National Programme of Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of Climate Change

I. General information
What is the type of the document?:
Programme

Country:

Title of the programme/strategy:
National Programme of Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of Climate Change

Title of the programme/strategy:
Национальная программа мер по смягчению последствий изменения климата на 2008-2012 годы

Keywords:

Overview:
National Programme of Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of Climate Change for 2008-2012 (NPMMCCC) was elaborated in accordance with National Action Plan for Rational Use of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for 2006-2010 in order to fulfill the commitments of the Republic of Belarus under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The Programme and concerned normative and legal acts define the climate policy of the country. The NPMMCCC includes the system of legal, financial, economic and organizational measures which are aimed at mitigation of the negative impact on climate caused by emissions’ reduction and increase of greenhouse gases absorption, support to the national monitoring and assessment system of anthropogenic emission from sources and absorption by greenhouse gases absorbents, wide implementation of renewable energy sources and energy-saving technologies. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection is a public body of special competence which develops the national policy in climate change, coordinates it within the country and reports to the Council of Ministers on the activities in this area. Other institutions that have the right to supervise the state of environment are the Ministry for Emergencies, Health Ministry and the State Property Committee of the Republic of Belarus. Certain environmental functions are assigned to the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of the Interior, State Customs Committee and the Directorate of the Presidential Affairs.

Background and rationale:
Belarus signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 11 June 1992, ratified it on 11 May 2000 and became its full Party on 9 August 2000. The country deposited its decision to accede to the Kyoto Protocol to UNFCCC on 26 August 2005 and became its full Party on 24 November 2005. According to Decision 32/CMP.1 Belarus has timely submitted a proposal which was duly circulated to other KP Parties ahead of CMP.2, on including it in the Annex B to the Protocol with assigning it 95% to the 1990 (the basis year) level as the emission reduction target. Including Belarus in the Annex B countries is a key condition that makes it possible for the country to participate in Kyoto mechanisms, including getting a chance to attract carbon funding from other countries. As part of its commitments as the UNFCCC Annex I Party, Belarus participation in the Kyoto protocol mechanisms, including accession to its Annex B is vital for Belarus. Full access to the Kyoto protocol mechanisms will allow Belarus, in particular, to intensify modernization of the energy sector, which suffers from 60% of capital depreciation, to encourage larger usage of renewable resources and new technologies in industrial and agricultural sectors. Thus, due to transition to the market economy in years 1990-2006, the Republic of Belarus achieved emission reduction of about 740 million tones, that is almost full compensation of integral emission growth to such countries as Australia, or Japan, during the same period. Emissions of pollutants in 2007 made up some 1.5 million tons, with a 55% decrease since 1990. The fulfillment of the NPMMCCC will make it possible to prevent dangerous climate change, adapt sectors of national economy to changing climatic conditions and meet the international commitments of the Republic of Belarus under the UNFCCC.

II. Detailed information
Start date:
04/08/2008

Expected end date:
31/12/2012

Research policy priorities targeted:

Additional remarks:
Applied industrial and environment research •Wider use of nontraditional and renewable energy sources •Increasing the efficiency of power generators •Utilization of secondary energy resources •Utilization of methane from polygons of solid municipal wastes for energy accumulating •Penetration of biogas technologies in the processes of organic wastes circulation •Increasing the efficiency of forestry and its’ development, including rational use of biomass •Restoration of worked out peatlands and bogs.

Relation to other programmes/strategies:
National Programme of Measures to Mitigate the Consequences of Climate Change (approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministry of the Republic of Belarus №1117 of 04.08.2008) was developed in accordance with the National Action Plan for Rational Use of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection for 2006-2010 (approved by Presidential Edict №302 of 05.05.2006) to fulfill the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. The Programme is related to the following national programmes and strategies: •National Strategy of Sustainable Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus till 2020 (approved by the Presidium of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, Minutes №25 of 22.06.2004) •Programme of Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2006-2010 (approved by Presidential Decree №384 of 12.06.2006) •Target Programme on energy supply in the Republic of Belarus by means of using local types of fuels and alternative energy sources in amount not less than 25% of total energy produced, for period till 2012 (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus №1680 of 30.12.2004) •National Action Plan for Rational Use of Natural Resources and Environment Protection of the Republic of Belarus for 2006-2010 •2007-2012 Strategy for Reducing Emissions and Enhancing Removals by Sinks of Greenhouse Gases in the Republic of Belarus (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus №1155 of 07.09.2006) •The State Programme for the Multifunctional Use of Forests until 2015 •The State Programme on Energy Saving for 2006–2010 (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus №137 of 02.02.2006) •The State Complex Programme of Belarusian Energy System’ Hardware Upgrade, Energy Saving till 2011 (approved by Presidential Decree №575 of 15.11.2007). R&D in target field of the Programme is implemented in the frame of the state scientific and technological programmes, basic research programmes, applied research programmes and separate R&D projects.

The programme/strategy was inspired by:

Additional remarks:
Duration: 2008-2012, prolongation is foreseen

Geographic coverage:
Republic of Belarus

Target group(s):

Additional remarks:
All executors of R&D and innovation projects aimed at Mitigation of the Consequences of Climate Change are selected by competition.

Research themes and disciplines of research targeted:
Energy and resource use efficiency, new and renewed energy sources, technologies for bending and storage of CO_2 , non-traditional methane resources. R&D on impact of anthropogenic greenhouse gases' emissions on climate, environmental and economic impact assessment of climate change on the territory of Belarus, as well as measures aimed at mitigation of this impact. R&D on increasing the efficiency of forestry and its’ development, including rational use of biomass, as well as restoration of worked out peatlands and bogs.

Target fields:

Additional remarks:
Forestry, Restoration of Worked out Peatlands

Management structure:
The overall coordination of the Programme is the responsibility of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection in cooperation with the State Interdepartmental Commission on Climate Change in the Republic of Belarus.

Selection of projects:
Competition-based within the Programme, and also within the connected state targeted programmes and state R&D programmes. Procedure of submission, review and monitoring of joint implementation projects is established by Resolution No 1144 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus “On Approval of the Regulations on the Procedure of Submitting, Reviewing and Monitoring Joint Implementation Projects” dated 05/09/2006. In accordance with these Regulations, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection keeps track of all such project proposals.

Openness to other countries:
The Programme foresees a broad cooperation with international organizations and foreign partners. There are also several companies and carbon foundations which have expressed already an intention to invest in some projects and to purchase emission reduction units (BioHeat International, Itochu, Shimizu, Japanese Initiative, Carbon Capital Market, Asia Carbon Group, MDG-Carbon, World Bank, etc.). The UNDP Project “Capacity Building for Implementation of Flexible Mechanisms of Kyoto Protocol in Belarus” (http://www.climate-by.com/pages/projects/Default.aspx) and UNDP-GEF Project “Renaturalization and Sustainable Management of Peatlands in Belarus” (http://www.peatlands.by/index.php?section=3 ) are implemented in the meantime. List of potential joint projects with indication of objects, expected results and conditions is available at http://www.climate-by.com/pages/projects/Default.aspx?lang=en. One of the novel directions in the climate change area might be an activity on re-naturalisation of worked out peatlands. Continuation of in-country dialogue on accession to the Kyoto Protocol acknowledges the important sink function of natural wetlands, as well as degraded ecosystems that could be restored, allows the country to derive benefit from participation in the Joint Implementation and Emissions Trading mechanisms on the Kyoto Protocol. Belarusian Projects are spread all over the country. It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 12 million tons in 2008-2012. To implement the Programme Belarus needs around $1.5 billion. About 70-80% of the Programme budget is expected to be covered by the Belarus’ budgetary sources. Meanwhile, to achieve the Programme targets, Belarus needs at least $150 million of carbon financing. Therefore participation in the Kyoto protocol mechanisms, including accession to its Annex B is vital for Belarus. Full access to the Kyoto protocol mechanisms will allow Belarus, in particular, to intensify modernization of the energy sector, which suffers from 60% of capital depreciation, to encourage larger usage of renewable resources and new technologies in industrial and agricultural sectors.

Mode of funding:

Additional remarks:
Republican Nature Protection Fund, international mechanisms (JI projects, emissions trading, etc.).

Co-financing sources:
Republican Nature Protection Fund, international mechanisms (JI projects, emissions trading, etc.).

Overall budget of the programme:
n/a

III. Results, Evaluation and Impact
Measurement of outcomes:
Yes

Programme evaluation:

Results:
The following achievements might be considered as mid-term results of the Programme implementation. The National Carbon Unit Register of the Republic of Belarus is established to control the introduction, storage, transfer, procurement, cancellation and withdrawal of emission reduction units, certified emission reduction units, assigned amount units and removal units, as well as to transfer emission reduction units, certified emission reduction units and assigned amount units for the next commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC. (Resolution № 1077 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated 25.08.2006). Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection is in charge of developing and maintaining the National Carbon Unit Register. BelNIC Ecologia, organization which is subordinated to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection was appointed the National Centre for Conducting Inventories and Maintaining Greenhouse Gas Inventories (Order № 417 of the MoE dated 29.12, 2005). According to the Centre’s Regulations, its main functions include making inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, maintaining the national greenhouse gas inventory, developing and contributing to the implementation of activities designed to reduce emissions and enhance removals by sinks of greenhouse gases. The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory System is established in 2006 (Resolution №585 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic Belarus of 4.05.2006) to assist Belarus in meeting its obligations under the Article 5 of the Kyoto Protocol. The inventory system incorporates all institutional measures for greenhouse gas inventories carried out in Belarus on the basis of the guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and approved by decisions 2/СР.3, 4/СР.1. The main objectives of the national system are to create an information system for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and removals, maintain the national greenhouse gas inventory, establish a database for developing programmes and activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase removals by sinks. The Regulations for the Procedure of Maintaining the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory define the procedure for maintaining a national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases (Resolution №485 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 10.04.2006). The inventory is maintained to assist Belarus in meeting its commitments with regard to annual reporting under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, developing the National Communications of the Republic of Belarus on Climate Change for submission to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties, and analysis of trends and emission and sink targets. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection is responsible for maintaining the national greenhouse gas inventory based on information provided by other government bodies defined by the Resolution mentioned. The National Plan for the Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Resolution was elaborated for 2005–2012 (Resolution № 1582 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 30.12.2005). Regulations on the State Interdepartmental Commission on Climate Change (Resolution №1145 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of 05.09.2006) was put in function in 2006, the document determines the composition, objectives and competencies of the Commission put in place to regulate relations concerning climate impacts and meeting commitments under the international agreements that address the global problem of climate change. In particular, acting on behalf of the Government the Commission may review and endorse activities under the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms (emission trading, joint implementation and clean development mechanism projects), greenhouse gas inventory reports and performs other necessary procedures in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol. The Commission is headed by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus. Belarus regularly submits reports on greenhouse gases emissions to UNFCCC (http://www.climate-by.com/pages/nacionalnye-otchety.aspx): First National Communication in Response to Belarus’ Commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2003, http://www.climate-by.com/Files/Docs/1201530147_First_National_Communication_en.pdf, Fourth National Communication, 2006, http://www.climate-by.com/Files/Docs/1201528284_Report_on_Progress.pdf, Initial Report of the Republic of Belarus under the Kyoto Protocol, 2006, http://www.climate-by.com/Files/Docs/1201527429_Initial_Report.pdf, National Report of the Republic of Belarus on demonstrable progress in the Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, 2006, http://www.climate-by.com/Files/Docs/1201528284_Report_on_Progress.pdf, Annual Report of the Republic of Belarus under Article 7, item 1 Kyoto Protocol, 2007, http://www.climate-by.com/Files/Docs/1201526468_Annual_Report__2005_EN.pdf.

Further developments:
It is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 12 million tons in 2008-2012. It is also necessary to take into account future commitments under the Kyoto Protocol in the next commitment period 2013-2017, when allowed emissions and removal enhancements will be noticeably reduced. Therefore, realization of the activities in the frame of the Programme and concerned national and international programmes is important for sustainable development of the country.

IV. How to find out more
Information source:
http://www.climate-by.com/Pages/Default.aspx?lang=en; http://www.minpriroda.by; http://www.minpriroda.by/ru/ecosreda?id=421;

Funding agency:
Ministry of National Resources and Environment of Belarus

Launching agency:
Inter-ministerial Committee on Implementation of Kyoto protocol in Belarus

Administering agency:
Individual ministries, agencies and institutions of Belarus

Correspondent name:
Olga Meerovskaya, Natallia Rybianets

Correspondent institution:
Belarusian Institute of System Analysis and Information Support of Scientific and Technical Sphere

Correspondent contact details:
Address: 7 Pobedititey ave., 220004 Minsk, Belarus. Tel/fax: +375 17 2867630 E-mail: meerovskaya@fp7-nip.org.by; mab@bsu.by

Date of submission:
15/05/2009 16:33

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