduce dras efficiency of water use and quality of water tically in the subsequent period. This will resources balanced by community needs lead to an increase in labor force up to and possible climate change. This goal is 6,193,000 in 2005 to be followed by a re achievable through an integrated approach verse trend – down to 6,064,000 in 2010 to tackling waterrelated organizational, and 5,301,000 in 2020. legal, financial and economic problems. Efficient employment policy is ex Land resources. Land potential of pected to be established to improve edu Belarus is estimated as relatively high. In

19 3. NATIONAL RESOURCES AND SOCIOECONOMIC CAPACITY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BELARUS recent years, some changes have taken place ated gas, and brown coal deposits, in the land structure. They are related to Belarus is unable to provide itself with suf the restoration of land’s natural and eco ficient fuel resources using the domestic nomic capacity, provision of plots of land sources. The oil production in the country to the citizenry, transfer of marginal agri is only 12–13% of what is needed and in cultural land into care of forest enterpris the future this pattern is unlikely to change. es, optimization of agricultural land use, In the future, potential and explored allocation of construction sites, etc. In reserves of mineral resources will enable comparison with Western European coun the country to meet its needs in potassi tries, Belarus is distinguished by wellpre um and rock in full and support the served forests and swamps. Besides, it has a required level of building materials. higher supply of agricultural land per one resident, including arable land (0.92 and The strategic objective of sustainable 0.56 ha, respectively) which is 1.5–2 times development in the field of mineral re greater than in Europe. This trend is bound sources is to increase supply with domes to remain in the future as well. tically extracted mineral resources, ensure their wise use, minimize negative impact As a result of the accident at the Cher of extraction upon the environment and nobyl Nuclear Power Plant, 1.3 million ha lower import dependency. of agricultural land and 1.6 million ha of forested land were contaminated. Forest resources. The Republic of 248,900 ha were regarded as radioactively Belarus is quite wellendowed with forest hazardous land as of January 1, 2003. resources. Between the two most recent inventories (from January 1, 1994, until By 2020, expectations are that the January 1, 2001), the total area covered by current trend of agricultural land reduc forest has increased by 6.9% to amount to tion will continue as a result of redesig 9.24 million ha. Forested land increased up nation of approximately 10% of agricul to 37.8% practically reaching the optimal tural land, continued land diversions for mark. nonagricultural purposes and decreased . A stock of wood per capita is equal to 130.4 m3, which is 2.2 times greater than Mineral resources of Belarus form the European average. the basis for production development and are the keystone of economy’s sustainable However, there are a number of un development. Belarusian depths have been resolved problems the Belarusian forestry found to contain over 4,000 mineral de is facing: the composition of forest is far posits. from perfect in terms of tree varieties; ar eas covered by hard wood plantations are Belarus annually produces 1.8 mil 1.5–2.0 times smaller than what they could lion tons of oil, 28 million tons of potas be; there is a high percentage of soft wood; sium salt, 1 million tons of rocksalt, forest grows unevenly across the country. 3.8 million tons of dolomite, 40,000 tons of sapropel, 700,000 tons of molding sand, The overall strategy for the conser 3.6 million m3 of building stones, 19 mil vation and sustainable use of forest re lion m3 of building sand and sandand sources in the country should be governed gravel materials, 3.4 million m3 of clay for by the following principles: making bricks and lightweight aggregates • multipurpose, nonexhaustive and and 0.14 million tons of glass sand. relatively even use of wood, second Despite the availability of oil, associ ary forest products (mushrooms,

20 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS berries, nuts, etc.) and other values in the Chernobyl area, there is the Polesie of forest; Radiation Ecological Reserve, which per • conservation and strengthening of forms specific functions and is not incor environmentforming, protective, porated in the SPA network. The total size sanitary and other natural values of of specially protected areas is 1.7 million the forest; ha, or 8% of the country’s area. By 2020, the SPA area is expected to increase up to 9– • reproduction, improvement of for 10% of the country’s size. est quality and composition, yield growth, protection and conserva tion of forest; 3.4. Scientific, technological and innovative potential • sustainable use of forest land; • conservation of forest gene pool, bi The scientific and technological potential ological and landscape diversity. of Belarus, i.e. resources and conditions for research, development and innovation, is In general, the condition of forest represented virtually in all the fields of eco resources, their natural dynamics, imple nomic activities – from production to mentation of proposed strategic activities management. Over 300 scientific organi guarantee that Belarus’ needs in wood and zations, universities, large production en nonwood forest products are fully met, terprises are engaged in research and de ecological functions of the forest are con velopment. They employ 30,700 people, served and enhanced, and the country’s including 18,500 researchers and 12,200 export potential on that front consider engineers and auxiliaries. ably increased. The bulk of R&D falls upon natural Biodiversity of Belarus is of both (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology) great national and international value, be and technical sciences; medicine and agri The goal of the national cause it supports global ecological balance culture also hold a great potential in that science and technology and conservation of the biosphere’s gene respect. 13.9% of Belarusian industrial en policy is to shift to innova pool. Natural and socioeconomic specif terprises undertake an active innovative tive economic development... ics of Belarus contribute to establishing approach, the share of innovation in all and conserving a multitude of rare ecosys products shipped is 9.3%, a share of high tems, flora and fauna, which have disap technology products in commodity ex peared or are endangered in Europe. Our ports is 3.7%. country has managed to preserve consid The goal of the national science and erable areas of natural landscapes that keep technology policy is to shift to innovative the most valuable genetic properties. economic development, gradually im Specially protected areas (SPAs) play prove competitiveness of domestic re a key role in the conservation of biodiver search and development products, speed sity in Belarus. As of January 1, 2004, sanc up their application in the interest of man, tuary areas of the country included the Be economy and environment. rezinsky Biosphere Reserve (80.900 ha); 4 national parks – Belovezhskaya Pushcha 3.5. Information and (87.400 ha), Braslav Lakes (69.1), Pripyatsky communication (82.3) and Narochansky (94,000 ha); 97 technologies national reserves (841.300 ha) and 456 – local reserves (309.700 ha); 337 national Most of the countries pursue a develop and 572 local monuments of nature. With ment strategy of moving toward informa

21 3. NATIONAL RESOURCES AND SOCIOECONOMIC CAPACITY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BELARUS tion society, which is technologically based employed in the economy and produce on the modern information and commu nearly 30% of the national gross domestic nication infrastructure. Developing infor product. mation and communication technologies However, technologies used in in (ICT) have revolutionized the nature of dustry have grown obsolete and outdated. global relationships and possibilities for Most of the enterprises are predominantly economic and social development. Tran equipped according to the 4th technolog sition to sustainable development largely ical order, while the industrialized coun depends on the ever expanding ICT inte tries have moved to the 5–6th orders. De gration into society and largescale utili preciation of fixed assets used in produc zation of information resources. In this tion has generally reached 80%, greatly ex respect. It is of strategic importance for ceeding the critical barrier. Belarus to prepare itself for the world of information. A majority of industrial enterprises do not operate at full capacity. A high de The primary objective of developing gree of obsolescence and depreciation of It is of strategic information processes and ICT sector fur fixed assets used in production makes it importance for Belarus to ther is to create a common information difficult to utilize them by most of pro prepare itself for the world environment in the country as one of the of information. ducts items. stages involved in moving toward infor mation society. The latter would ensure Below is the list of crucial tasks de conditions for improved economic func signed to improve the effective use of pro tioning, more efficient national and local duction potential: governance, rights to free search, transfer • to expedite renewal process of fixed and dissemination of information about assets through application of ad economic and social development of so vanced equipment, machinery and ciety. technologies, including of domes For achieving this goal, it is neces tic origin; sary to establish a national computeras • to develop and apply efficacious sisted information system, build a com tools to bring investment into in mon national information database and dustry to expand enterprise capital infrastructure allowing for computeras base, bank loans, foreign investment; sisted interplay of systems at all levels with an access to global international informa • to consolidate resources in priority tion networks, as well as the rights of indi areas, above all, for the development viduals and legal entities to have free ac of exportoriented and importre cess to open information within this sys placement productions; tem. • to develop and implement invest ment projects geared toward the 3.6. Production potential production and release of market competitive products; A country’s sustainable development heavily relies on the current production • to undertake certification of prod potential, its structure and quality. Indus ucts and production; try is at the heart of production potential • to ease tax pressure applied to en of Belarus. It accounts for 39.6% of fixed terprises and take other regulation productive assets; 2,390 various enterpris steps to activate industrial capital es employ 27.3% of the total population investment processes.

22 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS The production potential of the hancing its competitiveness and thus lead agroindustrial complex is made up of ing to industry retooling and retrofits. land, fixed assets and labor resources. Transport complex of the Repub Agriculture uses 8,924,100 ha of agri lic of Belarus comprises automobile, rail cultural land, including 5,558,200 ha of road, air, internal water, pipeline and mu arable land (0.9 ha of agricultural land, of nicipal electrical transport. Belarus has suf which 0.56 ha is arable, per capita). Approx ficiently welldeveloped transport and imately 29% of fixed assets, more than 11% communication infrastructure (railroad of the total volume of gross added value and highways, air fields, river ports, pipe and over 12% of those economically em lines). At the same time, the current state ployed are in the farming sector. of the transport potential generally fails Depreciation of fixed assets used in to meet the requirements for moving the agriculture has reached 76–77%, in process country toward sustainable development. industry – 70–75%. Only 18–20% of tech Vehicles are very old and incompli nologies measure up to world standards. ant with European and world standards. In strategic terms, sustainable devel This is the key obstacle reducing the effi opment of the agroindustrial complex re ciency of transport operations, reflecting quires production intensification using upon its competitiveness and posing a se newest technological advances, modern rious threat to environment and traffic ization of production facilities and tools, safety. introduction of resourcesaving, non waste and environmentally friendly tech 3.7. Social infrastructure nologies. To alleviate social concerns and im Sectors of social infrastructure play an im prove demographic situation in rural ar portant role in developing the socioeco eas, interventions directed toward hous nomic capacity of sustainable develop ing improvement, transport develop ment in the Republic of Belarus. Against ment, settlement pattern optimization, the backdrop of current socioeconomic creation of new jobs in small and medium reforms, it was possible to preserve a rela sized business and services sector, reviv tive stability of the social sector in the coun al of traditional arts and crafts will be try, keeping its different areas under con useful. trol, securing the constitutional rights of The Republic of Belarus has a well citizens to health care, access to education, developed construction complex. It is solution of housing concerns. responsible for up to 6% of GDP and those The success of transition to sustain employed in economy; it operates more able development largely depends on the than 4,000 building and maintenance or level of education. In Belarus, it is quite ganizations, over 1,400 companies and high – 99.6% of adult population (15 years productions of building materials, 254 and older). Education index as a constitu design and exploration bureaus. ent element of the human development To ensure sustainable development index (HDI) is equal to 0.950 allowing Be of the construction complex, it is neces larus to be in the lead of the CIS states (Rus sary to introduce new technologies that sia – 0.93, the Ukraine – 0.93, Kazakhstan – keep material and energy intensity of build 0.92, Uzbekistan – 0.91). ing products low at all stages of the in On the other hand, education system vestment and construction process, en has a number of problems to be addressed

23 3. NATIONAL RESOURCES AND SOCIOECONOMIC CAPACITY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BELARUS in the coming years: lack of computers in In spite of all that, health status of schools; application of information tech the nation does not show stability and is nologies in the teaching process and equip characterized by increasing mortality and ment procurement. morbidity rates by the main groups of ill In order to successfully move toward nesses, especially, cardiovascular and on sustainable development, it is equally im cological, as well as a high level of acci portant to retain the best practice and ex dentrelated injuries. The quick spread of perience of the education system and to socially dangerous diseases, such as drug adjust it based on global trends in the area. abuse and HIV, and their high prevalence To ensure sustainable development of ed among younger population are particularly ucation, an effective financing model will alarming. be required as well as the availability of The following is envisaged to ad multiple funding sources. dress problems in health care: introduc As a national resource, culture rep tion of new funding procedure based on resents a combination of tangible and spir nationwide budgetary allotment standards itual values, including the national lan per resident, improvement of manage guage, historical and cultural heritage, tra ment system, implementation of state and ditions, folklore, vernacular arts and crafts, departmental health care development professional and amateur art, cultural and programs, higher responsibility of govern artistic education, establishments and staff, ment agencies of all levels for the health of cultural relations between nations and the population. states, material and financial support. Physical education and sport in The state cultural policy is designed Belarus serve the single purpose of making to preserve the national identity of Belaru the nation healthier and developing phys sian culture and traditions; revival, preser ically functional younger generation. vation and development of cultural lega A comprehensive modernization of cy potential; accessibility of cultural values sports facilities is taking place in the coun The state cultural to the general public; protection of spiri try: modern sports facilities of world stan policy is designed to tual, intellectual and cultural values; inte dard, stadiums, ice palaces, playgrounds preserve the national gration into world’s cultural system on and other athletic facilities are being built identity of Belarusian equal terms with all the other participants in the country which greatly contributes culture and traditions... of global cultural processes. to the promotion of physical training and Health of the nation largely deter recreation, as well as athletic achievements mines development and realization of of Belarus internationally. human capital called upon to contribute Belarus possesses the substantial to sustainable socioeconomic develop potential. There are over 16,000 ment of our country. Therefore public sites of cultural and natural heritage in the health improvement and establishment of country, of which, however, only less than effective health care are on the priority list 10% are used for tourism purposes. of the government. Belarus has a reputation at the world Belarus has developed a network of tourism market as a state with an ancient treatment and prevention centers, nation history, rich culture and diverse nature. al and regional qualified medical assistance Tourism marketing and promotion, both centers, the range of healthrelated ser domestically and internationally, are very viced offered to the public is constantly inadequate; real cooperation with foreign increasing. companies and international tourism or

24 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS ganizations is nonexistent. As a result, construction and maintenance of commu tourism rating of Belarus is low. nity engineering facilities, provision of fail Incountry tourism is extremely un safe lifesupport services to the public (wa derdeveloped. Low purchasing power of ter supply, sewerage, gas, heat, power, people, rising traveling costs affect chil household waste collection and disposal), dren, youth, nonorganized and ecologi other services relating to housing manage cal tourism in a negative way. All of this ment, maintenance and repairs. dictates the need for state support of tour ism and creation of the necessary tourism 3.8. Potential of regions, infrastructure. settlement system and A determining factor of a country’s community infrastructure social sustainable development and pub development lic prosperity is housing. It is the core of the social infrastructure and a material ba Transition to a sustainable development sis for population reproduction. Housing model in Belarus is made in the specific conditions underlie family environment context of developing material environ and are key to meeting family needs. ment of regional communities and ter ritories. Such aspects of the material en As of January 1, 2003, the amount of vironment as the condition of produc housing in the Republic of Belarus reached tion and social infrastructure, engineer 2 216.6 million m in total size (3,856,200 ing systems, types and intensity of area apartments and houses): in cities and ur use and protection, attitudes to the his ban villages, this indicator was equal to torical and cultural heritage can either 2 138.8 million m , in rural areas – 77.8 mil foster sustainable development or ham 2 lion m . per progress to it. The average housing supply as of this Historically, Belarus has a settlement 2 date was 21.9 m of total space per capita: pattern which reflects peculiarities of nat 2 in urban communities – 19.7 m /person ural conditions, economic activities, so 2 and in rural communities – 27.2 m /per ciodemographic, historical and cultural son. Compared to 1995, the supply of hous development of the state. The settlement 2 ing space increased by 2.2 m per person. system represents a network of residential These indicators are basically within the communities connected by spatial, socio growth parameters stipulated by NSDS economic and cultural links and subordi 1997 and are greater than the similar indi nate to one another as if in a hierarchy. The cators in most of the CIS states. system includes 213 urban communities At the same time, housing amenities and 24,100 rural communities. and comfort leave much more to be de Urban communities of the Republic sired, especially in rural areas where these of Belarus support 71% of the country’s indicators are approximately 30% lower population. Nearly half of the population than in cities. House heat protection and (46.4%) is concentrated in 14 big and large planning concept are also in need of im cities (over 100,000 residents) – national provement. and regional centers, including in Minsk – In order to move to sustainable de 17%, 5 large cities (more than 250,000 re velopment, it is necessary to improve the sidents) – 18.0% of the total population. conditions of housing and communal The population of rural communi services, a sector which is responsible for ties is 29% of the total.

25 3. NATIONAL RESOURCES AND SOCIOECONOMIC CAPACITY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BELARUS The population of big and large cit tific and technological potential of ies tends to increase. The primary source the centercity; of urban population growth is migration, • relatively developed suburban rec which does not only make up for natural reation industry; loss of population, but also ensures popu lation increase. • possibility to choose type of hous ing (urban, rural, summer house). Spatial influence of big and large cit ies, as well as actively developing medi Barriers to sustainable development umsized towns (supporting towns of the of urbanized areas include: national settlement system), natural re • poor quality of the environment, sources of Belarus, already in use or to be high pollution of surface water reservoirs, used, determine the specific development ground water, soil and air; of individual regions. In conformity with • high technogenic pressure on nat the State Integrated Spatial Organization ural landscapes; Scheme of the Republic of Belarus, within • ineffective use of intercommuni the existing administrative and territorial ty areas, especially those accommodating division, 4 types of areas can be distin transport infrastructure and engineering guished: urbanized, agricultural, natural (roads, power lines, pipelines, treatment and special (areas contaminated with ra plants, dumping grounds, building mate diation). Depending on the dominant rials mines, etc). function, every administrative district falls under one of the four headings. The dominance of land used for ag ricultural purposes and a large share of ru Urbanized areas include Minsk Re ral population are illustrative of agricul gion and areas influenced by supporting tural areas. Their leading function is to pro towns of the national settlement system. duce and process agricultural commodi Distinguishing features of urbanized areas ties. The demographic potential of agri are high concentration of urban popula cultural areas is continually declining due tion, urban functions, intensive agricultur to a number of stubborn and longstand al production, high mobility of people re ing factors: migration from village to city, lated to their employment, social services, low birth rate, high mortality, low life ex recreation, commuting from and to a place pectancy. By 2020, the rural population of residence. may decrease by 30%. The labor potential The key factors fostering their sus of rural areas is generally under the influ tainable development are: ence of factors hampering its development. Decreasing rural population and arable • contribution of urbanized areas to land expansion is to a large degree adjust socioeconomic recovery of com ed for by intensification of farming prac munities and territories they are tices and their saturation with fixed assets. comprised of; However, generally speaking, the poten • access to welldeveloped social in tial of these areas has greatly diminished. frastructure of a city for the people, The major factors contributing to sustain including from rural areas: hospi able development of rural areas are: tals, universities, leisure develop • relatively even and dense network ment centers, community services; of small urban communities pro • application of advanced agricultur vides for tighter “cityvillage” liai al technologies based on the scien son and improved servicing of ru

26 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS ral communities. A distance be • deteriorated maintenance of service tween small towns – centers of ad establishments, houses and engi ministrative districts – does not neering infrastructure. There is a exceed 40 km, small town influence high portion (up to 80%) of depre zone is about 20 km; ciated housing space in rural areas; • high fertility of agricultural land in • local roads are inadequately devel farming areas of western, south oped marring the “small town – vil western and central zones; lage” liaison and, consequently, so • wide diversity of natural and cultural cial services of rural communities landscapes; and territories. • fine cultural traditions; Natural areas consist of territories with predominant natural landscapes. Nat • relatively favorable ecological con ural areas form large natural complexes and ditions for development. regions with a high tourism and recreation The most relevant factors impeding potential. Within them, reserves, sanctu sustainable development of rural areas and aries and national parks are found. Regions communities are as follows: with a high tourism and recreation poten tial possess unique features for the setup of • critical shortages of labor force in healthimprovement vacation, education the overwhelming majority of dis al and ecological tourism, treatment at spas tricts; and resorts. • inconsistent operations of enter The most relevant factors contribut prises, their low paying ability, ris ing to sustainable development of natural ing unemployment, low invest areas are: ment activity; • unique natural landscapes, rich • low potential of agricultural land in biodiversity; a number of northern and north eastern areas; • applied legal status of specially pro tected areas; • narrowed access to education, low quality of community services, lim • rich medicinal resources (mineral ited medical services, lack of medi waters, mud, clean forests, etc.); cal equipment; • rich historical and cultural heritage.

27 3. NATIONAL RESOURCES AND SOCIOECONOMIC CAPACITY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BELARUS Transition of Belarus toward sustainable 4.4.development: essential avenues and directions

4.1. Social policy, develop • creating conditions and opportu ment of human capacity nities for all employable citizens to and social sector gain a livelihood to meet their needs; 4.1.1. Essential directions of social policy, raising • ensuring sustainable population the quality of life and employment by retaining jobs at living standards vital and promising enterprises, creating new jobs, including in the Man takes a central place in a sustainable private sector of the economy, socioeconomic development model as a • putting in place a flexible HR train personality, consumer and producer of ing and retraining system; goods and services, source of new ideas and their main implementer. • ensuring growth of real incomes of the population; The essential requirements for hu man capacity development are stability of • gradual increases in the level of sal the society, effective government social ary as a key source of income and policy designed to create an enabling en the prime incentive for employee’s vironment for decent livelihoods and un work; Man takes a central place in a sustainable restricted development of human beings. • developing the middle class as a fac socioeconomic develop The social stability will be ensured by tor of the society’s stabilization ment model as a personali means of an effective government social through considerable income ty, consumer and producer policy. growth and poverty reduction; of goods and services, The prime goal of social policy is • raising the level of pension support; source of new ideas and to ensure sustained quality of life and their main implementer. • poverty reduction; living standards in the longterm and create conditions for human capaci • improving social protection of the ty development. And the government is needy via a reinforced targeted sup to provide every ablebodied individual port for the population, stream with such conditions, under which they lined system of preferences and ben will be able, through own work and enter efits, better social services, etc. prise, to provide for themselves and their For the implementation of social families and fulfill social commitments to policy targets, the longterm natio the fullest extent to the physically chal nal strategy will aim to gradually raise lenged, families with many children, the the income level of the population, disabled and the poor, etc. as a cardinal indicator of living stan In order to achieve the key goal, the dards. Public income and salary growth is main areas of social policy are to be: considered as a factor of economic growth

28 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS and expansion of internal consumer de the quality of life of the population en mand. gaged in employment. It should be devel oped in such a way as to ensure public safe The areas of priority in the salary guards against social and professional risks policy should be: drastic salary growth of related to loss of income, job or health, employees as a key incomegenerating and to build an adequate economic basis source and an important work incentive; to cover main social insurance risks. improvement of work performance and economic efficiency in all sectors of econ In the field of social protection, omy; growing investment capacity of peo the main targets are to ensure state sup ple; reduction of tax pressure applied to port of the underprivileged and needy, raise salary funds of all economic entities regard the level of government minimum social less of their form of ownership which will safeguards and optimize relief plans. contribute to creating new jobs and legal In the forecast period, social servic izing shadow incomes of the population. es will be further developed as a type of Poverty alleviation is the top pri targeted assistance and an integral part of ority of social policy. Minimizing the level the state social protection system. It is en of poverty is a matter of frontrank im visaged that a network of ambulatory Poverty alleviation is the top portance for sustainable development in (nonstationary) facilities should take de priority of social policy. the country. This task will be addressed velopment priority as the most costeffec through the combined effects of econom tive and adapted to the real needs of peo ic growth and the improvement of living ple. Provision of social services at home standards, especially in the working pop should also be further explored. ulation. It will be also relevant to establish As the minimum and average salary integrated community centers that would and average percapita income grow, a provide a full range of social services to share of the population with income be senior citizens, the physically challenged, low the minimum subsistence budget is families, children and other population expected to be halved by 2015, which con groups. This will be done in conformity forms to the Millennium Declaration with the approved social standards mak Goals. ing services to all people who need them more accessible and of higher quality. Pension support is an essential area of social policy. The national pension sys tem has encountered a number of internal 4.1.2. Education system and external problems at this stage of de improvement velopment. Financial constraints and eco nomic problems make it difficult to main Sustainable development of the Republic tain adequate pension support and prop of Belarus largely depends on the level and erly differentiate pensions according to quality of education, public knowledge of career and employment merits. legal and ethical standards regulating the attitude of people toward the nature and It is a strategic objective of pension society, and the ability to apply this reform to create a multilevel system which knowledge in everyday life and profes would combine both allocation and sav sional activities, as well as on their capac ings mechanisms. ity to grasp the essence of socioeconom Social insurance is another impor ic transformations taking place in the tant component contributing to raising country.

29 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS In spite of complicated economic • ensure integration of the national conditions, the government continually education system into the global strives to increase the share of public ex education environment. penditures on education using the resourc In this period, the leading develop es available to it. In 2003, this share ment of education, its orientation toward amounted to 6.6% of GDP (1990 – 4.3%, needs and values of the future, postindus 2002 – 6.8%) which is comparable to world trial civilization becomes particularly im indicators (Sweden – 7.8%, France – 5.8%, portant for Belarus. In this context, the – 4.6%, Canada – 5.5%, Poland – substance and methods of teaching should 5% (according to UNESCO preliminary es be adjusted to develop creative qualities of timates). The education index was 0.950 individuals, their capacity to make deci placing the country in line with such coun sions and take action independently, to tries as Switzerland, Poland, Latvia. In continually replenish knowledge and im terms of this indicator, Belarus is in the prove professional competence. lead of CIS member states (Russia, the Ukraine – 0.930, Kazakhstan – 0.920, Uzbekistan – 0.910). 4.1.3. Health improvement A strategic goal on this front is to and health care A strategic goal on create a system of education that would development this front is to create a meet the requirements of individuals, so Falling living standards and negative en system of education that ciety and state, create conditions to devel vironmental changes have led to the de would meet the require op it further and prepare new generations ments of individuals, society terioration of human health. Judging by for life and work in the civil society with and state... the data provided by the experts of the sustained peoplecentered market eco World Health Organization (WHO), 49– nomy. 53% of human health depends on the cho The following tasks need to be ad sen lifestyle, 1822% % on hereditary pre dressed to achieve this goal: disposition, 1720% % on the environ • create an enabling environment for ment status and only 810% % on health meeting the needs of people in ed care development level. Consequently, the ucation, acquisition of profound major factor influencing nation’s health and comprehensive knowledge, is a lifestyle. harmonious development of hu A strategic goal in the field of man personality and creativity; health improvement is to establish a • ensure access to free general second mechanism of government support and ary vocational and, on a competi encouragement of healthy lifestyles, cre tive basis – secondary specialized ate strong demand for personal health and and higher education, succession prerequisites for meeting this demand. and continuity of education levels The following tasks need to be ad and stages, education democratiza dressed to achieve this goal: tion; • develop a system of national pri • raise the intellectual and cultural orities in civil relations allowing to create potential of the population a mechanism of government support for through the improvement and op healthy lifestyles of the population; timization of the national educa • develop personal moral respon tion system; sibility of people for their own health and

30 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS that of other members of the commu 4.1.4. Development of national nity; culture, spiritual and • improve physical and psycholo physical recovery gical welfare of the population; Transition to sustainable development has • improve the quality of the envi not only to do with balanced ecological ronment; and environmental needs, but also putting • create health supportive condi in place a whole new system of moral, spir tions for the population at work; itual, social and ethical values of the soci ety, in large measure depending on the state • develop and implement a legal of culture. and economic mechanism that puts in place such social conditions under which A strategic goal of national policy in people can realize their aspirations for the field of culture is to develop and effec positive changes in a lifestyle. tively use the cultural potential of the country, ensuring succession in the devel Special attention will be paid to opment of the Belarusian culture while the protection of reproductive health, es encouraging cultural innovations. tablishment of family planning services, improvement of early diagnostics and To have this goal achieved, the fol treatment of diseases of reproductive sys lowing targets need to be met: tem. • conservation and development of A strategic development goal in the cultural heritage, national iden health care is to create an efficient health tity of the Belarusian nation, expan care system, reinforce its capacity to give sion of the application scope of the every citizen access to quality medical as ; sistance. • ensuring conditions for free cultur To achieve this goal, the following al development and fulfillment of needs to be done: all social and ethnical minorities residing in Belarus; • clearly defining the level of govern ment health safeguards based on the • conditions for free creativity in state minimum social standards; place; • financial planning based on budget • sound morality of the society; ary health spending standards per • access to cultural values for all so capita as well as the standards of cial strata of the population; amount and cost of medical assis • enforced role of cultural figures and tance; facilities in addressing socioeco • expansion of extrabudgetary nomic objectives, developing the sources of funding for the sector; civil position and socially active • restructuring of medical assistance personality; and introduction of resourcesav • integration of the Belarusian econ ing technologies; omy in the global cultural network • improvement of public health as an equal participant in global so management; cial and cultural processes. • better equipment for health facili The development of physical edu ties. cation and sports is one of the key areas

31 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS in physical and spiritual recovery of peo cilities, less than 10% is being used for tour ple, an important factor of healthy lifestyles ism purposes. A share of the cost of tourist and improvement of human capital. services in the country’s GDP is only 0.2%. Belarus, as a country of many athletic At the same time, the world experience achievements, carries out goaloriented, shows that tourism spending alone as a comprehensive policies to improve the highprofit sector of the national econo efficiency of physical education and sports my constitutes 12% of the gross world in all areas of human activities. New ath product. letic facilities are being built in the coun A strategic goal of tourism develop try. ment in Belarus is to create a highly effec The main goal of the national phys tive and competitive tourism complex ical education and sports system develop mainstreamed into nature conservation ment is to make Belarusian people health and sociocultural resources protection. ier and more physical. Achieving this goal is impossible 4.1.5. Housing development without accomplishing the following: Sustainable development strategy of the • increased level of physical and housing sector provides for comfortable, health improvement activities; durable, costeffective housing facilities • motivating people to engage in that will be able to meet the housing needs physical exercises and sports, widen of the present and future generations and ing the scope of educational and seeks to create conditions making pur awarenessraising activities to build chase of a house a reality for every segment healthy lifestyles; of the population. • enhancement of the competitive The housing policy’s objectives are ability of training firstclass Belaru to improve the supply of housing, devel The notion of healthy sian athletes, high athletic achieve op housing construction with the prefer lifestyles should tenaciously ments of Belarus on the interna ential use of extrabudgetary sources of permeate into the minds of tional arena; funding and longterm loan schemes to Belarusian people. • development of international co purchase housing, further development of operation in physical education housing market and services, efficacious use and sports. of the existing housing space. The housing structure should con The notion of healthy lifestyles form to the social and family structure of should tenaciously permeate into the the population. The structure of housing minds of Belarusian people. To this end, construction should give priority to new the national physical education and sports residential houses with superior consum policy should be carried out in close co er qualities where conventional and alter operation of all legislative and executive native, low energy consumption ameni bodies, sports organizations and mass ties and improvements will coexist and media. alternative sources of energy will be uti Picturesque landscapes, rich histori lized. The renovation and modernization cal and cultural legacy provide an ideal of the existing housing, especially in rural environment for the development of areas, should be guided by the same prin tourism in Belarus. However, out of more ciples along with heatinsulation enhance than 16,000 potential tourist sites and fa ment activities.

32 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS Sustainable development of the recognized, positive legal and ethical rules housing and communal services is de and deprive crime of the culture medium. termined by an effective and sustained en The following activities are required gineering community infrastructure sup for the implementation of goals and ob porting the production and supply of vi jectives on this front: tal services for the benefit of the popula tion and industries, as well as other com • to improve efficiency of govern munal services relating to housing man ment agencies and public organiza agement, maintenance and repairs. tions in the business of identifying and addressing the main econom ic, social, cultural and other causes 4.1.6. Combating antisocial and conditions fuelling antisocial phenomena behaviors;

The Belarusian state and society are enthu • lessen income differences and social siastically committed to fighting antiso inequities, reduce poverty and mis cial, sociopathic behavior through eco ery, unemployment, vagrancy and nomic, social and cultural policy improve homelessness, especially among ments, new national legislation and en children, youth, women and the hancement of the operational perfor underprivileged; mance of lawenforcement agencies and • increase ethical, legal, criminologi public organizations. At the same time, in cal and victimological education terms of concept and practical application, and awareness of the population, the country lacks a complete state policy especially youth and atrisk social for preventing and combating antisocial groups. Education, culture, health behavior. The national legislation, law en care facilities, mass media, nongov forcement and morality building practic ernmental organizations and civil es are primarily focused on the application movements, as well as the ethical of criminal and other penalties, different potential of families, religion, etc. interdictions and individual correctional should be widely utilized for these work. Social prevention of the antisocial purposes. behavior is paid little attention to. The rights of victims of criminal and other of fences are not adequately protected, reha bilitation system is underdeveloped and 4.2. Development of the real there is no specialized legislation. The pre sector of economy vention of drunkenness and alcohol abuse, Further growth of the gross domestic drug and substance abuse, prostitution and product, development of intersectoral vagrancy is inefficient. The policy of ad linkages and sectors of the economy are dressing antisocial behavior requires qual essential to sustainable development of ity rethinking and implementation of the the national economy and social solutions. scientifically grounded, active and efficient In comparison with 2005, the following public control strategy. growth parameters are expected to be The main goal of opposing antiso achieved in 2020: the gross domestic prod cial behavior is to create economic, social, uct will increase 2.0–2.3 times, capital in cultural, ethic and legal conditions for bal vestments – 2.4–2.7, industrial production anced development of an individual, – 1.6–1.7, agriculture – 1.6, services – 2.3– match their lifestyles with the generally 2.6. This will bring Belarus, in terms of GDP

33 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS per capita, close to the EU countries, based intensive and energyefficient subsectors on 2002 PPP, from 30% in 2002 to 60% in of the industry, exportoriented and im 2020 given the annual GDP growth rate of portreplacement productions. 2–3% in the EU. The main goal of structural transfor In the forecast period, the economic mations in the industry is to produce com pattern of the country will change, with petitive hightechnology products based the share of commodity production grad on the application of modern resource ually dropping to 37–38% by 2020 and the saving and environmentally friendly tech share of services rising to 50–52%, accord nologies. ingly. By the end of the forecast period, the Socially oriented industries and sec GDP structure will require an increase in tors will be supported through propping savings share up to 30–31% and investment The main goal of up of demand internally and externally, structural transformations share up to 26–27% versus 21–22% in 2005, including the use of protective import in the industry is to produce respectively. Despite the diminishing share rates within the boundaries allowed by in competitive hightechnology of consumptive use in the GDP mix, its ternational rules, generally recognized products based on the volume growth will allow to consistently techniques of nontariff regulation (import application of modern increase the level of consumption per cap resourcesaving and certification, etc.). ita. environmentally friendly In moving toward sustainable devel Progressive changes in the sectoral technologies. opment in the industry, an effective use of makeup of national economy should be the widest range of resources based on soft attained through reduction of the share technologies is envisaged. and scope of energy and materialinten sive productions, replacement of ineffec Development priority will be at tive industries with new ones using high tached to scienceintensive, exportori technologies and new materials. Develop ented and importreplacement types of ment priority should be afforded to: product, as well as consumer goods and commodities made from domestic raw • informatization and software de materials (wood processing, pharmacy, velopment; etc.). • nanotechnology and nanomateri The primary development goal of als; the fuelandenergy complex is to meet • modernization of energy economy; country’s needs in fuel and energy resourc • biotechnology and genetics; es in a reliable and safe way and use them • science and services sector (educa on a sustainable basis. tion, health care, tourism, transport, Based on the ecological requirements etc.). and country’s supply needs, priority devel opment areas on this front are: 4.2.1. Industrial structural • to ensure energy security and reduce adjustment. Fueland energy dependency of the Republic energy complex of Belarus through adjustment of the fuelandenergy balance (in Structural adjustment of the indus creasing share of secondary energy try follows the guidelines of the 1998– resources, local , alternative and 2015 Industrial Complex Development renewable sources of energy), diver Program of the Republic of Belarus stipu sification of primary fuelandener lating priority development of science gy resources according to type and

34 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS supply source, building national 4.2.2. Transformations stockpile of major carriers of ener in development gy dominating the energy balance of the agroindustrial (underground gas storage, oil and complex residual oil depots); The development objective of the agroin • to extend the use of electric power dustrial complex in the long term is to while retaining sustained primary develop efficient, competitive, sustain energy resource consumption; able and environmentally safe agroindus • to renovate and retrofit the exist trial production that would be up to ing capacities and replacement of world standards and ensure food security retired ones using new technolo of the country. gies; A task of primary importance at the • to develop advanced oil processing initial stage (until 2010) is for the farming technologies, increasing its depth sector to improve economic efficiency and and quality of oil products; ensure economic growth. • to step up the volume of transit ser To make this a reality, it is necessary vices – transit of oil and oil prod to: ucts, gas, electrical energy; • promote in all possible ways re search in priority areas and to apply • to reduce the GDP energy intensity them more actively in production through energy efficiency potential practices; at technological, structural and or ganizational level. It is envisaged • develop competitive advantages of that twothirds of the energy inten the agroindustrial complex, chiefly sity reduction will be attributed to derived from natural and climatic the technological potential of en conditions (milk and meat ergy saving and onethird – to struc breeding, and growing, tural and organizational transfor etc.); mations of the economy toward a • improve machinery and equipment larger share of sectors with small used in agriculture, modernize it and energy intensities; thus move to utilizing highperfor • to mainstream the fuelandenergy mance, resourcesaving technolo complex into environmental con gies; cerns in accordance with the sus • effectively use production potential tainable development principles. and resources; • concentrate resources in priority Operational improvements of the areas and highly lucrative types of electrical energy sector will be achievable production; through capacity building, renovation and modernization of the existing power • substantially increase yielding ca plants using gas turbines and steamand pacity of crops and producing abil gas installations; construction of heat ity of cattle; power plants fired by coal and wood fuel; • finetune pricing policy and elimi hydroelectric stations; establishment of nate price disparities; combined heat and power stations on the • transform unprofitable agroindus premises of plant boiler houses; phasing trial companies into new market en out of the wornout condensation units. tities;

35 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS • create conditions conducive to ef built in the 60–70’s of the last century and fective work of both collective en their equipment and technology have terprises and private sector; grown wornout and obsolete, they should • implement dedicated programs be reconstructed and equipped with ad targeting agriculture at the cost of vanced, clean technologies. the national budget; Regional and spatial specialization • stimulate export. and the distribution of agricultural pro duction across the country should be in Institutional changes in the agroin conformity with the current industrial, dustrial complex designed to address the economic and natural potential. A transi existing dissociation of producers and tion to landscapeadaptive land cultiva consolidate their economic interests will tion is required to fully take into consider focus on the cooperation and integration ation regional and local soil and climate of companies, producing, processing and features. selling agricultural produce, creation of The use of biotechnology should be specialized and multisectoral agroindus come one of the areas of scientific and tech trial food entities, such as farming indus nological progress to intensify agricultur trial groups, holdings, associations, which al production. Cattle plans call for new may include financial companies that can breeds, varieties, lines, hybrids and crosses be established by associates themselves in of animals. A great deal of attention will be a number of cases. paid to genetic engineering biotechnolo Development priority of the agricul gies to select new crop varieties. Intensive ture is to amplify production through and adaptive high biotechnologies will modernization of machinery and tools, allow for the safety of agricultural practic In order to reduce the application of technological advances. It es with regard to both the environment anthropogenic pressure on is necessary to move to new technologies and end consumer. the environment, agroin capable of easing industrial impact on the New approaches to rural social de dustrial intensification environment. Integrated retooling of the velopment are planned. In strategic should be adaptive, agroindustrial complex with the newgen terms, villages are viewed not only as an biologicallyoriented and eration machinery and equipment of su agroindustrial area, but also as a social and lead to no conflicts between perior performance will ensure consider territorial subsystem which performs a man and nature. able improvement of labour productivity wide range of economyrelated functions and save material resources which will con (demographic, cultural, recreational, na tribute to the preservation of biological ture conservation, etc.). equilibrium. It is necessary to approximate the liv In order to reduce the anthropoge ing conditions in villages to those in cit nic pressure on the environment, agroin ies by their quality. Rural inhabitants should dustrial intensification should be adaptive, have access to the same house improve biologicallyoriented and lead to no con ments and health care, education, trade flicts between man and nature. To prevent and services facilities as urban residents. soil pollution with ballast substances and To keep the natural environment make mineral fertilizers more economical wellconserved, it is necessary to move ly efficient, it is necessary to shift to the from the agroindustrial development con production of integrated, agentconcen cept to rural development concept. All trated mineral fertilizers. branches and areas of production should Since animal husbandry farms were be tightly linked to social infrastructure and

36 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS natural landscape development where developed and applied in carriage, repairs agrocenosis will be part of biocenosis. and maintenance of vehicles, transport The implementation of the 2004– and trade relations need to be strength 2008 Programme of Rural SocioEconom ened with neighboring states and the re ic Development and Rebirth, local sustain spective legislation needs to be improved. able development strategies (“Local Agen An integrated system of ecological das 21”) in districts, small towns and vil measures will allow to bring transport to lages will play a major role in addressing new safety levels, reduce its negative influ these problems. ence on the environment and ensure a new The main development goal of pro level of technological services involved in cessing industry is to ensure a more the transportation process. complete and reliable food supply of the In order to create a modern commu population and sustainable patterns of nication infrastructure in the country and consumption, export growth and enforce ensure sustained and quality operations of ment of food safety. the sector, the following tasks require ad dressing:

4.2.3. Transport • use of new technologies; and communication: • widening the range and improving main development quality of services; areas and parameters • reduction of operational costs; For sustainable development in the field • development of broadcasting net of transport, the following is needed: ac work (TV and radio). celerated renewal and upgrading of the rolling stock, flexible tariff policy, in 4.2.4. Improvement creased volume of export and import of construction complex freight, transit of cargo and passengers via Belarus, ensuring ecological and traffic The main goal of the construction com safety. plex is to fully meet the needs of people The strategic goals of transport and and economy in superior construction communication development are formu products that can successfully compete lated in programmatic documents of the domestically and abroad. To achieve this Republic of Belarus covering the period goal, it is necessary: to create and apply re 2001–2005, the Main Areas of SocioEco sourcesaving technologies and materials nomic Development of the Republic of that ensure quality improvement, reduc Belarus to 2010. They are basically to en tion of material and energy intensity and sure dynamic development of transport costs of construction; to step up the pro and communication through effective use duction of materials and items with better of the available resources, application of consumer properties, conforming to the newest technological advances and bring requirements of newgeneration construc ing relations of the sector with nature in tion; to expand export potential; to en harmony. sure protection and sustainable use of land, To achieve those goals, fixed assets water and air. of transport and communication, espe In the near future, the construction cially conveyances need to be modernized, complex should move to resourcesaving new advanced technologies need to be production, developing a competitive

37 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS environment, finalizing the necessary reg of construction achievements, or ulatory frameworks, activating architecture ganization of international trade and construction supervision, marketing shows in Belarus; developing a big and engineering, developing contracting store chain in Belarus, Russia and bids and construction product certifica other countries selling building tion for the purpose of increasing the qual materials and goods. ity of building services and materials, and bringing domestic producers to a higher 4.2.5. Development of services level of competitiveness. sector Improved quality of heatinsulating materials and upgrade of their thermo Services sector is a set of branches and sub physical parameters to the European level branches of the economy providing ser is planned to be achieved by means of vices to the public to meet their material, modernizing the mineral wool industry cultural and social needs as well as the in and producing rigid lightweight heatin frastructure needs of production. sulating items from domestic feedstock. One of the laws of societal develop The following will contribute to sus ment is that services grow faster compared tainable development of the construction to material production and their econom complex: ic functions broaden. In highly developed countries, the services make up a 60–70% • creation of a solid infrastructure, share in the gross national product, in Be first of all, construction of roads, larus, it is 44.1% (2002valid data). A share utility lines, community service cen of services provided to people on a paying ters; improvement of areas adjacent basis is only 10% of the total. New types of to buildings and houses; expansion services, in particular, society informati of green areas; zation and telecommunications market • development of a leasebased re develop very slowly. More than 90% of in newal of fixed assets used in pro vestment risks are not covered by insur duction at construction enterpris ance. es; introduction of rental services of The services sector is intended to building machines and equipment develop the essential factors contributing for enterprises that need them oc to economic growth, such as scientific casionally; knowledge, intangible accumulation, in • introduction of the quality certifi formation technologies. Therefore, it is cation system in accordance with necessary to strive to ensure that by 2020 the international standard ISO 9000 the volume of services grows 3.4–3.7 times and environmental management versus 2000 and bring their GDP share to system certification in accordance 50–52% by 2020. with ISO 14000; Particular attention is to be paid to • use of modern information tech those services that foster the human fac nologies in the promotion and tor in economy – development of efficient marketing of building services and education, health care and insurance sys materials via Internet, mass media, tem as well as life improvement and lei etc.; sure development services. • participation in international spe In order to eliminate differences in cialized exhibitions, demonstration services development level in urban and

38 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS rural communities, measures should be tak heat energy production remains to reduce en, already at the initial stage, to support specific fuel consumption which would economically and administratively social contribute to lessening of pollutant emis amenities in villages where they play a key sions and slowing down the degradation role in ensuring normal livelihoods. It is of the natural complex of Belarus. Steam expedient to create regional dedicated andgas installations should take priority funds to finance services development in in the energy system to ensure effective areas with inadequate services infrastruc plant renewal rate and air pollution reduc ture, equipment and technologies. The ser tion. Special attention should be paid to vices industry and consumer market modern costeffective technologies used should be geared toward specific age and for treating broadrange airgas emissions. social groups. The newest automatic process control sys Further increase of services export is tem should be used at all sources of gener anticipated. Belarus has every potential to ation on a mandatory basis. step up exports of transport, information The modernization of large chemi and computer services, international tour cal productions through reconstruction ism and insurance. and retooling between 2003 and 2010 will To enhance the competitiveness of enable the industry to substantially im the services sector, efficient measures are prove its technical and economic param required to draw investment and promote eters, renew fixed assets, and reduce the small enterprise in this area. A consider environmental impact. Revolutionary able portion of persons entering the labor technical and technological solutions market are expected to secure jobs in the should be applied in the production of services sector. polymer chemical materials. In the machinebuilding indus try, a wide use of new technologies, envi 4.2.6. Application of modern ronmental monitoring and protection soft technologies tools is envisaged to reduce the impact of harmful production, treatment facilities The application of modern The application of modern environmen and technologies and waste disposal. The environmentally friendly tally friendly technologies is a prime tool machinetool industry is to learn the tech technologies is a prime tool of sustainable development. Technologies nology for making special tools and equip of sustainable development. that are used now are in large measure non ment of high strength, endurance, heat and ecological, because the obsolescence and chemical resistance, etc. In instrument depreciation of fixed assets used in pro making, it is necessary to produce process duction has crossed the critical mark (70– automation instruments, including 80%). On this account, the use of new clean “smart” controls and sensors using nano and soft technologies that preserve the technologies, remote and noncontact natural environment is of importance for control by actuators and transport mech national security and a transition to sus anisms, highspeed information process tainable development. ing. The urgent government support is Forest industry restructuring plans needed in the following important sectors include the establishment, in the near fu of the national economy and industries. ture, of domestic production of wood Fuelandenergy complex. The pulp based on environmentally friendly key objective in the field of electrical and technologies, which would help improve

39 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS the utilization of forest resources and ma 4.3. Wise environment terials and lay a resource foundation of the management and wood pulpandpaper industry, which so nature conservation far mostly uses imported pulp. for future generations

In the agroindustrial complex, to Human activities have an increasing im raise the overall efficiency and produce pact disrupting the coherence of ecosys clean products, a wider use of biological tems which perform a vital role in the best and microbiological means of protection, interests of our welfare and economy. Con subsurface tillage, permaculture principle, servation of favorable environment and etc., should be put into practice. The de wise management of natural resources to velopment of effective biological protec satisfy the needs of the present and future tion means and tools, electrophysical seed generations is the top priority for NSDS disinfection, mechanical and electrical 2020. Its implementation implies devel weed control is anticipated. Effective ways opment and promotion of a proactive of minimizing and utilizing chemical state environment policy based on the in agents in a nonwaste manner will be tegration of economic, ecological and so searched for in seed piece and planting cial development aspects. stock treatment. In the housing and communal services, heat modernization and energy 4.3.1. Improved environment supply remain the numberone problem. policy and better Heat modernization of houses and public economic mechanism buildings, launched successfully in cities, of nature use will be continued with the use of cutting The current environment policy pro edge domestic and foreign technology. motes reduction of negative ecological Sanitary improvement and recycling of effects and improvement of environmen solid household wastes in cities are of ma tal quality through a consistent imple jor importance. mentation of structural reformation Belarus has its own intellectual po of economy, technological upgrading tential to develop modern soft technolo of industries, including resource saving gies, however international cooperation methods, environment friendly technol is very important because in that case the ogies, reduction of emissions and pollut chances of all countries in environmental ants, waste management, conservation protection and nature conservation will of biodiversity, and expansion of the SPA have a much greater success rate. network. The plan of implementation of the The strategic goals of the environ World Summit on Sustainable Develop ment policy of Belarus include: reestablish ment in Johannesburg provides for a trans ment of favorable environment; improve fer of ecologically clean, unpatented and ment of living conditions and health of publicly owned technologies by the de citizens; and environmental security. veloped countries. It is prudent for Belarus To attain these goals, a number of to take advantage of this opportu tasks need to be undertaken, for instance: nity by seeing to it that imported technol ogies meet social, cultural, economic and • mitigation of negative effects of the ecological interests and priorities of the environment unfriendly economy, country. restoration of disturbed ecosystems;

40 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS • fostering of an efficient and sustain • implementation of the innovative able environment management; mechanism of nature conservation • environmental awareness raising and resource saving activities; which implies strong ties between • establishment of the market of en the ecological, economic and social vironmental services, technologies components of the national sustain and equipment; able development; • development of economic instru • implementation of the main rec ments for promotion of environ ommendations of the strategic en ment friendly technologies and vironment impact assessment of equipment through a system of dif programs, legal acts, and project ferentiated crediting, and selection decisions; of the most costefficient environ ment friendly equipment; • equal access to natural resources for legal entities and natural persons; • minimization of environmental risks during planning and imple • compliance with the obligations mentation of economic activities; under the international agreements on nature conservation and envi • prioritized financing of state pro ronment management. grams on wise environment man Special attention should be agement and nature conservation; given to harmonization of Special attention should be given to • recognition of environmental re societynature relationship harmonization of societynature relation quirements during privatization of through environmentally ship through environmentally sustainable enterprises, and designation of a sustainable development of development of economy. The economic certain portion of the acquired re economy. control over environment management sources for environmental compli and nature conservation is expected to fa ance of the production. cilitate integration and coordination be tween various environment factors and economic stimuli – promotion of the 4.3.2. Conservation and wise most efficient ecological harm reduction management of natural measures, and introduction of economic resources barriers to environment unfriendly activi Belarus can foster sustainable develop ties. ment through integrated protection and Improvement and implementation wise management of all biosphere ele of the ecoeconomic mechanism of envi ments, and conservation of biological ronment management requires the follow diversity. ing measures: The strategic objective of air protec • amendment of the nature conser tion is to make it environmentally safe for vation legislation; human activities. This objective can be ac • promotion of resource saving complished through: improvement of leg methods, indexation of rent ac islation and introduction of new legal acts, cording to the natural resources ex development of the economic mechanism ploitation level, and calculation of for air protection; systems of standardiza ecological payments according to tion and environmental pressure restric the level of inflicted environmen tions; development of the national trans tal harm; port infrastructure.

41 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS The geographical location of Belarus The quality of potable water is a seri predetermined the dominance of western ous problem, especially for rural areas, air currents, which makes the country one where people tend to use shallow wells. of the most polluted European states due 4050% of water wells in Belarus are below to the crossborder air carryover. Belarus the current standards. 30% of the checked annually receives by air 180–190 thousand groundwater sources failed the chemical tons of airborne sulfur, 60–70 thousand test, and 6% were microbiologically unsafe tons of oxidized nitrogen, 150–170 thou according to the existing sanitary norms. sand tons of reduced nitrogen, over 400 Many groundwater wells (14%) have no tons of lead, nearly 5 tons of mercury. highsecurity water protection zones, and The following activities are required about 80% of public water utilities are in to reduce the crossborder pollution and sufficiently equipped with purification in own greenhouse gas emissions: stallations (e.g. deironing or ozonizing fil ters). • further reduction in emissions of In accordance with the socioeco oxidized sulfur and nitrogen, as well nomic development program until 2020, as greenhouse gases, through a bet the following major tasks need to be ful ter fuel consumption structure and filled in order to improve the presentday improved technological processes; situation: prevent surface water pollution • establishment of a national system by effluents, snow and rain runoffs from for assessment of emissions and urbanized and agricultural territories, and sinks of greenhouse gases and their by hazardous substances transported from precursors; neighboring countries; increase capacities • building the capacity of greenhouse of water treatment facilities and enhance gas sinks. their purification efficiency; reduce health The consumption of ozone deplet risks by supplying clean potable water. ing substances can be further reduced Land resources. Aside from im through: implementation of relevant in proved land ownership relations and op ternational agreements, introduction of timized agricultural land practices, a more safe substitutes, a network of recycling sta efficient land use and soil conservation, as tions for collection, purification and rec a strategic objective of the State Land Pol lamation of used ozone depleting sub icy, can be achieved through the following stances to prevent their emission into the very important activities: reclamation of atmosphere. radioactively contaminated lands, protec tion of soils from water and wind erosion, Water resources. The strategic ob conservation of drained lands, especially jective of conservation and wise manage drained peatlands, forestation of unpro ment of water resources is to provide peo ductive agricultural lands, reclamation of ple with sufficient amounts of sanitarily degraded lands, prevention of heavy met clean water without disturbing the hydro al pollution, wise management of fertile logical, biological and chemical functions lands, reduction of excessive recreational, of water ecosystems. technical and other anthropogenic pres According to the Water Pollution sures. Index (WPI), most of the rivers and lakes Mineral resources. The strategic in Belarus (60%) are classified as moder objective of conservation and wise man rd ately polluted (3 category), and about 10% agement of mineral resources is to ensure th fall into the “polluted” category (4 class). their efficient use, and reduce adverse en

42 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS vironmental effects of and utiliza The main objective of biodiversity tion of mineral resources. conservation is to ensure wise use, repro We need to create and introduce duction and protection of animal and much more advanced methods of mine plant species, their genetic and biological field development, including new physi diversity, and restoration of natural eco cal and chemical technologies, borehole systems while maintaining the regional technologies, underground leaching, etc. and global environmental balance and re productive capacities of the biosphere. Forests. Wise forestry is an essential element for sustainable development of the country. 4.3.3. Safe application of biotechnologies Up to 400 thousand tons of pollut and biological safety ants precipitate annually on the Belarusian forests, which invariably leads to their deg Aside from conventional biotechnologies radation. The Chernobyl catastrophe is re (leavening, malting, fermenting, pickling, sponsible for radioactive contamination wine making, distilling, etc.), Belarus also of 25% of forested areas in Belarus. widely uses various biotechnologies for Belarusian forests are also fireprone – medicine and agriculture. Now, Belarus the usual 23 thousand forest fires a year produces antimicrobic, antiviral, antiphl often cover vast territories of up to 20 ogogenic, antineoplastic, antileukemic thousand hectares. medications; amino acids, vitamins, en zymes, hormones, nucleic components, Sustainable forestry implies: vaccines, blood substitutes, diagnosti • maintained sustainability of forest cums, and over 300 other items. Belarus ecosystems; satisfies its agricultural needs with the pro • conservation and environmental duction of various additives, vet isolation of radioactively contami erinary vaccines, plant and animal growth nated forests; regulators, insecticides, antibacterial, an tifungal, and antiviral broadspectrum bi • conservation and enhancement of ological agents. biodiversity in forest ecosystems; The recog • conservation and enhancement of nizes the exceptional importance of bio protective functions of the forests; technologies for sustainable development. • improvement of sustainable forest The following state scitech programs have ry policy instruments. been developed: “Infections and Medical With the advance of science, the bi Biotechnologies”, “Industrial Biotechnol ological diversity of Belarus might turn ogy”, the State Program of Fundamental into the most important resource essen Research “Development of Scientific Ra tial for both national and European devel tionale for Biotechnological Processes”, opment. Its conservation requires favor etc. The BelarusRussia Union encouraged able conditions for sustainable natural ex a joint scientific program “Development istence of ecosystems. Such conditions can of Next Generation Biologically Safe Med be established through reduction of ad ications of High Performance (Belrostrans verse effects of agriculture, forestry, indus gen)”. Aside from purely scientific research, trial development, transportation, urban the State Program “Development and Ap and rural construction, drainage activities, plication of Genetically Engineered Bio poaching, recreational activities, etc. technologies for Agriculture and Medicine

43 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS (Genetic Engineering)” provides a range tion in the area of environment friendly of organizational and personneltraining use of biotechnologies, of special impor activities specifically designed to expe tance is compliance with the obligations dite the development of this advanced assumed by Belarus under the Cartagena science. Protocol on Biosafety. Important steps have been taken for the safe use of genetic biotechnologies. For 4.3.4. Safer use of toxic instance, the recently established Nation chemicals al Biosafety Coordination Center performs comprehensive monitoring over the de The developed chemical industry of Be velopment of these technologies, a con larus and the need to further develop oth cept of the state genetic engineering safety er industries that require various chemi control is in place, a bill “On Genetic Engi cals for their work, including highly toxic neering Safety” has been elaborated along agents, emphasize the urgency to strike a with a range of other relevant legal acts. In balance between the expanding applica May 2002 Belarus joined the Cartagena Bio tion of chemical agents and reduction of safety Protocol of the Convention on Bio related biorisks. logical Diversity, which should greatly fa About 250 thousand employees work cilitate its activities in this field. in direct contact with chemical agents. 35 In terms of sustainable development, 40% of workplaces do not meet safety re the main goal of Belarus in the area of en quirements, which leads to acute profes vironment friendly use of biotechnologies sional poisoning and chronic diseases is, on the one hand, to create conditions caused by toxic exposure. which would maximize acquired benefits Efficient chemical safety measures from modern biotechnological achieve have been taken over the past few years. ments and promote the development of Special requirements for transportation of genetic engineering as one of the scientif toxic chemicals and operation of poten ic priorities, and, on the other hand, to tially hazardous industrial facilities have guarantee total safety during implemen been officially legitimized along with the tation of genetic engineering activities, certification of dangerous chemical facili introduction of new biotechnologies, and ties. In compliance with the international consumption of the resultant products. requirements, the chemicals produced in The staterun assessment of safety of Belarus receive safety passports. Many on genetically engineered organisms is of top going activities are devoted to modern priority now. This task can be successfully ization of the chemical industry. Pesticides tackled by the National Academy of Sci and highly toxic chemical agents are sub ences of Belarus, which has a great number ject to mandatory registration. The State of highly qualified personnel capable of System of Emergency Prevention and Man performing an adequate risk assessment for agement is currently in place and fully op potential environmental or human health erational. sideeffects of genetic engineering. Efficient use of chemicals implies a We also need to raise public aware much more effective and safer application ness about the comparable advantages of of chemical agents in industries, agricul modern biotechnologies, related risks and ture, and at home; prevention of chemical their prevention. contamination and its negative effects on In terms of international coopera human health and environment.

44 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS 4.3.5. Reclamation and detoxi of large volumes of conventional fication of industrial and industrial waste; municipal waste • installation of smallsized local The annually increasing rate of waste ac waste management facilities, in cumulation exceeds the modern techno cluding disposal units to handle logical and economic capacities of waste small quantities of periodically gen management. Belarus prefers to relocate erated industrial waste. its waste, which invariably leads to its ac Environment friendly waste detoxi cumulation at dumpsites that currently fication requires: occupy nearly 3 thousand hectares. As of • development and implementation now, over 40% of landfills have exhaust of waste processing technologies ed their operational capacities, which for safe waste disposal and detoxi calls for their prompt replacement or ex fication; pansion. • construction of dedicated waste The main objective of waste manage disposal sites guaranteeing secure ment is to reduce (stabilize) the adverse isolation of hazardous waste from environmental risks, and prevent any neg the environment; ative health effects. • development of environment The problem of waste accumulation friendly and cost effective zoning can be addressed through the following schemes for waste disposal sites; activities: • continuous environmental moni • replacement of the existing tech toring in the vicinity of waste dis nologies by low/nonwaste tech posal and storage sites, and imme nologies; diate reaction in case of detected • adoption of the rule of manufactur contamination; er’s responsibility for the endprod • reclamation of old waste disposal ucts throughout their whole life cy sites with subsequent environmen cle; tal monitoring of the area. • elaboration and implementation of A special point should be made of waste accumulation norms; toxic waste – expired pesticides and poly • promotion of the onsite waste re chlorinated biphenyl (PCB) in particular, cycling practice. which are in the list of permanent organic pollutants (POP). Better waste reclamation requires: An environmentally safe crossbor • development and implementation der waste transfer calls for the develop of cost effective and environment ment of a national transboundary move friendly waste management tech ments control mechanism based on the nologies; requirements of the Basel Convention on • introduction of separate waste col the Control of Transboundary Movements lection, and creation of required of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. conditions for waste storage, prep Of great importance is the problem aration and reclamation; of municipal solid waste (MSW) which in • construction of centralized facilities cludes consumption wastes and the refuse for environment friendly recycling generated as a result of human economic

45 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS activities in residential areas. MSW is a • guarantee of sustainable operation major source for secondary raw materials – of enterprises and social facilities pulp, polymeric wastes, glass, . The during peacetime or wartime emer past decade was characterized by a contin gencies; uous increase of MSW accumulation rate, • emergency response training for which in 2002 constituted 2.5 million tons. people; The level of MSW recycling is quite low, and about 90% of it is routinely dumped • recognition of public rights and on landfills. duties during emergencies, and so cial security for people who partic Only consumption wastes with ex ipated in emergency relief activities; tracted secondary resources can be subject to disposal at sanitary landfills. The life • preventive monitoring to protect span of MSW landfills can be extended with people and territories from the con the use of compacted and milled refuse. sequences of emergencies, openness of information; Successful implementation of the state policy on waste management de • international cooperation in the pends first of all on integration of envi field of emergency prevention and ronmental issues, including the problems management. of generation, accumulation and utiliza Environmental security for defense tion of industrial and municipal waste, into facilities can be ensured through: the processes of decision making, forecast • observance of the national environ ing, and development of socioeconomic mental legislation and conditions development programs; development of of international agreements; such integration procedures; development • elaboration of the Armed Forces of waste management systems for indus Environmental Security Act which trial enterprises in accordance with the ISO would enforce an environmental 14,000; new feasibility studies for existing passport system for military areas sanitary landfills and reconsideration of and facilities, development of an waste disposal rates; establishment of a environmental monitoring system, state system for waste management. integration of a special environ ment course into the military per sonnel training; 4.3.6. Protection of people • development of the priority list of and territories from natu activities to ensure environmental ral and technological security for the Armed Forces of the disasters. Republic of Belarus; Ecological security for defense facilities • strengthened environment man agement system in the Armed Forc Successful emergency management and es to ensure their environmental protection of people and territories from security; their consequences require: • elaboration of pertinent legal doc • development and implementation umentation to ensure environ of targeted and scitech emergency mental security for routine mili prevention programs; tary activities.

46 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS 4.3.7. Development of disad States, Ukraine, and Russia – are deter vantaged areas. mined by their geopolitical advantages Mitigation of conse based on the expansion of free trade quences of the Cherno zones, promotion of Euroregions “Nem byl Nuclear Power Plant an”, “Boug”, and the future “Dnieper” Eu accident roregion, free economic zones, and active involvement in joint projects on regula Among the disadvantaged areas of Belarus tion and control over the protected nat are: depressed areas, Soligorsk industrial ural areas located on those territories. The district, industrial hub, Be socioeconomic cooperation should also larusian Polesie Region, Belarusian Lake be encouraged. District, border areas, Minsk Capital Terri Special development and man tory, and the most disadvantaged region agement regime areas – the Belarusian of them all – the officially recognized en Polesie Region and the Belarusian Lake vironmental disaster area affected by the District – require expansion of their recre Chernobyl NPP accident. ational capacities and the SPA status. Development strategies are deter The main objective of the Minsk mined according to the nature of the prob Capital Territory development is to lem. convert Minsk into a modern European Depressed areas are characterized by city, a center of international relations underdeveloped industrial and social in with highly developed international frastructure, small singleindustry towns communications, providing high level of with high unemployment rate. They re residence comfort and security. The on quire substantial into their going activities in this area conduce to economy, that is why it is necessary to the balanced approach to economic, so identify an optimum method for their cial and environmental development in development based on the existing capac order to maximize the use of available and ities and needs of the areas and their neigh potential resources in the best interests boring districts. The relevant investment of people. and innovation activities can be intensi The most important and challeng fied through the creation of regional agen ing task for the regional sustainable devel cies, councils, and foundations, exercising opment strategy is the mitigation of con an integrated and wellbalanced approach sequences of the Chernobyl tragedy. The to the regional development. sustainable development strategy for ra Industrial areas, which include the dioactively contaminated areas should Soligorsk industrial district and the No be focused on the need to improve living vopolotsk industrial hub, are characterized conditions of the people through integrat by a high level of anthropogenic pressure. ed environmental, radiological and socio Thus, the main task here is to tighten the economic rehabilitation of the affected environmental control over the activities areas. This approach requires: of industrial and transport companies and • alleviation of poverty and unem enterprises, modernize and restructure ployment, enhancement of in major industries in full compliance with comes, rationalization of social se the strict environmental requirements. curity for the affected population The prospects of border areas – through restoration of economies the regions bordering on Poland, Baltic in the contaminated areas, promo

47 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS tion of investment activities, cre and projects within the framework of cross ation of favorable conditions for border cooperation between Belarus, the the development of small and me Ukraine, Russia, and international organi diumsized farms and businesses; zations. To increase the working efficiency • improvement of everyday social of legal entities, Belarus needs to introduce and cultural living conditions in the preferential taxation terms for them. affected locales (especially in rural Promotion of efficient internation areas), perpetuation of the local his al cooperation in the field of radiation safe torical and cultural heritage; ty, and humanitarian aid for affected pop • radiological monitoring over land, ulation are still important for Belarus. water, forest and mineral resources, conservation of natural ecosystems; 4.3.8. Harmonization • introduction of new information of the national environ technologies which would maxi mental legislation Promotion of efficient international cooperation mize monitoring efficiency and with international in the field of radiation public access to information about agreements and legal safety, and humanitarian radiological situation, recom acts aid for affected population mended economic activities, and are still important the industrial and domestic rules of Belarus joined a great number of impor for Belarus. behavior under the constant effect tant UN conventions and protocols on of small doses of radiation; environment, European agreements and CIS accords. We also signed bilateral docu • gradual restoration of economic ments with the neighboring countries on capacities of the affected areas, where conservation and wise management of the of special importance is the revital borderzone natural resources and habi ization of forestry and agriculture tats. The Republic of Belarus signed and complete with radiologically safe ratified the following international con working conditions to produce ventions: “clean” marketable and competitive goods; • Convention on LongRange Trans boundary Air Pollution; • fundamental and applied scientific research about reduction of radia • Vienna Convention for the Protec tion effect on the human organism tion of the Ozone Layer, Montreal and natural ecosystems; Protocol on Substances That De plete the Ozone Layer, and London • amendment of the legal framework Amendment to the Montreal Pro regulating the issues of social secu tocol; rity for victimized population and development of the affected areas. • Convention on Biological Diver sity; The mechanism of implementation of the state and regional mitigation poli • Convention on International Trade cies implies the development of the State in Endangered Species of Wild Fau MidTerm Program of Mitigation of Con na and Flora; sequences of the Chernobyl NPP Accident, • Convention on Migratory Species of programs of socioeconomic rehabilitation Wild Animals; and development of affected administra • United Nations Convention to tive districts, joint mitigation programs Combat Desertification;

48 NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PERIOD TO 2020 OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS • United Nations Framework Con dustrial Safety of Hazardous Industrial Fa vention on Climate Change; cilities” (2001), “On Ozone Layer Protec • Basel Convention on the Control of tion” (2001), “On Flora” (2003), and a con Transboundary Movements of Haz siderable number of various bylaws. The ardous Wastes and Their Disposal; country enjoys a well developed legal sys tem of flexible environmental licensing; • Convention on Access to Informa environmental assessment; norms for pol tion, Public Participation in Deci lutant emissions (effluents); and environ sionMaking and Access to Justice mental certification. in Environmental Matters; As long as many types of human ac • Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of tivities lead to transboundary consequenc International Importance especial es, one of the indispensable preconditions ly as Waterfowl Habitats. for sustainable development is to harmo In full compliance with the norms nize national normative, legal and, espe and principles of international environ cially, technical acts with the norms and mental laws and obligations, Belarus principles of international agreements and adopted new versions of its national laws: standards. “On Public Sanitary and Epidemiological This goal can be achieved through: Welfare” (2000), “On Waste Management” (2000), “On State Environmental Assess • advocacy of national interests of the ment” (2000), “On Environment Protec Republic of Belarus via active in tion” (2002), “On Air Protection” (1997), volvement in global and regional Water Code of the Republic of Belarus environmental solutions; (1998), Land Code of the Republic of Be • greater integration of Belarus into larus (1999); and some new laws: “On Pub the “Environment for Europe” pro lic Radiation Safety” (1998), “On Protec cess; tion of People and Territories From Natu • promotion of foreign investments ral and Technological Disasters” (1998), for environmental programs and “On Drinking Water Supply” (1999), “On priority projects on wise environ Specially Protected Areas and Sites” (2000), ment management and nature con “On Hydrometeorology” (1999), “On In servation.

49 4. TRANSITION OF BELARUS TOWARD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ESSENTIAL AVENUES AND DIRECTIONS Important tools and financial mechanisms 5.5.of sustainable development

5.1. Fiscal, monetary in 2002 to 44% of GDP in 2010 and 42– and pricing policy 43% in 2020. The revenues of the consoli dated budget (exclusive of the Social Secu The key objectives of the fiscal policy are rity Fund) will amount to 33.8, 30–31 and to ensure financial and social stability, cre 29–30% of GDP, respectively. ate macroeconomic conditions for sus The social orientation of the budget tainable economic growth and improved will become stronger guaranteeing the living standards in the context of public protection in the fields of employ ecological concerns. ment, education, health care, culture, pen To achieve these objectives, further sion support, targeted assistance to low tax reform is needed, where putting in income strata of the society. place a tax system conducive to economic Environmental protection ob activities is one of the priority tasks. It is jectives call for a set of nature conserva also necessary to improve the efficiency of tion measures, research and development budgetary expenditures as the total in energy efficiency and resource saving, as amount of resources redistributed by the well as development of ecological moni state is being reduced; to have balanced and toring. A significant area of budget spend deficitfree budget; to create an effective ing is the construction of sites related to state financial management system. It is rehabilitation and recovery interventions important to create legal frameworks and in the Chernobylaffected areas. A broader equal taxation conditions for all econom involvement of the private capital is en ic entities operating in the Republic of Be visaged in the financing of conservation larus and the Russian Federation. and resourcesaving activities. During the tax reform, a higher fiscal Listed below are the most important value should be attached to taxes relating measures of the fiscal policy in the area of to the use of natural resources and envi nature protection meant to promote sus ronmental protection, as well as property tainable development: taxes that will form the basis of local bud gets. In the overall structure of tax reve • based on the world experience, nues, where VAT and excises duties make search for new methodological ap up the largest share, direct income and sales proaches to the formation of eco taxes levied on legal entities and individ logical fees that will be able to en uals should increase in value. sure adequate assessment of natural In pa