Belarusian Regional Environmental Rankings: Brest Tops the List

National experts have identified the leader among the most environmentally clean regional centers of Belarus. According to the results of comprehensive research conducted since 2020, the city of Brest continues to maintain its leading position in the field of environmental development of regions.

Methodology for assessing the environmental situation

The ranking of environmental development of Belarusian regions is a comprehensive evaluation system that analyzes multiple factors affecting the environment. The study covers all regional centers of the republic and has been conducted annually since 2020. Experts from RUE “Central Scientific Research Institute for Integrated Use of Water Resources” under the leadership of Elena Gromadskaya have developed a comprehensive methodology that takes into account not only the current state of the environmental situation but also the dynamics of its changes.

Criteria for environmental ranking

The assessment system is based on three main components, each of which makes a significant contribution to the city’s overall scores: State of the environment includes monitoring air quality, water resources, soil cover, and the overall environmental situation within the city limits. Experts analyze the concentration of pollutants, noise pollution levels, and other factors affecting the quality of the urban environment. Industrial impact evaluates the degree of negative influence of large enterprises on the environmental situation. Specialists study emission volumes, the quality of wastewater treatment facilities, compliance with environmental legislation, and the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies. Environmental policy represents the most dynamic component of the ranking, reflecting the activity of local authorities in the field of environmental protection. This includes city environmental initiatives, greening programs, development of ecological transport, and educational work with the population.

Leaders of the environmental ranking

Brest – consistent leader

The city of Brest has demonstrated outstanding results in the field of environmental development throughout the entire period of the research. The stable leadership of the western regional center is due to a comprehensive approach to solving environmental issues and an active city environmental policy. Brest’s geographical location, proximity to nature reserves, and a relatively low concentration of heavy industry create favorable conditions for maintaining high environmental standards.

Competition for the top positions

Minsk and Grodno engage in constant rivalry for the second and third positions in the ranking. These cities swap places annually, demonstrating roughly equal levels of environmental development and lying in the range from second to fourth place. It is interesting to note that the Minsk District shows worse results than the capital, which experts associate with the relocation of some large industrial enterprises outside the city limits of Minsk. Such territorial separation affects the distribution of environmental load between administrative units.

Vitebsk – an example of successful development

Particular attention deserves the dynamic development of Vitebsk, which has shown an impressive rise in the environmental ranking. Thanks to the active implementation of environmental initiatives, the city moved from fifth place to second, which indicates the effectiveness of the local environmental policy. Vitebsk’s success shows that targeted efforts by city authorities and active implementation of environmental programs can radically change the environmental situation in a city over a relatively short period.

Environmental challenges of the capital

Minsk, as the country’s largest city, faces special environmental challenges. According to the Republican Analytical Control Center in the field of environmental protection, the main source of air pollution in the capital is mobile sources – motor vehicles. Deputy Head of the Center Svetlana Kostyan notes a positive trend in reducing emissions from transport, which is associated with the growing popularity of electric transport among the city’s residents. This indicates a gradual change in transport culture and growth of environmental awareness among citizens.

Prospects for environmental development

The results of the annual ranking show that Belarusian cities are actively working to improve the environmental situation. It is especially important that environmental policy and local authorities’ initiatives play a key role in shaping the ranking positions. Vitebsk’s experience demonstrates that comprehensive environmental programs can significantly improve a city’s position in the ranking in a short time. This creates positive incentives for other regional centers to intensify work in the field of environmental protection.

Significance of the environmental ranking

The annual compilation of the environmental development ranking of regions plays an important role in shaping the environmental policy of Belarusian cities. The ranking system not only allows for an objective assessment of the current situation but also stimulates healthy competition between cities in environmental protection issues. Publicity of the research results contributes to increasing the responsibility of local authorities for the ecological condition of their territories and motivates them to develop more effective nature protection measures. The environmental ranking of Belarusian cities becomes an important tool for monitoring sustainable development and shows that targeted work in the field of environmental protection brings measurable results.