Background: the Carpathian Convention

The S4C initiative responds to the research needs described in Article 12 on 'Environmental assessment/information system, monitoring and early warning' of the Carpathian Convention:

1. The Parties shall apply, where necessary, risk assessments, environmental impact assessments, and strategic environmental assessments, taking into account the specificities of the Carpathian mountain ecosystems, and shall consult on projects of transboundary character in the Carpathians, and assess their environmental impact, in order to avoid transboundary harmful effects.
2. The Parties shall pursue policies, using existing methods of monitoring and assessment, aiming at promoting:

(a) cooperation in the carrying out of research activities and scientific assessments in the Carpathians,

(b) joint or complementary monitoring programmes, including the systematic monitoring of the state of the environment,

(c) comparability, complementarity and standardization of research methods and related data-acquisition activities,

(d) harmonization of existing and development of new environmental, social and economic indicators,

(e) a system of early warning, monitoring and assessment of natural and manmade environmental risks and hazards, and

(f) an information system, accessible to all Parties.