Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia.

This Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Croatia must be put into the context of its geopolitical environment and existing situation which includes the assessment of available human and natural resources. Sustainable development implies the realization of three general objectives: stable economic development, social equity and environmental protection. These objectives, while recognizing the state’s responsibility for global issues at the international level, may only be accomplished by mutual cooperation of all stakeholders. The realization of the aforementioned objectives should: safeguard the earth's capacity to support life in all its diversity, respect the existing limits on the use of natural resources and ensure a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, prevent and reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable production and consumption to break the link between economic growth and environmental degradation; respect national specificities; promote an economy based on prosperity, development changes, spirit of competition and social responsibility, an economy that ensures the quality of life and full employment; promote a democratic, socially inclusive, cohesive, healthy, safe and just society with respect for fundamental rights and cultural diversity that creates equal opportunities and combats discrimination in all its forms; apply scientific and expert knowledge to develop a system for the protection of human health, including the remediation of existing environmental burdens; encourage the establishment of democratic institutions across the region and the world and defend their stability, based on the universal right to peace, security and freedom; actively promote sustainable development in the region and the world; strengthen partnership among all segments of the society.
The following general principles will direct the Republic of Croatia towards sustainable development: protection of human health; promotion and protection of fundamental rights; solidarity within and between generations; open and democratic society; involvement of citizens; involvement of businesses and social partners; corporate social responsibility; integration of economic, social and environmental components into the development of all policies (guidelines); education for sustainable development; coherence of policies at all government and self-government levels; use of the best available technology; renewal (for example, by reuse or recycling) of natural resources; promotion of sustainable production and consumption; precaution and prevention; “polluter pays” for damages caused to the environment.
The Republic of Croatia will achieve stability and progressive development with balanced policies within the framework of general objectives provided that it: builds a stable economy; ensures energy security and efficiency; increases and equalizes the level of regional development and realizes good internal cohesion, including rural development and balance; ensures full gender, ethnic, religious and age equality; builds a quality public health system; builds an efficient social welfare system; enables a high level of education of the population; builds a system of specific measures for the socially vulnerable part of the population; achieves the management and rational use of all natural resources; achieves good monitoring of the state of the environment with an efficient emission control system; efficiently protects parts of nature and environmental components; undertakes measures to mitigate climate change i.e. adapts to climate change and minimises its effect on causing climate change; also several water protection issues among the flood risk concerns.