The concept of the „Ecopolis“ is the result of a long search for answers to important questions that require fundamentally new solutions.
1 Healthy environment as one of the modern trends of the global community
In the last 30-40 years of the twentieth century, the global attention has increased on questions of interaction between human civilization and the environment. In the process of development of society, there is always the problem of the discrepancy between the increasing needs of people and the actual availability of resources. Therefore, one of the main trends of the development of the world’s development and wide application of a balanced solution to the socio-economic tasks and challenges of maintaining is a favorable environment. It increases the need for harmonization of values, spiritual and practical relationships between people and the world.
The solution to these issues that are vital to any community is carried out in the world as a whole and at the level of the individual state, county, city or village.
Once the need is recognized that interdependence and the change of the priorities of the strategic planning, humanity unites the efforts towards the development of effective and optimal development models. This requires a new way of thinking and the modernization of the legislation.
First there were the scientists who took up the alarming warnings about the necessity of counteracting the environmental destruction. Later, one began then to talk in social movements, political elites and in business circles. Large amounts of money will be invested in environmental protection measures, in the restoration of ecosystems and into energy-saving technologies.
Early as the late 70s, the idea of ecological city simultaneously in several countries Ecopolis arose where environmental and social parameters should be located under controlled conditions. In recent years, in Germany no less than 50 eco-villages, eco-towns, urban recreation areas or projects of each eco-homes emerged.
The ecological component has become a cornerstone, not only domestic but also foreign policy of developed countries. An international convention for the Prevention of Pollution has been developed. A key element of the process of globalization is the concept of sustainable development, adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992, UNCED). In 2002, the World Summit in Johannesburg reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of sustainable development with the aim to achieve the right balance between economy, society and environment.
As a world leader in the protection and improvement of the environment, the European Union, which has embarked on the path of the implementation of strategies for sustainable economic development? This direction was given systematic character. With enormous efforts Western Europe has succeeded in to stop the destruction of the environment. Now the EU has carried out every activity, in accordance with the requirements of environmental protection. The EU strategy is set out in the sixth, long-term program of action for the protection of the environment (2001). Environmental requirements are included in the program documents of the European and national political parties, depending on the results of the national, regional and municipal elections of their practical implementation.
The concern about the environment is becoming a behavioral imperative, which is reflected also in private life. Always persistent occur ordinary citizens for a strict adherence to the rights for one; they are entitled a healthy environment. This behavior – imperative also permeates the business. The EU has achieved that the care about the environment for enterprises not only became compulsory, but is also of economic benefit. Eco-efficient technologies and production are supported by the EU.
2 Resources and conditions for the placement of
Ecopolis – Sections
For the creation of Ecopolis sections territory should have sufficient capacity:
¨ 1 Geopolitical factors:
• Geographic, sufficient proximity to an existing transport hub;
• Presence of natural resources and conditions for leisure and recreation
of the public;
• Cheap „wind rose“;
• A river or lake as a natural ecological oases.
1 Economic resources:
• Presence of organic raw materials (water, sediments, sludge, sewage sludge fields, municipal waste, peat, etc.);
• Application of modern technologies for the processing of waste and production;
• Absence of large industrial companies that pollute the environment;
• Agricultural production, manufacture, processing and storage of food.
2 Financial Bases:
• Presence of funds for the development of the program;
• Development of own bank in the holding company.
3 Social conditions:
• A dynamically expanding system of education and health;
• Construction of a university as a source of training for the future Ecopolis;
• Growth in the number of cultural, entertainment, sports and recreational facilities;
• Developed social security system.
4 Intellectual Potential:
• Cooperation with scientists of neighbouring universities;
• Availability of a like-minded management team, supported by a group of scientists who have been checked already in other projects.
3 Concepts and definitions that were used in the conception
Conception – (Latin – conceptio – understanding, common vision, leading idea) – System of seeing, expressing a certain way of seeing, understanding and interpretation of the objects, phenomena and processes.
Ideology – (from Greek idea and logos – word, understanding, and teaching) – aggregated ideas, attitudes and perceptions built into a logically consistent theoretical framework that expresses the interests of the public and social groups, political parties, movements and masses.
Innovation – activities for finding and obtaining new results, methods of production, elimination of routine and inefficient working conditions, management structures, forms of life activities.
Ecology – (Greek – oikos – house, lounge, accommodation) – is the science that studies the interaction between society and nature, the scientific basis of environmental management and conservation of living organisms.
Ecologisation – is engaged in the maintenance and improvement of the environment, the process of sequential introduction of technological, managerial, legal and other solutions which allow improving the efficiency of use of natural resources and minimizing the environmental impact.
Ecosystem – shared natural complex formed by living organisms and their environment in which they are connected through the exchange of matter and energy.
Ecopolis – (Greek – polis – city state) – village where life is organized on the dual principles of social development and the environment.
Ecological imperative – the principle of the exclusion of any possibility of damage to the living and inanimate nature, and respected by all legal norms without exceptions.
Section – separate block of the „Ecopolis“, created on the basis of the settlement of 50 to 100 homes around a system of „eco 100“, the heat and energy supply in the future for the settlement and to provide jobs.