Act LXXXI of 1995 ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992).2 It reinforces aspects of sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits when integrating sustainable use and practices into local, regional and national policy frameworks (Articles 1, 2, 8 and 10). Sustainable use means the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.

Legal frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement (Act L of 2016) also commit Hungary to support climate mitigation and resilience, as well as, to ensure consistency of financial flow to support sustainability, poverty eradication efforts (Article 2), and sustainable forest management (Article 5).3

Hungary’s commitment is also seen through area-based acts such as Act CVII of 2003 on the promulgation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification that critique and develop sustainable agriculture and food security (part of agreements with FAO),4 where Article 10 reflects to sustainable irrigation programmes, sustainable farming, sustainable agricultural production, and efficient use of various energy sources; and sustainable management of transboundary natural resources (Article 11). In the FAO Subregional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Common Service Centre Agreement, Article III refers to sustainable rural development, and Annex III to sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry, and the sustainable use of natural resources; sustainable social and economic development.5

Hungary also seeks to meld sustainability goals on behalf of developing countries to support local and sustainable development (Act XC of 2014)6 under international development cooperation and international humanitarian assistance by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with the aim of combatting poverty, promoting human and minority rights, sustainable development, and international security and stability.

Among other international treaties and agreements, we can highlight:

The frequent word ‘sustainable’ then becomes a major key word and shows up across nearly all legal domains. The repeated and often high frequency of sustainable shows that sustainability is a shared goal and is engrained in both Hungary’s legislative and policy making processes as well as strategic development planning. The recurring nature of references indicates a national commitment from a holistic perspective that includes socio-economic considerations, as well as cultural, institutional, and some environmental dimensions.

The word ‘management’ is particularly highlighted here with respect to environmental resources, as in forestry management, water management, and management of public financial resources. A full management perspective comes into play as Hungary attempts to achieve sustainable management of its natural resources, ecological diversity, and public resources in an appropriate manner of governance and allocation of public resources.

Similar to how we see the verbal use of terminology such as ‘development,’ ‘environment,’ and ‘growth,’ it was also interesting to see ‘development’ and ‘environment’ coupled together. The use of these terms together shows intentionality on the part of Hungary’s aim for environmentally sustainable development to align with its economic and environmental policies and provide an opportunity for economic growth, as it is to be sustainable in terms of environmental implications. I find it noteworthy how equal emphasis was given to economic sustainability and environmental sustainability,14 exhibiting a legislative policy thoughtfulness that recognises the interdependence of an economy reliant on ecological sustainability to be established and maintained.

The frequent use of the words ‘resources,’ ‘use,’ and ‘utilisation’ also show the legal emphasis in Hungary on an efficient, prudent and sustainable use and management of resources with particular regard to natural resources such as agriculture, forestry, water resources, and energy production. There is sufficient evidence in the legislation to demonstrate that Hungary intends to manage their resources in a manner that facilitates provisions of sustainability management that favour longer-term sustainability accountability that protects future generations.

Although not as conspicuous, frequent words such as ‘public,’ ‘heritage,’ ‘urban,’ and ‘economic’ all show the legislative direction in Hungary to incorporate sustainability into social and cultural values. This indicates not just an economic or ecological reading, but in fact valuing aspects of cultural sustainability, protecting heritage, making urban and rural sustainable arrangements.

In the Constitutional and Public Law area, the keywords ‘economic,’ ‘sustainability,’ and ‘development’ are apparent, showing how the constitution introduces broad principles of sustainability, which include economic growth and environmental responsibilities. In the Economy and Finance subplot, the keywords ‘economic,’ ‘public,’ and ‘formalisation’ are recurrent, which emphasises policy objectives that accompany sustainable economic governance and the management of public finance in a sustainable way. Environment and Agriculture place a clear emphasis on words such as ‘water’, ‘management’, ‘sustainable’, and ‘use’, suggesting that a priority is given to sustainable environmental management, and responsible use of natural resources (especially water resources). For example, in the Industry and Production section of the chart, terms like ‘sustainable,’ ‘use,’ ‘architecture,’ ‘economic,’ and ‘system’ imply that sustainable industrial operations, urban development, and efficient resource usage are of value. In Culture and Education, there is a distinct priority expressed through frequent mentions of the words ‘sustainable,’ ‘cultural,’ ‘heritage,’ and ‘economic.’ This demonstrates a willingness to incorporate sustainability across various curricula and the preservation of cultural heritage, which implies a simultaneous vision for cultural and economic sustainability. In contrast, Criminal Law has a narrow focus on ‘criminal,’ ‘offences’ and ‘environment,’ which indicates far less emphasis on sustainability than would be expected as it is, by definition, a way of punishing environmental violations. By contrast, International Law has a much broader outlook on sustainability and often includes terms like ‘economic,’ ‘sustainable,’ ‘management,’ ‘resources,’ and ‘development,’ which demonstrates a wider lens on sustainability and international cooperation in the context of the strategic management of resources and economic development objectives.