UNECE And Czechia Showcase Practical Industrial Pollution Control To Support Action In South-Eastern And Eastern Europe

Controlling industrial pollution is indispensable for protecting ecosystems and human health. However, turning environmental policies into concrete action in industry remains a major challenge.

To support countries to gain practical insights into the implementation of Best Available Techniques (BAT) – a cornerstone of modern industrial pollution control – UNECE organized a study tour in Prague (29 June to 3 July 2026), which brought together regulators and technical experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine to explore how BAT are applied in practice.

While application of BAT is a requirement under the latest protocols under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution, countries modernizing their permitting systems often struggle to turn complex BAT conclusions into workable permit conditions suited to real industrial settings.

To address this challenge, the study tour offered participants a first‑hand look at Czechia’s system for air quality management and industrial emissions control, aligning with obligations in the Convention’s Gothenburg Protocol and the industrial emissions framework of the European Union. Through exchanges with national authorities, participants examined how BAT‑based emission limits are set, how integrated permits address multiple environmental impacts, and how compliance is monitored.

Discussions with the Czech Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Inspectorate and the Czech Environmental Information Agency highlighted the importance of strong institutional cooperation, robust data collection and digital reporting systems in ensuring effective BAT implementation. Particular attention was given to inspection practices, enforcement measures and the use of emissions data to support regulatory decisions.

The programme also featured an industrial site visit, allowing participants to observe BAT application in practice. The visit to a cement plant demonstrated how BAT requirements are implemented on the ground, including emission controls, environmental monitoring and permit compliance in different industrial contexts.

By combining policy discussion, technical expertise and practical experience, the study tour provided valuable insights into how integrated permitting and BAT implementation can deliver tangible benefits for air quality, environmental protection and public health. The lessons shared are expected to support participating countries in strengthening their own BAT‑based industrial pollution control systems.

The study tour was funded by the 16th tranche of the United Nations Development Account.

For more information on capacity-building activities under the UNECE Air Convention, please visit the UNECE website (https://unece.org/environmental-policy/air/capacity-building).