Zsuzsa Steindl

1. Integrating water related SDGs into
Hungarian policy documents
Zsuzsa Steindl
GWP Hungary Foundation (gwpmo@gwpmo.hu)
SDG6 Capacity Development Workshop
23-24 November 2020
1

2. SDG process in Hungary
Hungary’ role in UN SDG process
Significant political support for Agenda 2030
Active participation for adoption standalone water related SDGs
Budapest Water Summits (2013,2016,2019)
Voluntary National Report on SDGs (2018, UN-HLPF)
From 2015: National implementation process of SDGs
Baseline analysis: where are we now?
Target settings: where do we want to reach?
Defining measures: what to do about it?
Securing funding: how much does it cost, where is it available?
Integration SDGs into sectoral policies, regulation
Implementation of measures (including monitoring, reporting...)
2

3. Framework policy
Fundamental Law (2011 „constitution”)
Principle of Sustainable Development
National Council for Sustainable Development
Consultative, advisory body of the Hungarian Parliament (2007-)
National Framework Strategy on Sustainable Development
- The last version accepted by the Parliament in 2013
- Distinguish: human, social, natural and economic resources
- Progress reports in every second years
- Structure, indicators differ a bit from SDGs, but targets are basically
in compliance with the 17 SDGs
3

4. Sectoral policies, actors
The implementation of the (national) SDGs are the task of the relevant
ministries (+national organisations, other actors)
They are jointly responsible for the national implementation of the 2030 Agenda
through the different policy areas, strategies, and initiatives.
There is no need for new special regulation, policy on SDGs
Instead of it during the processes of developing sectoral policies, compliance
with the SDGs’ objectives must be ensured. (Ministries have to confer with the
relevant stakeholders using their own practices, methods, and frameworks for
consultation.)
But! Coordination mechanism is necessary for strengthen policy
coherence
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has this role, but more detailed legislation
would be necessary for define the responsible actors on different SDG topics.)
4

5. Water related SDGs in Hungary
Main facts in SDG6 context:
- Geopolitical importance of water management issues (international and national
level)
- Long history of water relating legislation, sectoral policies, institution system
- Active water diplomacy (bilateral, multilateral, global level)
- From 2004: Hungary is the member of the European Union!
- Water (environmental, nature conservation, other relevant) legislation is in
harmony with the EU legislation
- Implementation of the EU relevant policies, programs are ongoing
- EU (and other international, national funds) help the implementation process
(but limited)
- Each of the above processes serve the implementation of the SDG6 objectives,
but additional measures are needed in some areas (funding is a weak point!)
5

6. EU SDG6 „strategy”
Fitness-check of EU water protection policy (2018-19)
A detailed examination of the adequacy that new challenges (eg. climate change,
increasing water scarcity / drought, SDG requirements, etc.) require further development
of regulations and, if so, in what direction.
The results of the study found that water is a basic social need, the purpose of the
directives is as relevant today as it was at the time the directives were adopted, if not
more important. Regulations contribute to many of the goals of sustainable
development.
Reflection Paper Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030 (2019)
The EU is committed to implementing Agenda 2030, it considered necessary to regularly
monitor the sustainable development goals in the EU context, and to this end decided to
develop a system of (EU) indicators.
Sustainable development in the European Union: Monitoring report on
progress towards the SDGs in an EU context (2019)
The vast majority of European citizens have access to basic sanitation facilities and are
connected to at least secondary sewage treatment systems. In addition, European
citizens have access to very high quality drinking water. At the same time, urbanization
pressures, diffuse pollution from agriculture, industry and climate change are affecting
water quality and long-term water security. At the global level, the EU supports
sustainable water management and the development of wastewater treatment systems
through the European Consensus on Development and the EU's Neighborhood and
Enlargement Policy. 6

7. SDG6 relevant policies, programs in Hungary
Water sector policies and programs:
Implementation of River Basin Management Plans (on the basis of Water Framework
Directive and its „daughter directives)
National Waste Water Collection and Treatment Program (based on EU Urban
Wastewater Directive)
National Drinking Water Quality Improvement Program (based on EU Drinking Water
Directive)
Protection against nitrate pollution from agricultural origin (based on EU Nitrate
directive)
National program of protection of vulnerable drinking water sources
Assessment of pollution sources and remediation of polluted areas
Flood Risk Management Plans (Implementation of EU Flood Directive)
…..(and others)
Other sectors’ policies:
National Environmental Program
Climate Action Plan
Nature Protection Action Plan
Sustainable Hungary Program (Circular Economy)
National Public Health Program
UN ECE Water and Health Protocol national implementation process…….
(and others)
7

8. National Water Strategy
The National Water Strategy (NWS) was accepted by the Hungarian
Government in 2017. The NWS is the frame strategy of water management in
Hungary up until 2030, comprising water management system plans and
programmes secure from the damage waters are threatening us. IWRM (SDG
6.5.) is one of the key objectives of the Strategy, but it supports SDG 6.3-6.6,
and also partly SDG 6.1-6.2)
Its aim is to work out actions aiming for the following targets:
- to enable Hungary to avoid the water crisis threatening the world and to
take the necessary actions in time in response to its already visible signs,
- to preserve water for future generations as this is a requisite for life that
cannot be substituted by anything else and because it is also an economic
resource,
- to effectively and efficiently enjoy the benefits of waters.
8

9. NWS’ subprograms
9
National Water Strategy
River Basin Management Plan
Flood Risk Management Plan
(Hungarian acronym: ÁKK)
Municipal strategies Water damage prevention strategies
National Municipal Waste Water Collection and Treatment
Implementation Programme
Drinking Water Quality Improvement Programme
Sludge Treatment and Utilisation Strategy 2014-2023
Complex Flood Protection Development Programme
Floodbed Management Plan
Reconstruction of Large Engineering Structures
Restoring the Protective Capacities of State-Owned Works
Regional Strategies
Tisza Valley Flood Protection Development Programme
New Vásárhelyi Plan (Hungarian acronym: VTT)
Danube-Tisza Interfluve – Sandy Hill Ridge

10. GWP Hungary Foundation participation
in SDG6 process
- GWP special focuses on IWRM, climate change, drought and scarcity
problem, etc…(All in line with SDG6 topics)
- GWP Hungary Foundation member of different water related committees,
advisory groups (e.g. National and Regional Water Management Councils,
Water and Health Special Committee), dealing also with SDG6 policies,
monitoring, reporting issues (e.g. WASH, UN WHP reports)
- Participation in GWP Water Preparedness Project In 2016-18 – Country
report, assessment co-ordination
- Participation in SDG6 implementation processes (in co-operation with the
responsible ministries)
- Organizing relevant Public Consultation processes (e.g. SDG 6.5.1 IWRM
national report in 2020.)
- Participation in involving/training youth into SDG processes (BWS Youth
Panel, SDG competitions for children, etc...)
10

11. 11
Thanks for your attention!