A Hands-on Approachto Climate ChangeCCLLIIMMAATTEE CCHHAANNGGEE IISS AA BBUURRNNIINNGG IISSSSUUEE

Cleaning power The RegionalEnvironmental Center for Centraland Eastern Europe (REC) supportsthe implementation of theUnited Nations Framework Conventionon Climate Change (UNFCCC)by strengthening stakeholders’ effortsin relation to the post-2012 climate policyregime; enhancing the integrationof climate policy requirementsand commitments into nationaldecision making; and promotingsustainable, clean energy managementand the rational use of natural resourcesto pave the way towards a low-carbonsociety. The REC devotes particularefforts to mobilising sub-national andlocal governments in the context ofinternational negotiations by identifyingthe needs of this specific target groupand channelling them before nationaland international government bodies.

Promoting clean energies The recession experienced by the countries of Central and EasternEurope (CEE) at the start of their transition from a centrally planned to amarket economy in the early 1990s led to a big reduction in GHGemissions. Most heavily polluting and energy-intensive industries wereclosed or rebuilt, and power and heating plants were upgraded.However, energy intensity and per capita emissions remain high and thereare still many opportunities to promote the use of renewable energysources (RES) and improve energy efficiency (EE).

The REC helps to remove barriers to financing low-carbon refurbishmentprojects; analyses national RE and EE laws and regulations and developsrecommendations for their better implementation; identifies the availableEE and renewable technology mix; analyses the EE and RES technologymarket; and explores the available policy mix and legal framework tosupport the green bank concept with a potential guarantee fund.

Promoting GHG mitigation In the CEE region and Turkey, the REC has identified mitigation options;

assessed national mitigation potential in various sectors; and analysed thetechnologically and economically most viable options to promote a low-

carbon society.

The REC has helped build capacity to improve national GHG emissions inventories and to put in place theadministrative, institutional and legal background needed for participation in the flexible mechanisms of

the Kyoto Protocol (KP). Joint Implementation (JI) potential has been assessed in several CEE countriesand assistance has been given in relation to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project

cycle and the drafting of project design documents. The Green Investment Scheme has also beenfacilitated at national level.

Supporting the development of national adaptation strategies With the increased frequency of extreme weather events, the need for climate changeadaptation is now widely recognised. The countries of CEE and South Eastern Europe(SEE) face major difficulties in implementing adaptation measures, mainly due to lack ofinstitutional and human capacities; shortages of data; and the challenge of developingpolicies in the light of existing scientific uncertainties.

The REC has contributed to technical papers by assessing the impacts of climate change,vulnerability and adaptation options for various sectors in CEE and SEE countries. TheREC’s Climate Change and Clean Energy Topic Area also supports policy making byassessing the challenges facing local and regional governments; developing guidance;creating platforms for good-practice exchange; and developing methods to assessthe efficiency of adaptation measures in Europe.

0

5

10

15

20Emissions per capita

TURKEY

FYRMACEDONIA

SLOVENIA

SLOVAKIA

SERBIA

ROMANIA

POLAND

MONTENEGRO***

LITHUANIA

LATVIA

HUNGARY

ESTONIA

CROATIA

CZECH REPUBLIC

BULGARIA

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA**

ALBANIA*

2.46

10.27

9.97

14.64

7.36

16.94

7.59

7.28

5.25

8.58

10.47

7.08

8.69

7.16

5.24

10.36

6.86

GHG emissions in CO2 equivalent per capita

* The latest emissions data for Albania are from 2002** Data for Bosnia and Herzegovina are from 1990*** The latest emissions data for Montenegro are from 2003

The data shown are for information purposes only. The REC does not accept any responsibility for their accuracy.

Source: National communications to the UNFCCC; UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation report; REC country offices; and International Energy Agency population data

Promoting Article 6 of the UNFCCC Awareness raising among all stakeholders onclimate change, opportunities provided by the GHGmitigation process and the need to adapt to climatechange impacts is one of the REC’s main areas ofactivity. In 2007, the REC’s role was recognised bythe international climate community when it becameregional focal point for Article 6 (REC RFP).

REC RFP supports awareness raising, education,training and international cooperation at regionallevel. Government officials from CEE and SEE, whoare new members of national delegations, havereceived training on the UNFCCC negotiationprocess. REC RFP supports the work of national focalpoints (NFPs) by promoting public participation inclimate-related decision making; training trainers whodisseminate knowledge within their own communitiesin local languages; and working with the media andlocal authorities.

In 2005, REC Country Office Turkey was appointedby the Turkish Government as NFP for UNFCCC

Article 6 until 2008, thus assuming responsibility forawareness raising, education and training. The NFP’sgoals were to improve the negotiation capacities ofTurkish government officials; facilitate access toupdated information; build the capacities of technicalexperts and civil society; facilitate Turkish civilsociety’s accreditation to the UNFCCC; developstrategies and policy papers to support Turkey’sdecision to become a party to the Kyoto Protocol;and strengthen Turkey’s position post-2012.

As part of “Kyoto in the Home”, a project supportedby Intelligent Energy Europe, the REC and partners in10 European countries created educational materialsfor children on how new EE, sustainable energy andRES technologies can benefit the environment andhelp communities meet the Kyoto targets.

As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, the REC asRFP organised a youth forum for international studentsstudying environmental sciences. Students had anopportunity to share their concerns about climatechange and its impact on future generations.

In 2007, the REC became a partner in the European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change (ETC/ACC).Within this framework, the REC has assessed climate change impacts and vulnerabilities; organised expertmeetings on assessing the efficiency of adaptation measures; contributed to technical papers for theEuropean Environment Agency (EEA); and organised events in the CEE and SEE regions and Turkey, includingworkshops for the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EIONET) on climatechange impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.

The most important technical papers to which the REC has contributed are “European Coastal Impacts,Vulnerability and Adaptation: A review of the evidence”, covering the Black Sea and the central and easternMediterranean; “Climate Change Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation in Eastern and South EasternEurope”; and the background paper “Availability of Data in the Countries of South Eastern Europe onClimate Change Impact Indicators”, focusing on climatology and biodiversity.

Its contribution to the ETC/ACC demonstrates the REC's wide-ranging knowledge and expertise on climatechange impacts, vulnerability and adaptation aspects in the SEE region and Turkey. It also highlights theREC's focus on the transboundary aspects of environmental policy making, and the extent of the REC'sstakeholder network in the CEE region.

European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change

Europe-China Clean Energy Center

The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern EuropeAdy Endre ut 9-11 � 2000 Szentendre �Hungary

Tel: (36-26) 504-000 � Fax: (36-26) 311-294 �Website: www.rec.orgClimate Change and Clean Energy Topic Area �Contact person: Zsuzsanna Ivanyi � E-mail: zsivanyi@rec.org

The overall objective of the project is to support the Chinese Government’s efforts to shape a moresustainable and efficient energy sector. Specifically, it promotes the use of clean energy in Chinathrough the establishment of the Europe-China Clean Energy Center (EC2), a hub of excellencesupporting Chinese policy makers and other key energy sector players, both Chinese and European.

The EC2 will promote the wider introduction and adoption of innovative or infrequently used cleantechnologies via research and technological analysis; and through the identification oftechnological needs, potential projects, best practices and partnership opportunities. Emphasis willbe given to the advisory and policy-making role of the EC2, which will support the Chinese energyauthorities to enhance their capacity to foster the use of clean energy through improved access tointernational, and particularly European, regulatory frameworks.

The main activities of the EC2 will be to:

� collect, map, process and centralise knowledge on existing and new clean energy technologies;

� act as a clearinghouse for new clean technologies by facilitating interaction among researchinstitutions and promoting technological analyses, best practices and partnership opportunities;

� build the capacity of Chinese institutions in the field of energy policy and regulation;

� advise EU and Chinese decision makers on policy making, energy planning and reform; and

� organise high-level dissemination events.

The five-year, EU-funded project is managed by a consortium of nine partners and five associates,led by the Polytechnic University of Turin with support from the Italian Ministry for the Environment,Land and Sea.

Country Office Turkey and the Turkish Business Association established the Turkish ClimatePlatform in 2008 to promote the transition to a low-carbon economy. The platform supportsleading companies on the path to the post-2012 international climate regime. Support tools suchas online trainings, roundtables, seminars, webinars and conferences assist Turkish companies toadapt in a more rapid, efficient and cost-effective way. The platform focuses on technology andtechnology transfer; climate finance; carbon management; and green IT. It is a network partnerof the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group (CLG) on Climate Change and other CLGs inthe US, Hong Kong, South Korea, Chile, Germany, Ireland, Brazil and Japan.

Promoting low-carbon economies