Country Profiles

State Environmental Council of Poland - former

Państwowa Rada Ochrony Środowiska (PROS)

Contact

Address:  

Panstwowa Rada Ochrony Srodowiska (PROS)

c/o Ministry of Environment

Minister's Office

ul. Wawelska 52/54

PL-00-922 Warszawa, Poland

Website: www.mos.gov.pl/pros  (website in progress)

Poland200

Mission Statement

‘The PROS gives opinions on environmental and sustainable development policies, new laws dealing with environmental protection, documents related to Polish participation in the EU and on any other matter requested by the Minister of the Environment. The PROS also suggests activities related to environmental protection and initiates and reviews research programs. It co-operates with other bodies dealing with the environment and sustainable development, especially with the State Council for Nature Protection (PROP).

Composition and Membership

Chair: Prof. Tomasz Winnicki

The PROS has 30 scientists as Council Members, who along with the board are appointed by the Minister for the Environment. Council Members are nominated for a period of five years.

The council currently has one administrative employee, a clerk at the Ministry of Environment.

Role and Functions

  • advising on government policy or making policy recommendations, including NSDS.

Recent Activities

The tasks of the council are to:

    • give recommendations to the Minister of Environment;
    • give consultations concerning new environmental law acts;
    • give opinions on some crucial macro eco-economic decisions;
    • participate in the Minister's Rewards Juries;
    • represent the council in the Parliamentary Environmental Committees; and
    • represent the council in other bodies and meetings.

Activities approximately comprise 40% research, 30% meetings and 30% others.

Seven working groups address Agriculture and Environment; Biodiversity and Climate Change; Education for Sustainable Development; Energy and Environment; Environmental Governance; Sustainable Development; and Water Economy. The Council holds two semi-annual plenary meetings, three to four presidium meetings and a few other events such as conferences, seminars and workshops.

Current priorities:

    • Greenhouse gases emission and the country economic development;
    • Solid waste management policy and its implementation;
    • Education for sustainable development;
    • Sustainable water economy;
    • Biodiversity (NATURA 2000) and infrastructural investments;
    • Environment-friendly agriculture and rural policy;
    • Financing of the environmental protection;
    • Sustainable forest management; and
    • Current changes to environmental law.