Environmental Advocacy

Environmental Advocacy ( CZ, HU, PL, RO, SK )

EPSD Environmental Advocacy programs are designed to give a voice to citizen groups and help them to influence public policy in order to bring about justice and positive change regarding the most pressing environmental issues in the region. Environmental Advocacy involves both protecting the public from environmental hazards and protecting the natural world. Mainly, it involves active individuals, groups and communities who feel passionate about preserving biodiversity, working for environmental justice, addressing transportation and land use policy, ensuring fare logging and mining, tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development.

Environmental organizations today are striving to have the same professional skills as private and government organizations in order to be more effective Environmental Advocates. Well-qualified leaders and well organized groups are very important to protecting the public good, especially on the grass-roots level. Therefore, EPSD Environmental Advocacy programs focus heavily on building the capacity and skills of local NGOs, advocacy groups and citizens to more effectively engage in defending the public good.

As funding priorities change, watchdog and Environmental Advocacy activities in the region are under constant threat since they are, at times, at odds or in conflict with both government and EU policies and plans, or going head-to-head with businesses and corporations. That is why EPSD grassroots support for these initiatives is important to ensure a higher degree of responsiveness to the citizenry.