Environmental Policies
#25Key Findings
Suffering from ongoing difficulties with pollution and waste, Romania falls into the lower-middle ranks internationally (rank 25) with regard to its environmental policies. Its score on this measure is unchanged relative to its 2014 level.
The country has set a goal of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030. It has a relatively good record on greenhouse-gas emissions, but has not adopted a national air pollution control program. Observers say the country’s environmental authorities have not collected accurate data, undermining emissions reductions efforts.
The energy market has too many electricity producers, most of which are state companies. A national strategy is needed in the areas of the circular economy and building practices.
At the Glasgow COP26 meeting, the country agreed to accelerate its phase-out of coal power and reduce fossil fuel subsidies. It is part of a regional group aimed at coordinating action and protecting water resources in the Danube River basin.
The country has set a goal of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030. It has a relatively good record on greenhouse-gas emissions, but has not adopted a national air pollution control program. Observers say the country’s environmental authorities have not collected accurate data, undermining emissions reductions efforts.
The energy market has too many electricity producers, most of which are state companies. A national strategy is needed in the areas of the circular economy and building practices.
At the Glasgow COP26 meeting, the country agreed to accelerate its phase-out of coal power and reduce fossil fuel subsidies. It is part of a regional group aimed at coordinating action and protecting water resources in the Danube River basin.
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How effectively does environmental policy in your country protect and preserve the sustainability of natural resources and environmental quality?
10
9
9
Environmental policy goals are ambitious and effectively implemented as well as monitored within and across most relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
8
7
6
7
6
Environmental policy goals are mainly ambitious and effectively implemented and are monitored within and across some of the relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
5
4
3
4
3
Environmental policy goals are neither particularly ambitious nor are they effectively implemented and coordinated across relevant policy sectors.
2
1
1
Environmental concerns have been largely abandoned.
With the health crisis appearing to be near an end, EU member states are shifting their focus on emergency problems and mitigation, and finding sustainable, affordable and efficient solutions that aim to improve the well-being of European citizens. With access to capital from the Just Transition Fund and Next Generation EU, Romania is on track to implement policy goals from the European Green Deal (EGD) and the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). These goals include the “transition toward a green economy; digital transformation; intelligent, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth; social and territorial cohesion; health and institutional resilience; and children, youth, education, and competences.” Domestic targets for the RRP and EGD, however, are not easily reachable, because of the Romanian government’s opposition. For instance, the EU Climate Law proposed by the European Commission addresses the climate neutrality objective for 2050 and transposes it into EU legislation – a target vehemently opposed by the Romanian government. The new initiative of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for developing a pilot network of climate diplomacy represents an important incentive, aiming to develop a pragmatic answer to climate change through multilateral cooperation. Domestically, the decarbonization of the energy sector is largely based on the support provided by the EGD, although local renewable energy solutions have the potential to drive decarbonization for Romania’s energy sector, so long as public initiatives are synchronized with business intentions. Nevertheless, the energy market in Romania is competitive, with too many electricity producers,. The majority of producers are state companies and many household consumers are covered by regulated tariffs. Consequently, Romania performs very well for greenhouse gas emissions, at 4.09 metric tons per capita. Romania is also one of only two EU member states to be integrated into the EU power market, with an interconnection capacity of 7%, which is expected to increase to 10%. Yet, at the national level, Romania needs to move toward a clear vision and strategy, promoting research, innovation and good practice in the field of the circular economy. Buildings are a key segment of EU energy efficiency policy, as they are responsible for about 40% of final energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
In spite of improvements and commitments made to tackle carbon emissions by the Romanian government, Romania’s environmental authorities have been accused of failing to collect accurate data on air pollution in the country, fearing sanctions by the European Union. For example, the European Commission has argued that Romania has failed to ensure that three industrial plants operate with a valid permit under the Industrial Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU), undermining efforts to prevent or reduce pollution. Secondly, Romania has not adopted a national air pollution control program under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on reducing national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants. Thus, the commitments set out in the EGD, launched in December 2019, agreed upon by the Romanian government, are under threat. Domestic targets to reach regional carbon and climate neutrality targets by 2050 with an intermediate goal of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030, and efforts to achieve the Low Carbon Green Strategy for 2016–30 are undermined by evasive carbon emission measurements of Romanian industries.
Citations:
Ciot, Melania-Gabriela. “On European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Policy (the Case of Romania).” Sustainability 13, no. 21 (2021): 122-33. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112233
Mulhern, Owen. “Romania – Ranked 25th in the Global Sustainability Index.” Earth.org, 10 June 2020. https://earth.org/global_sustain/romania-ranked-25th-in-the-global-sustainability-index/
Necsutu, Madalin. “Romania Ignoring Scale of Pollution to Avoid Sanctions, Activist Claims.” Balkan Insight, 3 December 2021. https://balkaninsight.com/2021/12/03/romania-ignoring-scale-of-pollution-to-avoid-sanctions-activist-claims/
In spite of improvements and commitments made to tackle carbon emissions by the Romanian government, Romania’s environmental authorities have been accused of failing to collect accurate data on air pollution in the country, fearing sanctions by the European Union. For example, the European Commission has argued that Romania has failed to ensure that three industrial plants operate with a valid permit under the Industrial Emissions Directive (Directive 2010/75/EU), undermining efforts to prevent or reduce pollution. Secondly, Romania has not adopted a national air pollution control program under Directive (EU) 2016/2284 on reducing national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants. Thus, the commitments set out in the EGD, launched in December 2019, agreed upon by the Romanian government, are under threat. Domestic targets to reach regional carbon and climate neutrality targets by 2050 with an intermediate goal of cutting emissions by 40% by 2030, and efforts to achieve the Low Carbon Green Strategy for 2016–30 are undermined by evasive carbon emission measurements of Romanian industries.
Citations:
Ciot, Melania-Gabriela. “On European Green Deal and Sustainable Development Policy (the Case of Romania).” Sustainability 13, no. 21 (2021): 122-33. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112233
Mulhern, Owen. “Romania – Ranked 25th in the Global Sustainability Index.” Earth.org, 10 June 2020. https://earth.org/global_sustain/romania-ranked-25th-in-the-global-sustainability-index/
Necsutu, Madalin. “Romania Ignoring Scale of Pollution to Avoid Sanctions, Activist Claims.” Balkan Insight, 3 December 2021. https://balkaninsight.com/2021/12/03/romania-ignoring-scale-of-pollution-to-avoid-sanctions-activist-claims/
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To what extent does the government actively contribute to the design and advancement of global environmental protection regimes?
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9
9
The government actively contributes to international efforts to design and advance global environmental protection regimes. In most cases, it demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, contributes to their being advanced and has introduced appropriate reforms.
8
7
6
7
6
The government contributes to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes. It demonstrates commitment to existing regimes and occasionally contributes to their being advanced and/or has introduced some appropriate reforms.
5
4
3
4
3
The government demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, but does not contribute to their being advanced and has not introduced appropriate reforms.
2
1
1
The government does not contribute to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes.
Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has adopted the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as the main instrument for addressing climate change, ratifying it under Romania’s Law no. 24/1994. Romania was also a signatory to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, ratifying it in 2017. The European Union and its member states, including Romania, committed to reduce domestic greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. In 2019, Romania joined 50 UN member states to set up the Group of Friends on Climate and Security, which aims to find solutions to the impact of climate change on security policy and stimulate UN involvement in this field. Romania partook in the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP26) and the Glasgow Climate Pact in November 2021, agreeing to accelerate efforts toward phasing out unabated coal power and the inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, while recognizing the need to support a just transition. Moreover, the government pledged to stop land degradation by 2030. Romania has established a network of climate diplomacy in May 2021, and the government has also appointed a special representative for energy and climate diplomacy.
While Romania’s actions on the global stage are small, the government has taken a more prominent role regionally. Romania, alongside nine regional partners in southeastern Europe, signed the common Declaration for Cooperation, which acknowledged the importance of coordination within the Danube river basin, took into account the need for concerted action, promoted the “protection of water resources and prevention of floods” for the benefit of the general public, and fostered cooperation in the field of strategic policy. The partnership was founded to counter disasters intensified by climate change in the Danube microregion. The DRIDANUBE project has resulted in transnational cooperation, improved responses to drought emergencies (strategy), and strengthened cooperation between operational services and decision-making authorities in the Danube region at the national and regional level.
Citations:
Climate Adapt. “Good practices and lessons learnt.” Romania: National circumstances relevant to adaptation actions. Accessed 7 January 2022. https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/countries-regions/countries/romania
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Climate Change.” Global Issues. Accessed 7 January 2022. https://www.mae.ro/en/node/2134
While Romania’s actions on the global stage are small, the government has taken a more prominent role regionally. Romania, alongside nine regional partners in southeastern Europe, signed the common Declaration for Cooperation, which acknowledged the importance of coordination within the Danube river basin, took into account the need for concerted action, promoted the “protection of water resources and prevention of floods” for the benefit of the general public, and fostered cooperation in the field of strategic policy. The partnership was founded to counter disasters intensified by climate change in the Danube microregion. The DRIDANUBE project has resulted in transnational cooperation, improved responses to drought emergencies (strategy), and strengthened cooperation between operational services and decision-making authorities in the Danube region at the national and regional level.
Citations:
Climate Adapt. “Good practices and lessons learnt.” Romania: National circumstances relevant to adaptation actions. Accessed 7 January 2022. https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/countries-regions/countries/romania
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Climate Change.” Global Issues. Accessed 7 January 2022. https://www.mae.ro/en/node/2134