Energy and the environment
CO2-Emissions
The energy sector can be considered a heavy polluter of the environment. The issue of ensuring energy supply whilst maintaining and protecting the environment is also on the agenda of the Slovak Republic.
The Slovak Republic has signed (1999) and ratified (2002) the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, therefore committing itself to reduce its greenhouse gases GHG-emissions until 2012 by 8% as compared with the 1990 value. Currently the Slovak Republic is around 25 % below the GHG-emissions limits. Due to its proportion of electricity produced from nuclear sources the Slovak Republic is ranging among the countries with a rather low level of CO2 emissions.
Objectives to mitigate the impacts of the energy sector on the environment concerning GHG-emissions and other pollutants according to the Draft Energy Policy (2008) of the Slovak Republic:
Reduction of GHG-emissions
- Reduce GHG-emission by 8 % between 2008 and 2012 compared with 1990
- Create conditions for the projected second target period - ensure the reduction of GHG-emissions by a further 5 %
- Get GHG-emissions under controll so that the growth trends are mitigated and stabilised (after 2015)
- Elaborate a strategy in sufficient advance to reach a reduction in GHG-emissions
Reduction of pollutant emissions
- Increase the proportion of fuels with a lower content of pollutants per energy unit
- Adopt suitable measures to reduce pollutant emissions (e.g. sulphur, carbon and nitrogen oxides, as well as solid pollutants
Reduction of wastewater
- Adherence to wastewater pollution limits
- Adherence to disposal limits of substances endangering the quality of surface water, groundwater and soil
Reduction of the amount of waste
- Restriction of waste generation
- Promotion of recycling over disposal
Adequate treatment and disposal of spent nuclear fuel
- Preparation and adherence to the measures for the disposal of nuclear fuel and production facilities according to the developed timetable
[Draft Energy Policy of the Slovak Republic, 2008]
CO2-emissions per Capita of Slovakia, other CEEC, Austria, and the EU 15, 2007
Air pollution
The main concerns are increasing CO and NOx emissions from the transport sector and the relatively high levels of emissions from boiler houses compared with those in developed industrial countries due to lower efficiency, obsolete burner technology and the use of low range fuels in medium and small sources. On the basis of past amendments, the Air Act has become an adequate tool to tackle pollution from fixed sources.
[AEA]
