Green Majority: Two Years of Taraba's Tenure Led to Decline in Nature Protection

Bratislava, 30 September (TASR) – Two years of Environment Minister Tomas Taraba's (SNS nominee) tenure have resulted in a decline in nature protection, legislative chaos, discrediting of experts and the public, and the weakening of institutions, according to the Green Majority initiative. The group pointed out that the climate crisis is being questioned and the potential of European reforms and funding is not being utilised. Environmentalists stated that the Environment Ministry has become a symbol of legislative disorder, citing multiple amendments to the Nature Protection Act and interference in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act. „No other minister has ever managed to bring the environment portfolio into such a professional crisis. Tomas Taraba openly and regularly speaks against environmental protection and proposes harmful activities and projects. We see cronyism in the ministry, a poacher leading a national park, support for the destruction of nature and polluting industries, and a total inability to implement even a single change without problems," said Lucia Szabova of the Green Majority initiative. She added that the environment under the current government effectively has no minister. According to environmentalists, Taraba downplays the need to address the climate crisis, weakens European climate goals, and blocks the transition to renewable energy sources, particularly wind energy. They also criticised the minister’s support for projects such as the construction of an incinerator, waterworks, and the Malinec–Cechanky pumped storage power plant. „In environmental protection and tackling the climate crisis, we can rely on EU legislation and draw EU funds – which Taraba ignores. He is behind schedule on commitments, particularly in renewables, biodiversity, and waste management, and actively opposes climate measures. For two years, the ministry has been trying to avoid fulfilling commitments under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, jeopardising the funding intended to launch the green economy. To avoid serious economic consequences in the future, we must address climate measures intensively, protect biodiversity, and change the current system," said Dana Marekova from the Climate Coalition. The Green Majority gave the minister the worst rating for his handling of protected species. They highlighted the cancellation of year-round wolf protection and the approval of its hunting, as well as the killing of bears. The initiative also criticised the inadequate protection of the endangered Western capercaillie. „The Environment Ministry has become a hunting ministry, which, instead of effective preventive measures, supports the senseless killing of protected species. This does not resolve the situation – it makes it worse," said Rastislav Micanik from the Aevis organisation. mf