When a secure and healthy living environment is threatened, it can easily mobilize local residents. People who live in industrial zones are often ready to compromise their income to have environmental safety improved. The argument for safe and healthy places for children to play is often used during discussions about environmental hot spots in the CEE countries. Consumers and trade union members, as a welfare-driven pressure group, sometimes act in favor of environmental protection. The usual objective is to keep the environmental protection standard above a certain level while fighting for other goals.
Trade unions are also sensitive about the indoor environment of working places.
Although nature protection is not a goal of many CEE trade unions, environmental arguments sometimes appear on lists of demands to governments or businesses. The strength of the welfare-driven lobby is in its potential number of supporters. This environmental coalition is just now beginning to form in the CEE countries. Integration of positive approaches 140. In order to achieve a breakthrough in environmental protection in the CEE countries, an integration of different interests and approaches supporting environmental improvements must take place.