...and are neglected by high-level decision makers. A great many sectorial development policies have been proposed in the past few years, but these have not been integrated into a comprehensive document. This is due to the lack of a national forum in which these varied debates, discussions, and planning could take place. As a result, sustainable development as a concept is almost unknown. Most people still assume that economic growth must be the priority for the years to come, and only after economic development and stability is achieved will it be possible to pay attention to environmental issues such as clean production and investment in environmental improvements. In other words, it is widely thought that "ecology is for rich countries."From a sustainable development perspective, the most urgent need is the creation of an enabling environment for debates of this kind to take place. At the same time, demonstrations are needed of how sustainable development principles, now enshrined in many national policy statements, can best be translated into concrete actions. This is true especially at the community level, where capacity building for sustainable human development is needed. Effective models for sustainable development at the community level, together with an improved understanding of the concept of sustainable development and what it means for Romania at the national level, are essential prerequisites to the emergence of a national strategy for sustainable development."

In general terms, Romania imports rather than exports polluting substances, and is below the EU average in terms of polluting substances per inhabitant. The only exception is sulphur dioxide emissions. Air quality is much poorer in towns and cities and in their neighborhoods due to the proximity of polluting industries, households buring fossil fuels, and increasingly heavy traffic, especially at rush hour. Water quality has slightly improved since 1994, a result of a decrease in industrial production. The percentage of "1st" grade quality watercourses has increased from 35 to 54 percent between 1985 and 1994, while 12-13 percent of the total lengths are still and lifeless. Pollution of the Danube river, Romania's most significant water course has been significant, and for this reason, international support was given to improve its quality.Drinking water and groundwater pollution is also extensive, resulting primarily from agricultural sources in rural areas (e.g. ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, livestock wastes) and industrial discharges (e.g. phenols, zinc, lead, cadmium, iron, manganese). Microbiological pollution is a further problem in some areas, probably caused by municipal wastewater and livestock waste. In addition, agriculture and industry play a major role (principally the chemical, petrochemical, fertilizer, pulp and paper, and metallurgical plants), and municipal wastewater is also a major contributor to water pollution in Romania.Soils are also polluted both by agriculture and some industries (like the metallurgical sector). For example, 75 percent of agricultural soil has been damaged by one or more pollutants such as pesticides, improperly used chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, petroleum, etc. and by disruptive phenomena like drought, flood, erosion, salting, increases in acidity, for which little remedy has been brought so far. Therefore, despite its natural qualities, only one third of Romania's remaining soil meets standards for an environmentally sustainable agriculture."