A series of remarks on the draft Law on Inspection Supervision in the Environment
The Civil Inspection Council (GIS) identified a number of remarks on the Draft Law on Inspection Supervision in the Environment, which was published by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, and demands to be involved in a working group for finalization of the draft text of law.
Civic Inspection Council established for effective pollution control
A group comprised of 26 NGOs, CSOs and higher education institutions advocating for environmental protection, in cooperation with the State Environmental Inspectorate (SEI), formed a Civic Inspection Council (CIC). CIC was established in response to the need for more efficient cooperation between SEI and civil society and citizens, as a central institution for control and penalizing pollution and environmental destruction.
Water should be protected from a more far-reaching and long-term perspective, so we don’t lose it
An investment of approximately 1.7 billion euros is needed to treat urban wastewater, which is now discharged directly into rivers, lakes and soils. Water is a resource that is consumed indefinitely, and for years the competent institutions have not had a real insight into the quality and quantity of waters in North Macedonia.
Virtual Conference “Green Agenda for the Western Balkans as an Incentive for Water Protection in North Macedonia”
The acceleration of the pace of economic growth and development was accompanied by environmental degradation in North Macedonia but also in the countries of the region. The economic and investment plan, together with the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, set out the Green Transition Strategy for the countries in the region.
Secondary school students and civil society activists learn how to better advocate for environmental initiatives
Better access to information on water quality in the Prespa Lake, cleaning of small illegal landfills and dumpsites in Struga, solving the problem with construction waste in the Demir Kapija gorge, implementation of good agricultural practices in the Tikvesh and Strumica region and encouraging eco-activism among young people in Bitola are the six initiatives within which the Institute for Communication Studies and a group of civil society organizations will implement a series of activities in the course of this year in order to improve the state of the environment
State Environmental Inspectorate’s Platform for Reporting Pollution Launched
Citizens now have an option to report pollution to the State Environmental Inspectorate via their social media and e-mail or via the Inspectorate's website, which significantly facilitates the process of quickly obtaining reports, keeping a record of reports and timely response by inspectors.
The Government should allow public inspection of the report on the Ohrid Region to UNESCO
Civil society organizations and higher educational institutions from the Advocacy and Lobbying Alliance “Clear it Up” demand the involvement of the public in the preparation of the report on the status of preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the Ohrid Region, which the Government should submit to UNESCO. Today, thirty-one (31) CSOs and higher educational institutions submitted letters to Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Minister of Culture and Chair of the National Commission for UNESCO Irena Stefoska, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Naser Nuredini, President of the Commission for Managing the World Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid
The proposed amendments to the Law on Mineral Resources endanger national natural resources
CSOs, higher education institutions and experts oppose the amendments to the Law on Mineral Resources that the Government proposed for adoption at the parliamentary session scheduled for next Monday in summary proceedings, which lack transparency, have had no prior public debate and public involvement. Their reactions state that the proposed legal amendments contain major gaps in terms of protection and sustainable use of mineral resources as the most important natural resources of the state.
Great lack of information and dissatisfaction among citizens regarding water protection and inspection of natural resources
There is a great lack of information and dissatisfaction among the citizens of Macedonia regarding water protection and inspection supervision of the use of natural resources, according to a survey of the Institute of Communication Studies conducted at the end of last year, as part of the advocacy and lobbying campaign "Clear it Up".
Six grantees selected to address the local environmental issues
The Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) in partnership with the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) selected the six civil society organizations that in partnership with high schools from the regions that include protected areas (Pelagonia, Ohrid, Strumica, Tikvesh, Demir Kapija and Prespa) will be implementing initiatives for solving the local environmental problems.