Corporate Environmental Management in Transition Economies: The Case of Central and Eastern Europe

The authors study the adoption of environmental management practices in the most polluting industrial sectors in Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia during the first years of transition from central planning to market economies. Despite the stickiness of long established managerial regimes, 51% of the firms in our sample adopted environmental plans and/or established environmental departments in the 1990–1998 period. The authors´ bivariate analysis reveals that some of the most important forces behind adoption are environmental enforcement, export orientation and public disclosure of firm environmental performance.environmental management, bivariate analysis, Central and Eastern Europe

Master and Action Plans Concept: Wastewater Management Norwegian methodology Illustrated with a Case Study for the Bystra River Catchment, Poland

The project: "Strategy for integrated Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System for Small Communes in Poland: Case study - Master and Action Plans (MaAP) for the Bystra river catchment", is a part of the Programme of Bilateral CO-operation between the Norwegian Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry in Poland. It has been implemented by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and has been funded by the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT). The Institute of Environmental Protection (IOS) in Poland has been responsible for the co-ordination in Poland, sponsored by the National Foundation for Environmental Protection and Water Management. Management. This report presents the principles of the Norwegian methodology for making master plans for wastewater management, based on the guidelines from SFT. The methodology is illustrated with a case for the Bystra river catchment in Poland

Institutional and policy analysis of river basin management: the Warta River Basin, Poland

The authors describe and analyze the emergence of river basin management in the Warta River Basin of Poland. The Warta basin's 55,193 km2 cover approximately one-sixth of Poland, and the Warta is a principal tributary to the Oder. Water management issues include pollution of the Warta and its main tributaries, prompting cities to rely on groundwater supplies that are beginning to show signs of overdraft, and growing problems of water allocation and scarcity as the basin urbanizes and industrializes. Since the end of the 1980s, the Polish government has been promoting decentralization, constructing a federal system that includes provinces, counties, and municipalities with authority over land use, water use permits, and environmental protection. Polish authorities have also established river basin management authorities corresponding to basin boundaries throughout the nation, including one for the Warta basin. The efforts toward decentralization and integrated water resource management in Poland have been earnest, but the dispersion of water policy authority across several levels of government, the establishment of basin authorities lacking power and funding to implement resource management programs, few arrangements for stakeholder participation, and delays in Polish water law reform have complicated the development and implementation of integrated management at the basin level.Hydrology,Water Conservation,Water Resources Law,Water and Industry,Sanitation and Sewerage,Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions,Water and Industry,Town Water Supply and Sanitation,Water Conservation,Drought Management

Znaczenie banków w finansowaniu ochrony środowiska w Polsce na przykładzie Banku Ochrony Środowiska S.A.

The provision of funds to finance environmental projects in Poland by banks is a relatively new, although fast developing, activity in the financial markets. This system is based on (national, provincial, county and municipal) institutional environment protection and water management funds completed with international aid resources. Banks cooperate with such funds by treating environmental actions as a market where they may expand their lending business.The participation of commercial banks in the finance of environmental projects is a global trend constituting a challenge for banks in Poland, as well, which mostly determines their strategic economic decisions. Performing a function as a middleman banks guarantee themselves notable benefits with relatively small level of risk so they readily create offers which attract investors. The purpose of this article is to describe the role of commercial banks in financing investments concerning environmental protection in Poland. We argue that the banking sector in Poland still plays a small role in the finance of environmental protection and there is necessity to stimulate banks into action in this economic issue in 2007-2013

Strategy for Integrated Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems for Small Communes in Poland Case study - Master and Action Plans (MaAP) for the Bystra River Catchment

This report is the final report of the project: "Strategy for integrated Water Supply, Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System for Small Communes in Poland: Case study - Master and Action Plans (MaAP) for the Bystra river catchment". The project is part of the Programme of Bilateral Co-operation between the Norwegian Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry in Poland. It has been implemented by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and has been funded by the Norwegian Pollution Control Authority (SFT). The Institute of Environmental Protection (IOS) in Poland has been responsible for the co-ordination in Poland, sponsored by the National Foundation for Environmental Protection and Water Management. The project provides an input to the process of wastewater master planning methodology in Poland, presented as a case study for the Bystra river catchment, and based on Norwegian procedures. on Norwegian procedures. This report presents the main objectives, activities and conclusions of the project, as well as a short presentation of Norwegian experiences relevant to the project. Five report have been elaborated prior to this report, where the entire project development is described

Structure and Transformations of the Environmental Protection System in West Pomerania Region

The environmental protection system of West-Pomerania Region (North-western Voivodeship of Poland) is presented. Especially focused on water resources management and protection. The features of strategy of Voivodship development were specified. The aims of strategy are intented to reach improvement the level of life quality, economy standards and approaching the "philosophy" of sustainable development with engaged institutons were specified. The importance of information technology (IT) solutions for assessments of environment condition and reporting were emphasised. The examples of graphical charts, maps and assessments of water quality of Odra river estuary and selected environment components in West-Pomerania region attached.water quality, Odra estuary, West-Pomernia region, information technology, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Agrarian structure in Poland : the myth of large-farm superiority

In Poland, present policies are aimed at promoting large, mechanized farms over smaller family farms. These policies are based on the perception that large farms offer real economies of scale. But international evidence indicates that such large, mechanized farms are generally less efficient and use less labor than small family farms. The authors analyzed the relationship between farm size and efficiency in Polish agriculture. They used two different methods to do so. First they determined differences in total factor productivity between small and large farms. They then used Data Envelope Analysis to estimate scale efficiencies. The results show that, for the sample of farms analyzed: 1) large farms are not more efficient than smaller farms; and 2) smaller farms are more labor-intensive than larger farms. These results have important policy implications for farm restructuring in Poland and other transition economies facing similar issues and conditions.Environmental Economics&Policies,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Banks&Banking Reform,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,Environmental Economics&Policies,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Livestock&Animal Husbandry

Joint U.S. Agricultural Run-Off Program: Poland Agriculture and Water Quality Protection Project

As Poland\u27s economic transformation progresses, its agricultural sector must adopt new technologies in order to operate safely and efficiently, to remain competitive in the world marketplace, and to meet basic standards of environmental protection. This paper reports on the Poland Agriculture and Water Quality Protection Project (PAWQP), developed under a cooperative agreement between the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region VII. The paper discusses the innovative approach of encouraging sustainable management practices, through farm and watershed demonstrations, baseline surveys and environmental monitoring, education, and institutional strengthening, Initial results from all aspects of the project are presented

Electricity generation development of Eastern Europe: A carbon technology management case study for Poland

Energy and electricity in particular, are of unquestionable value for the welfare of all modern societies. The electricity sectors of Eastern European countries have undergone several phases of development between the post-WWII days within the CEMA and USSR frameworks and today's EU and global energy and environmental regimes. The present paper examines the progress of the Polish electricity sector throughout the last decades, providing useful information regarding not only the technical generation and distribution infrastructure but also the policies that have been and are currently implemented. The results are discussed in the context of indicators such as the electricity intensity and per capita consumption, and show that although the Polish electricity sector has gone a long way, there still are several necessary technology management steps to be taken if Poland is to adequately address the challenges of international competition, electricity supply security and environmental sustainability

A comparative analysis of drinking water quality management systems in Poland

Purpose: The article aims to present and discuss the results of comparative analysis of applied methods in water treatment processes, and to assess whether they belong to the group of advanced and strategic methods used in the treatment and improvement of drinking water quality. Design/Approach/Methodology: The theoretical part of the article discusses the state of drinking water regions of Poland in terms of its chemical, physical, and biological properties, considering the level of pollution. Next, the drinking water quality management scheme in Poland is presented from the organizational point of view, then, Poland's drinking water quality regulations, both national and EU, have been characterized, as well as a few legal norms and programs supporting the ecological campaign in Poland "I drink tap water". In the succeeding part of the article, attention was paid to a detailed analysis of the methods used in Poland in the processes of drinking water treatment and improvement. Findings: Based on the comparative analysis, final conclusions have been drawn up indicating the most effective and ecologically sound methods used in water treatment processes to improve drinking water status in the regions of Poland in such a way that it not only meets legal and environmental standards but is also an essential factor in improving the quality of health, life and economic situation of a given social group. Practical Implications: The article brings a number of valuable information that can be the base material and reference to further research, programs and studies for local governments, practitioners and scientific specialists dealing with issues of improving the quality of drinking water, effective management of water resources, ecology or aspects of environmental protection. Originality/Value: The results of the comparative analysis and theoretical considerations in this article complement the current research in the field of drinking water quality management, and may become a valuable resource of knowledge and a set of specimens that can be useful in developing dissertations in the field of management, environment and ecology.peer-reviewe