On Monday, July 18, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved in the first reading the government bill No. 6477 "On the national register of emissions and transfer of pollutants."
The corresponding decision was supported 296 people's deputies, reports Ministry of Environment on Telegram.
The document prescribes the legal and organizational basis for the creation of a national pollutant emission and transfer register (PETR). As well as the launch of a single unified electronic system of access to information on the state of the environment, which can be used by authorities and citizens to obtain important information about the quality of life.
The draft law is also intended to harmonize Ukrainian environmental legislation with relevant EU regulations, in particular the protocol of the Aarhus Convention.
The main provisions of the draft law:
- PETR, adapted to national needs, will help the state monitor the formation of emissions and the transfer of pollutants in time and space; analyze emission reductions and set priorities in reducing and eliminating potentially the most harmful emissions.
- The register will make it possible to prevent pollution and reduce the burden of monitoring and control measures. Its data will be used in the assessment of risks to human health and the environment.
- Dissemination of information about pollution will allow industrial enterprises to compare their environmental protection activities with others, choose and implement the best global practices for reducing emissions and thus save financial resources.
- The National RETR will submit data in accordance with international standards, which will help the country faithfully fulfill its international obligations.
The document also provides for liability for violation of legislative requirements in the field of registration of emissions and transfer of pollutants. In particular, a fine, in most cases – in the amount of ten times the monthly minimum wage (from January 1, 2022 – UAH 6,500, from October 1, 2022 – UAH 6,700).
As Ecopolitic reported before, Verkhovna Rada approved the improvement of the mechanism regulation of pollutant emissions substances into the air.