SDGs in the Visegrád Group

Home / News / SDGs in the Visegrád Group

SDGs in the Visegrád Group

With the publication of the Commission's latest report on the implementation progress of the SDGs, we take a closer look on the Visegrád Group's case.

Author: CEEweb Policy Team | Date: February 12, 2025

SDGs in the Visegrád Group

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established by the United Nations in 2015, comprise 17 interconnected objectives designed to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and justice. These goals serve as a universal call to action, urging all nations to work collaboratively towards a sustainable future.

In this line, CEEweb for Biodiversity has been dedicated to advancing the implementation of several SDGs, with a primary focus on SDGs 15 and 16 (Figure 1):

  • SDG 15: Protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests sustainably, combating desertification, and halting biodiversity loss.
  • SDG 16: Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, ensuring access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Figure 1. SDGs 15 and 16 are of primary focus for CEEweb’s policy and project and project implementation work.

 

Additionally, our policy and project initiatives touch upon other goals, including SDGs 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

 

V4 and the SDGs: State of the Art

The European Commission’s 2024 “Sustainable Development in the European Union - Monitoring Report on Progress towards the SDGs in an EU Context” report (EC 2024) provides an up-to-date assessment of the European Union’s advancements over the past 15 years — with an emphasis on the so-called ‘short term’ revision encompassing the past 5 years at the EU level. The implementation and accomplishment of the SDGs are strongly aligned with the distinct policy and development priorities of the European Commission (Figure 2). The report highlights significant progress in areas such as clean energy adoption and climate action. However, challenges persist, particularly in achieving SDG 15, where biodiversity loss remains a critical concern. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine are also accounted for in the assessment, shaping recent SDG implementation trends.

Figure 2. The distinct EC priorities and their correlation to the different array of SDGs. Source: EC 2024.

 

According to the report, the implementation of SDGs presents a mixed landscape in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and, particularly, those of the Visegrád Group (V4) — comprising the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. While there have been strides in economic growth and infrastructure development (i.e. SDGs 8 and 9), environmental sustainability goals, especially SDG 15, require more focused attention. In this line, biodiversity loss and habitat degradation continue to pose significant challenges in the region, signifying that the integration of environmental sustainability into the aforementioned growth trajectory remains inconsistent.

As seen in Figure 3, negative trends can be easily identified, “resulting in an overall moderately negative assessment for SDG 15 as a whole.” The report indicates that “while the EU’s forest area has grown slightly […] land degradation continues, with increasing land take and drought impact.” Moreover, the indicators related to species’ biodiversity show a continued decline in common birds and grassland butterflies. Overall, the analysis indicated that the EU is not on track to meeting its 2030 target.

Figure 3. Related to Goal 15, over the five-year period assessed, the EU has experienced a number of negative trends in the indicators analysed, resulting in an overall moderately negative assessment for SDG 15 as a whole. Source: EC 2024.

 

As such, in terms of SDG 15 within the V4 countries, while the four countries possess rich biodiversity and extensive forested areas, despite this natural wealth, challenges such as habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss persist. Moreover, the area impacted by droughts more than doubled in Hungary and Slovakia between 2017 and 2022. While efforts to establish protected areas and implement sustainable forest management practices have been initiated, the effectiveness of these measures varies across the region.

As to SDG 16, the report indicates that government expenditure on law courts has grown significantly and more than half of Europeans consider their justice system to be independent, although this share has declined over the past five years. The assessment of corruption in the EU has remained stable (see Figure 4).

Figure 4. As to Goal 16, access to justice is perceived to have a slightly increase, while corruption perception remains unchanged. Source: EC 2024.

 

Regarding SDG 16 within the V4, while the countries have made strides in building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions, nevertheless, issues related to governance, transparency, and public trust continue to pose challenges. For instance, Hungary has one of the highest levels of perceived corruption across the EU, ranking at position 76 on the global list (comprising 180 countries in total). Moreover, Polish citizens have one of the lowest perceptions of the independence of their courts and judges, with only 23% of respondents to the Flash Eurobarometer 519 – Report on Perceived independence of the national justice systems in the EU among the general public (Eurobarometer 2024) rating it between ‘very good’ and ‘fairly good’. Interference or pressure from the government and politicians was the most likely reason for a bad rating of the perceived independence of courts and judges, according to the report.

Needless to say, civil society organizations (CSOs) can — and ought to — play a crucial role in promoting accountability and advocating for inclusive decision-making processes.

In short, the need for a more integrated approach that balances economic development with environmental sustainability and robust governance structures is evident.

 

Implementation Challenges

The effective implementation of the SDGs in the V4 countries faces several key challenges. A primary issue is the integration of sustainable development principles into national policies. Often, economic growth is prioritized without sufficient consideration of environmental and social dimensions, leading to policy inconsistencies and missed opportunities for holistic development.

Financial constraints also impede progress. Allocating adequate resources for initiatives such as biodiversity conservation (SDG 15) and the strengthening of institutions (SDG 16) is challenging, particularly in the face of competing budgetary demands. This financial shortfall can result in underfunded programs and limited capacity for effective implementation.

Public awareness and engagement present additional hurdles. Limited understanding of the SDGs among the general populace can lead to apathy and a lack of grassroots support for sustainable development initiatives. This situation underscores the need for comprehensive education and outreach programs to foster a culture of sustainability.

Institutional challenges, including bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of intersectoral coordination, further complicate SDG implementation. The absence of cohesive frameworks that facilitate collaboration among government agencies, CSOs, and the private sector can lead to fragmented efforts and suboptimal outcomes.

Moreover, political dynamics within the V4 countries can influence SDG progress. Shifts in political priorities, policy discontinuities, and varying levels of commitment to international agreements can create an unpredictable environment for sustainable development initiatives.

 

Recommendations for Strengthening National Strategies

To overcome these challenges and enhance SDG implementation, the following strategies and actions are recommended:

  1. Policy Integration: Develop comprehensive national strategies that embed sustainable development principles across all sectors, including the promotion of sustainable land use, forest management, and biodiversity conservation — aligning them with SDG 15 targets. This approach would ensure that economic, environmental, and social policies are aligned and mutually reinforcing.
  2. Resource Mobilization: Increase investment in sustainable development initiatives by exploring diverse funding sources, including public-private partnerships and international grants.
  3. Public Engagement: Implement educational campaigns to raise awareness of the SDGs among citizens. Encouraging public participation in sustainable development projects can foster a sense of ownership and collective responsibility.
  4. Institutional Transparency and Strengthening: Building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions, as outlined in SDG 16, is vital for fostering trust and ensuring the successful implementation of sustainable development initiatives. Thus, enhancing the capacity of institutions to implement and monitor SDG-related initiatives is critical. This effort includes improving governance structures, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and promoting transparency and accountability.
  5. Stakeholder Engagement: Foster partnerships among government entities, CSOs, academia, and the private sector. Collaborative approaches can leverage diverse expertise and resources, leading to more effective and innovative solutions.

 

Conclusion

While progress has been made in the Visegrád Group countries, significant challenges remain that require concerted action and strategic planning. By addressing policy integration, resource allocation, public engagement, institutional capacity, and stakeholder collaboration, the V4 countries can overcome existing obstacles and accelerate their journey towards sustainable development.

The commitment to these strategies will not only fulfil international obligations but also enhance the well-being of current and future generations within the region.

Bibliography

Please, donate to help save biodiversity!

When you support CEEweb, you are helping us ensure the conservation of biodiversity in Central and Eastern Europe. Would you like to do something for the environment but you do not have the capacity for it? Then please donate us and support CEEweb’s work to protect our natural heritage!

Donate Now!

Become a CEEweb Member!

CEEweb for Biodiversity is a network of organisations from Central and Eastern Europe striving to conserve the natural heritage of the region.
Join Us!