LMP urges root and branch change in environmental policies

Budapest (MTI) – On the occasion of World Environmental Protection Day, Hungary’s green LMP party urged policymakers to totally reconsider their approach to the environment.

LMP lawmakers Erzsebet Schmuck and Benedek R. Sallai told a news conference that stronger and more stringent environmental policies were needed. Ever since Fidesz came into office in 2010, the government has systematically weakened environmental protections and institutions, and dismantled strict regulations in order to uphold its own power and material interests, they insisted.

The government constantly ignores the public good in its decision-making, Schmuck said, attributing several thousand early deaths each year to such things as air pollution. She insisted that 15 percent of deaths were caused by environmental hazards.

Schmuck urged bringing short-term economic interests and long-term environmental viewpoints into line.

R. Sallai said it was now time to talk about the needs and interests of the next generations. He said that environmental regulations which had been drawn up 25 years ago were by now out of date and failed to provide guarantees for an environment conducive to good health.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters