Overview of Hungary

State of the Environment
Former Soviet military bases have been cleaned up, and landscapes near closed coal mines have been rehabilitated. Leaded fuel was completely phased out in April 1999. In 1997 four new national parks were established, and all bogs, caves, and grave mounds are now protected. Several previously threatened species have been reintroduced. Air quality has improved as emissions of CO and SO2 have decreased.

Despite these achievements, Hungary faces significant environmental challenges. Emissions of air pollutants per unit of GDP are high compared with OECD average and approximately half of the country's population is exposed to serious or moderate air pollution. As the number of private automobiles increases, air pollution may get worse. Energy efficiency is poor: energy intensity per unit of GDP is 20 percent above the OECD average. Only 60 percent of the population is connected to a public sewer system and only 22 percent to sewage treatment. Nearly 80 percent of Budapest's sewage is discharged, untreated, into the Danube. Of the 728 registered landfills in Hungary, only six are fully in line with EU regulations, and most waste is disposed of in small, communal landfills. Surface water suffers from significant pollution occurring in countries upstream.

Further information:
www.oecd.org
www.who.int/country/hun/en/
europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/report2002/


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List of bilateral activities

Cooperation with the Regional Environment Center (REC) in Szentedre to promote transboundary environmental initiatives, energy efficiency, environmental information and public participation.

ECOLINKS, a U.S. and AID-funded initiative seeking market-based solutions to industrial and urban environment problem in the CEE/NIS region, in cooperation with the Institute for International Education, the REC and the U.S. Commercial Service.

Good Corporate Citizenship Campaign (U.S. Commercial Service and U.S.-Hungary Chamber of Commerce), an effort to spur model programs and certification procedures for multifunctional firms to broaden compliance with EU standards.

GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Better the Environment) Program, organized through the Hungarian Ministry of Education in cooperation with GLOBE international headquarters and the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy Budapest.


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Useful contacts

The Regional Environment Center
Toni Popovski, Executive Director
Ady Endre ut 9-11
2000 Szentendre
Hungary
Phone: 36-1-26-311-199
Fax: 36-1-26-311-294
E-mail:
Website: www.rec.org

GLOBE program Hungary
Aniko Orgovanyi, Program Country Coordinator
Phone: 36-26-328-855
E-mail: zsziv@mail.c3.hu
Website: www.globe.gov

Hungarian Embassy, Washington DC
3910 Shoemaker St., N.W.
Washington DC 20008
Istvan Takacs, Science Attache
Phone: 1-202-364-8270
Fax: 1-202-686-6412
E-mail: ITakacs@huembwas.org
Website: www.huembwas.org

U.S. Commercial Service
Scott Bozek, Senior Commercial Counselor
Kinga Svastics, Environmental Specialist
Bank Center
Arany Janos utca
1054 Budapest
Hungary
Phone: 36-1-475-4282
Fax: 36-1-475-4676
E-mail: kinga.svastics@maildoc.gov
Website: www.usis.hu/usisbp.htm

Ministry of Environment and Water Management
Eszter Szovenyi
Chief Counsellor
Department of International Affairs
Fo utca 44-50
H-1011 Budapest
Phone: 36-1-457-3484
Fax: 36-1-201-2846
E-mail: szovenyi@mail.ktm.hu
Website: www.ktm.hu

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Useful Links

Environment
Ministry of Environment and Water Management (Környezetvédelmi és Vízügyi Minisztérium)
VITUKI (Water Management)
www.zpok.hu (NGO alliance)

Science and Technology
Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Magyar Tudományos Akadémia)
Hungarian Geological Survey (Magyar Geológiai Szolgálat)
National Atomic Energy Authority (Országos Atomenergia Hivatal)
Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center (Mezőgazdasági Biotechnológiai Kutatóközpont)
Hungarian Patent Office (Magyar Szabadalmi Hivatal)
AmCham Environment Committee
AmCham Healthcare Committee

Health
AmCham Health Committee
Ministry of Health, Social and Family Affairs (Egészségügyi, Szociális és Családügyi Minisztérium)


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