Climate Change Policy and
Low-carbon Development Strategy
in Croatia
Marija Šćulac Domac
Assistant Minister
Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection
Croatian State Archives, Zagreb
2 October 2015
CLIMATE CHANGE
 Climate change is becoming a reality / dominant
environmental issue of the 21st century
 Floods and sea level rise
− Flood damage in Croatia in 2014 - 297.6 mil EUR
− Global sea level constantly growing - in last
hundred years 20 cm
2
CROATIA AND UNFCCC

Croatia - country with low emissions of greenhouse
gases per capita, but vulnerable to climate
change

Supports and actively participates in the efforts of
EU and the world for the preservation of the
climate system

As party of the UNFCCC (since 1996) Croatia has
committed to keep their greenhouse gas emissions
to the 1990 level
3
CROATIA AND GOAL OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
 Achieved goal for the period 2008-2012 compared to 1990
 The total emission is lower by 10.9% (mandatory goal was
5% reduction)
4
CROATIA (EU) AND THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
 Signatory of amendments to KP1 in Doha 2012 which
establishes KP2 for the period 2013-2020 (the ratification
process is completed)
 From July 1, 2013 as a member of the EU, Croatia has
joined the EU commitment - together reduce emissions
by 20% compared to 1990 levels
 Implementation:
− through ETS
− limitation emissions by MS for non-ETS sectors
(Croatia: + 11% compared to 2005)
− the objectives for RES and EE
 EU will exceed the set goal of reducing emissions for KP1
and KP2 (2008-2020)
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EU CLIMATE AND ENERGY PACKAGE (2009) 20/20/20
realization assessment
CLIMATE AND ENERGY TARGETS 2020 CROATIA
Emissions of greenhouse gases
• In 2012, 17.3% lower than in 1990 and 13.9% compared to
2005
Energy savings
• It is expected to achieve the goal by 2020
• In 2012, more than 40% of the target, or about 8% of the 20%
Renewable energy sources
• Growth of RES
• 15.4% in 2011, 16.8% in 2012 and 18% in 2013
Realization of the target of RES in gross final
consumption of Croatia in 2006 and 2013
2006.
12,6%
2013.
18%
7,4%
2%
20%
20%
EPEEF INVESTMENTS IN EE AND RES
 EPEEF - national fund for the promotion of energy
efficiency and environmental protection projects
 Programs of energy efficiency and renewable
energy in buildings, transport, industry, ...
 For the public sector, business sector, citizens, NGOs
more than
80 million EUR
in 2015
40 - 80 %
subsidies
PROJECTS WORTH
200 million EUR
EPEEF INVESTMENTS IN EE AND RES – UP TO DATE
for 1 € of incentives, 3 € investments
> 16 000 implemented/contracted projects (09/2015)
> 223 million EUR – approved by the Fund
> 616 million EUR – total investments
Public lighting and industry
Sustainable construction (buildings)
Renewable energy sources
Clean transport
Education, research and development
Other projects (international cooperation, energy policy
development and implementation, promotion)
9
PLAN FOR USE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES OBTAINED FROM
PURCHASE ALLOWANCES BY AUCTION
Measure
Financing by 2016
(million kn)
Renewable energy
60
Energy efficiency
414
Transport
120
Waste management
24
ETS installations
5
Research & development and
technical support
45
Third countries, GCF,…
20
TOTAL 90 million EUR
688
10
EU RENEWED AMBITION FOR 2030
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WHY NEW FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 ?
 Cost-effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
2050, goal: - 80% to -95% of greenhouse gas emissions
 Security of energy supply in the EU; oil and gas imports
to EU 400 billion EUR per year
 Competitive energy and new growth and jobs, ecoindustry already employs 4.2 million employees
 Taking the position of EU in the framework of
negotiations on a new international agreement on
climate change, for the period beyond 2020
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LOW CARBON STRATEGY - UNFCCC AND EU OBLIGATIONS
 UNFCCC agreement from Cancun (2010):
− encourages States to prepare low carbon
development strategy
− points out that climate change requires making
long-term strategies for sustainable development
 EU Road map for the transition to competitive
economy with low carbon content by 2050 (2012):
− reducing emissions by 40% by 2030, 60% by 2040
and 80% - 95% by 2050
 EU climate and energy framework by 2030 (2014)
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WHY LOW CARBON DEVLEOPMENT STRATEGY?
 Reducing emissions in accordance with international
agreements - a secondary objective, although binding
task
 The goal of each country is to find its way that
achieves a cost effective competitive low carbon
economy
 Low carbon strategy provides directions how to
achieve sustainable development of the economy
with low carbon emissions
 Energy efficiency and use of renewable energy are
key measures for reducing emissions in EU
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TIME HORIZON LOW CARBON STRATEGY OF CROATIA
Low-Carbon Development
Strategy of Croatia
1. Kyoto period (2008-2012)
2012.
2. Kyoto period (2013-2020), EU target 20-20-20
2020.
Indicative target EU by 2030.
2030.
The framework target towards low carbon economy
2050.
Obligations
of
Annex 1 Kyoto 5% compared to
1990
Curbing increase
emissions of EU
ETS -21%
Non-ETS HR + 11%
compared to 2005
Climate Energy
EU framework,
-40% compared
to 1990
Stabilization and
emission reduction,
EU 80-95% compared
to 1990
LOW CARBON STRATEGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA (1/3)
 Pursuant to the Air Protection Law Croatia has committed
to develop Low-carbon development strategy for the
period until 2030 with a view to 2050 with an action plan,
as part of the obligations of EU and UNFCCC
 The strategy includes:
 scenarios in 2030 and 2050
 Modelling of sectors - energy, industry, transport,
agriculture, forestry, waste,
 impact assessment of scenarios on the environment,
society and economy as well as measures and
instruments
 5-year action plan
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LOW CARBON STRATEGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA (2/3)
 The basic document of climate change mitigation
 Rooftop economic, developmental and environmental
strategy
 The strategy opens up opportunities to encourage:
− investment cycle,
− growth of industrial production,
− the development of new business,
− competitiveness of the economy,
− creating jobs with a sustainable perspective
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LOW CARBON STRATEGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA (3/3)
 Low carbon development is a part of the solution for most
important economic problem in Croatia - unemployment
 Measures will focus on technologies which can be
produced "at home", offer the greatest potential for
employment and reduce GHG
 For efficient implementation is important integration of
measures to reduce emissions in sector strategies and
development plans/programs (energy, transport,
industrial, ...)
 Low carbon strategy is horizontal - above of sectoral
strategies
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POTENTIAL OF LOW CARBON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
 use of renewable energy sources and energy
efficiency
 creation of "green jobs"
 intensifying of construction activity and new
employment related to increasing energy efficiency in
the building sector
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BUILDINGS
 Long-term strategy to stimulate investment in the
reconstruction of the national building stock of the
Republic of Croatia by 2050 (Croatian Government, June
2014):
 integral renovation 92% of the national building stock
 reduction in emissions by more than 87% compared to
1990
 96 billion EUR investment and operating costs
 62,000 to 102,000 new jobs
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CROATIA – PROGRES AND PLANS (1/2)
 Great improvements are being accomplished
towards enhancing climate related capacity,
institutional, legal and financial segments of
the governmental and public bodies
 As a new EU member state, Croatia was
faced with a challenge of implementation of
the demanding measures from EU 2020
climate energy package
CROATIA – PROGRES AND PLANS (2/2)
 Today Croatia is more ready to participate in global
efforts: to achieve the goal – limitation of the global
temperature increase to 2 ° C
 Implemented measures are delivering GHG emission
reductions
 With the view to new EU climate-energy Framework
and the new global agreement, preparation of low
carbon development strategy till 2030 with a view on
2050 is under way
 It is planned to transform economy growth to a
society with low greenhouse gases emissions
WASTE MANAGEMENT, NATURE PROTECTION,
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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