The Republic of Macedonia, climate change and Kyoto Protocol

1. The Republic of Macedonia, as a candidate for full membership in EU, bases its policy in climate change and harmonizes it with the general policies on European Union level.

2.   As a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and non-Anex I country, and which in apsolute terms is not major emiter of greenhouse gases, respects the principle of the Convention for common but differentiated responsibilities in stabiliztaion of atmosphere concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

3. This commitment of the Republic of Macedonia is expressed on more levels: strategic, legislative, institutional, technical and of course under cooperation on bilateral, regional and global levels.

4. The issue of climate change is addresed in the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the country, as an issue which has influences on many sectors (energy, agriculture, water recourses, human health, bio-diversity…). Also, the second National Environmental Action Plan deals with climate change.

5. The second National Communication on Climate Change presents the condition in the country In aspect of emmissions of greenhouse gases (Inventory of greenhouse gases), but at the same time represents a framework in which the state measures for reducing (mitigation) and adaptation  to climate change are defined. The development of the components of the National Communication on Climate Change is also a law obligation pursuant to the Law of Environment.

6. The Republic of Macedonia, as a country which has ratified the Kyoto Protocol to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, recognizes the posibilities of achieving the goals of sustainable development by taking advantages for carbon funding through availing one of the mechanisms of the Protocol, so called mechanism for clean development. Pursuant to the first analyses, the potential for reduction is calculated on 4Mt CO2eq/year, which translated in potential for carbon funding (with averaged price from 6-9 Euro/ton reduced CO2eq reveals between 24 and 36 million euro per  year.

7. In order to take advantages of the opportunities of Clean Development Mechanism, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in February 2007 adopted the National Strategy for the Clean Development Mechanism for the first period of obligations 2008-2012 based on the Kyoto Protocol. Also, the Government completed all the necessary pre-conditions for function of this mechanism, and that is, nominated the Ministry of Environment as body of state administration responsible for coordinating the activities for implementation of projects under this mechanism (so called DNA-designated national authority).  In the amendments of the  Law of Environment, an article especially  for this mechanism was introduced.

8. From the aspect of bilateral cooperation in the area of climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, the Ministry of Environmnet and Physical Planning has signed  a Memoranda for cooperation with the Italian also with the Slovenian Ministries of Environment, and with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for carbon funding.

9. The posibilities for carbon funding are highlighted also in draft-National Strategy for Investment.

Reports: go to www.unfccc.org.mk

1.    First National communication for climate change
    

2.    Intensified funding of climate change
       - Ackonowledgement Letter by the UNFCCC Secretariat


3.    Second National communication for climate change
     

Projects: 

3.    Programme for Cleaner and More Cost Effective Industry in Macedonia
       Application form for companies - download

2.   Programme for bilateral cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Environmnet, Land and Sea.
      (www.taskforcecee.com)

1.   Building of local capacities for climate change-financed by the Norway Government.