History and development of Green Phone Network

The first service for data collection, environmental analysis, citizen’s information and participation and political activism named Green Phone Service is active in Croatia since 1992. It was founded by Ecological Organization Green Action.

After few years the other environmental organizations also decided to found the same Service. In September 1999. Green phone network was established.The members were: Green Action from Zagreb, Eco Pan from Karlovac, Žmergo from Opatija, Green Istria from Pula, Sun from Split, Kap Života from Gospić, Slavonija and Baranja nature protection organization from Osijek. Project was financially supported by AED (Academy for Educational Development)

In 2003. five more environmental organizations join the network and in 2007. one more. Today it counts eleven members: Green Action from Zagreb, Eco Pan from Karlovac, Žmergo from Opatija, Green Istria from Pula, Sun from Split, ZEO Nobilis from Čakovec, Franjo Koščec from Varaždin, Green Osijek from Osijek, Green Dream from Vinkovci, Eco Zadar from Zadar and Krka from Knin.

Green phone Network have unique number 062 123 456 covering whole territory of Croatia. In that way phone calls from any part of Croatia are divert to the closest Green Phone Network member. Every Network member cover County where its head office is and some of them neighbouring counties too.

Goals and principles

The main goal of this coalition is to increase public participation and local authorities to be more efficient in solving environmental problems.

The functioning principle of the GPN is that citizens can report environmental problems to the closest local CSO member of the GPN, which will then try to solve it using different channels and methods, mostly in co-operation with local authority departments and services, and the media. From September 1999 until December 2007, about 14000 calls were received on the Green Phone Network and during those years it became an important tool of civil service and an important fragment of civil and environmental scene. A survey has shown that during that time 49% calls have been solved and that wastage is number one problem in Croatia (40% of all reported problems were problems with wastage). By now it has been proven how environmental problems can be more successfully solved when all stakeholders (citizens, local authorities, institutions, inspections) take part in problem solving with the help of environmental CSOs.

Members of Green Phone Network

• Eko Pan
• Zelena akcija
• Zelena Istra
• Sunce
• Nobilis
• Eko Zadar
• Ekološko društvo Zeleni Osijek
• Zeleni san
• Žmergo?
• Franjo Koščec

Contacts

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