On November 26, the publication "Environmental Crime and Punishment: How to build an efficient state environmental inspectorate" was presented during an online seminar which we organized together with the Clean Air for Ukraine team. Speakers shared insights on key steps toward creating a transparent and effective environmental oversight system in the Czech Republic, discussed the functioning of the State Environmental Inspection in Ukraine, and explored how Czech experiences could be adapted for implementation in Ukraine.
Over 200 registered participants joined the event to learn about adapting to European standards, combating corruption, and involving public organizations. These participants included representatives of Ukraine’s State Environmental Inspection, local communities, universities, schools, environmental NGOs, ecologists, scientists, and activists.
Marcela Černochová, coordinator of the "Clean Air for Ukraine" project, emphasized that the transformation of the Czech State Environmental Inspection was a challenging journey spanning 30 years. "We know how difficult it is to start from scratch. We want to share not only our successes but also the setbacks encountered during the transformation of our environmental inspection. I believe the Czech Republic and Ukraine have much in common and can learn a great deal from each other. This publication summarizes the most important milestones in the development of the Czech Environmental Inspection," she said.
The publication is available for download here. It specifically examines:
- The structure and functions of the Czech Environmental Inspection system.
- Key steps to creating a transparent and effective environmental oversight mechanism.
- Pathways for implementing best practices in Ukraine.
Oleksandr Skakalskyi, Head of the Ecology Department at Kryvyi Rih City Council and former Ukrainian State Environmental Inspection officer, shared his perspective. He highlighted the importance of innovative technologies, better communication, and sufficient funding. He also addressed systemic issues such as low salaries and ineffective judicial processes. Skakalskyi noted the risks of corruption in standardized inspections for large industrial enterprises, emphasizing the need for a tailored approach and modern methodologies like drones. He called for institutional reforms and robust legislation as a foundation for advancing environmental inspection in Ukraine.
The event concluded with an engaging Q&A session where participants discussed the Czech and Ukrainian experiences and explored avenues for collaboration to strengthen environmental governance.
A full recording of the event in Ukrainian is available on YouTube.
