In this issue:
1. 2nd MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP OF SENIOR OFFICIALS
2. MEETING OF THE ENERGY CHARTER WORKING GROUP ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY
3. 8th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EECCA REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION NETWORK
4. DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL COHESION OF SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE AS THE TOOL
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1. 2nd MEETING OF THE WORKING GROUP OF SENIOR OFFICIALS
The second meeting of the Working Group of Senior Officials,
the main ad hoc open ended official preparatory body to the 6th Ministerial
Conference "Environment for Europe" (Belgrade, 2007) is scheduled to take
place in Geneva on 29 - 30 a.m. June 2006. The WGSO-2 is expected to take a
decision on the agenda of the Belgrade-2007 EfE Ministerial Conference,
which will be held in 15 months from now. (A video-presentation of the
venue of the Belgrade Conference is available at
http://www.unece.org/env/efe/wgso/Belgrade/vid_presentation.htm )
Delegates and observers of the WGSO-2 will discuss main
tasks and targets of the preparatory process, coordination of different
activities, and development of the documents and other important issues of
the Environment for Europe process. European ECO-Forum will participate in
the meeting and information on the outcomes will be published in the next
issue of our e-newsletter "Towards Belgrade-2007" Related information and
documents for the meeting are available at
http://www.unece.org/env/efe/wgso/Belgrade/WGSOMeetings.htm
2. MEETING OF THE ENERGY CHARTER WORKING GROUP ON ENERGY
EFFICIENCY
14-15 June 2006, Energy Charter Working Group on Energy Efficiency held a
meeting, which adopted the proposal that the working group shall feed in to
the Environment for Europe process with a report on European energy
efficiency for the Belgrade EfE Ministerial Conference, autumn 2007. Work
will start immediately in the Secretariat, and later a consultant will be
involved. The report will take stock of the progress of energy efficiency in
Europe and end with a chapter with recommendations. As an outcome of the
discussion, it is possible that Report will contain specific inputs from
industry and NGOs. Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE-Europe /European Eco-Forum
Energy Issue Group Coordinator participated in the WG Meeting. He proposed
to include phasing out of subsidies and a review of international
cooperation on energy in the document. A draft of the Report should be ready
for the next Working Group meeting, which will take place on 9-10 November
2006. Information on possibilities for input to the process will be
available soon and disseminated via ECO-Forum listserves.
The meeting also discussed reviews of national energy efficiency, which is
its core activity. There was a report from an in-depth review of Sweden,
where a group of experts from other countries had visited the country. The
Swedish was quite proud that they had managed to increase energy efficiency
and renewable energy to replace half of the electricity production from the
two nuclear reactors that were shut down (biomass CHP was the most
successful while fuel switch from electric heating to biomass, district
heating and heat pumps came second in success). In reply to Mr. Olesen's
question on the progress of the Swedish plans to become independent from oil
by 2020, the answer was that the Swedish committee on the issue will publish
a report this June. There were regular reviews presented from Macedonia and
Kazakhstan. Copies of the reviews can be sent by Mr. Olesen to interested
NGOs from the countries upon request. Some of the reviews are online on the
Energy Charter Website www.encharter.org.
A major point was a discussion on how to review energy efficiency programs.
The secretariat and a consultant had prepared a long report on how to
evaluate such programs. As NGOs we do not often deal with these theoretical
issues; but if we want to monitor and discuss governmental programs, we can
also learn from how the governments evaluate themselves.
A part of each meeting deals is exchange of information on new developments.
Some of the news presented by the country's official representative:
Norway is setting up a fund of 10 billion NOK (1
billion _) from oil-money. They will use the interests from the fund
to promote energy efficiency in Norway. Norway
has also raised its' electricity conservation
target to 30 TWh 2001-2015. In addition the
country is introducing a feed-in tariff for renewable
energy.
Germany has set ambitious energy efficiency targets
and has tripled KfW funding for
energy-renovation of buildings.
UK sticks to its 20% greenhouse gas reduction target
with a new action plan, and they expect to
reach the target without new nuclear (but
that might still come later).
The new Czech feed-in tariff guarantees the price for
15 years.
To implement the EU Ecodesign directive, 14 studies
are started on energy efficiency
potentials for specific types of goods. Each
study will have a website and will organise a
conference for stakeholders.
Finland is organising a conference on energy auditing
IEA are making a number of interesting energy
efficiency studies, including a study
which concluded that energy efficiency has
saved the OECD countries for an energy efficiency
of 50%, and it is therefore possible to way that energy
efficiency is more important than any single energy supply
source, as no source supply 50% of the energy. IEA's energy
efficiency office has increased its staff from 4 persons to 10
persons within a year.
For more information contact:
Gunnar Boye Olesen, INFORSE-Europe /European Eco-Forum Energy
Issue Group Coordinator
E-mail: ove@inforse.org
3. 8th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EECCA REGULATORY ENVIRONMENTAL
PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION NETWORK
The 8th annual meeting of the Regulatory Environmental Programme
Implementation Network (REPIN) in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and
Central Asia (EECCA) was held in Tbilisi on 12-13th June 2006.
The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection of Georgia, and organised by the
OECD/EAP Task Force Secretariat. The meeting gathered about 60
participants, including officials representing Ministries of the
Environment and their implementation branches from the EECCA
region, experts from the OECD countries, the European
Commission, EBRD, the Regional Environmental Centres (RECs) for
CEE, the Caucasus, Moldova, and the Russian Federation, and non-
governmental organizations.
Some of the key decisions taken included:
Endorsement of the Guiding Principles of Effective
Environmental Permitting Systems;
Agreement to refine the EECCA Environmental Policy
Implementation Rating and conduct self-assessments;
Endorsement of the outline for a regional report on
trends in modernising environmental regulation
and compliance assurance in EECCA;
Support for the development of the Guidelines on
Performance Measurement for Environmental
Enforcement Authorities of EECCA;
Support for using the recommendations of the
Environment Chapter of the OECD Guidelines for
Multinational Enterprises to promote higher
environmental performance by enterprises in EECCA.
Several of these outcomes will contribute directly to the
next "Environment for Europe" Ministerial meeting
to be held in Belgrade in October 2007.
All documents are available at
www.oecd.org/document/48/0,2340,en_2649_201185_36764464_1_1_1_1,00.html
Besides, the meeting provided an opportunity to review progress
with implementation of the REPIN work programme, share
information about relevant in-country activities carried out by
the environmental enforcement authorities in EECCA countries and
directly communicate with their colleagues from OECD and Central
European countries, and with non-governmental stakeholders.
It was agreed that by the end of October 2006 EECCA countries
should review progress in their environmental policy
implementation using special indicators, presented at the
meeting (see documentation) and present the results.
While discussing a progress made in environmental compliance in
the EECCA, participants mentioned several barriers to overcome
in this area, including legal frameworks, low rating and lack of
material and technical resources in inspections, strong business
lobby, imperfect criteria for the assessment of inspections
results, which are often focused on a number of penalties
collected, etc., while indicators targeted at preventing
environmental damage are practically lacking.
A side event on the reform of compliance assurance in
Georgia was held on 14th June 2006.
The REPIN as a Network, which is part of the OECD/EAP Task
Force, was formally established in 1999 and has operated in
Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) since late
2000. REPIN work has helped to revise policies and legislation,
to reform environmental institutions and to upgrade the
knowledge and skills of environmental officials and experts in
EECCA countries. The Network has substantially enlarged its
scope of work after the Kiev "Environment for Europe"
Ministerial Conference in 2003. Its multi-annual programme
covers three main areas: (i) environmental policy instruments;
(ii) environmental compliance assurance strategies; and
(iii) institutional aspects of compliance assurance.
For more information about REPIN visit
www.oecd.org/env/policy
4. DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL COHESION OF SOUTH EASTERN
EUROPE AS THE TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
5 June 2006, Belgrade. FORUM EfE07 (NGO FORUM Environment for
Europe 2007), an NGO network of Serbia and Montenegro has
organised NGOs Preparatory Regional Meeting to discus and
approve DECLARATION on Environmental Cohesion of South Eastern
Europe as the tool for Sustainable Development. The Declaration
adopted by the Forum participants presents the outcome of 6
months regional NGO preparations. It is sent to the governments
of the region, international intergovernmental and non-
governmental organizations as a contribution to the Belgrade-
2007 Ministerial agenda.
DECLARATION
Taking in account that:
In achieving sustainable development and security is
the high importance of regional harmonization
in environmental sector;
Environmental sector is the important segment of
foreign policy
Environment and sustainable development are not having
price and borders;
The region faces many treats, including but not
limited to poverty, unemployment, unplanned
development, pollution, regional energy deficit,
over exploitation of natural resources, as well
as extensive fishery and hunting, neglectance of animal
wall fare;
The next Pan-European Ministerial Conference "Environment
for Europe" will be in Belgrade in October 2007 (BELGRADE 2007);
The citizens of Western Balkan and South Eastern
Europe compliment the UNECE for 2003. decision
to have the next 2007 Pan-European Ministerial
Conference "Environment for Europe" in region
and expressing the interest for region as the one of the
key partners;
NGOs oft region welcome the opportunities to
participate in EfE (Environment for Europe)
Process, yet regret the lack of financial
resources to participate consistently in all meetings
and to carry out an ongoing and broader consultation in
preparation for BELGRADE 2007;
Affirming:
A common goal of peace, stability and security,
creating the region of shared prosperity;
Johannesburg 2002 Plan of Actions and the decisions
from Kiev 2003 Conference;
Following:
Conclusion of Meeting of the Ministers of Environment
of the countries involved in Stabilization
and Association process to EU, held on
October 15 in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia;
2003 Initiative by Serbian Ministry for the Protection
of Natural Resources and Environment on
environmental cohesion of Western Balkan,
expressed by Draft Declaration on Environmental
Cohesion as the WB countries tool to EU accession;
Contributing to:
With note that:
region is shaping challenges for sustainable future;
it is a lack of ambition, quantitative goals and
timetables in Belgrade 2007 preparation by some
relevant partners;
to environmental security, sustainable development
concerns and social responsible behaviour in
region are not given priority;
the need for solidarity between the citizens of the
region, as well as the right ( especially for
women and children) to be protected at the
highest level;
it is the need for affirmation of principles and
guidelines on animal welfare;
investments in environmental sector and education for
sustainable development are investments in the future
We, the citizens and nongovernmental organizations of the
region, are requesting international NGOs, organizations (such
UNECE, UNEP) and relevant governments to follow-up activities,
including developing the instruments and financing for
implementation, particularly to develop and include this
Declaration (with preamble) in Agenda of BELGRADE 2007:
DECLARATION
ON ENVIRONMENTAL COHESION OF SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE AS THE TOOL
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1. We call to overcome environmental differences in region
in partnership with NGOs:
a. We call for NGO networking and straightening, such as
NGO FORUM EfE07 developed in the process
of preparation of this declaration;
b. We request regular participation on NGO and
governmental institutions on all relevant
international meetings;
c. We request by governments the regular participation
of representative and relevant NGOs in all
official governmental delegations on
international meetings, as well as
representative NGOs participation of strategic documents and
legislation on sustainable development and environment,
including natural resources, biodiversity and animal welfare
issues;
2. We call to contribute to human security by
mitigating transboundary risks and further
enhance regional and transboundary
cooperation, in anticipation of future EU accession:
a. We request straightening capacities for environmental
management at all levels (local, provincial, national,
regional), including human, technical, institutional,
organizational and financial capacities;
b. We call the need of ratification of multilateral
environmental agreements, particularly UNECE Conventions and
their Protocols, as well as MEA signed in 2003 in Kiev, as the
minimum for regional environmental cohesion; we recommend the
rapid regional implementation of agreements;
c. We call to secure the further development and
implementation of sub-regional agreements or
arrangements such as the Danube Basin Protection
Convention, the Carpathian Convention, a future
Convention for the Protection and Sustainable Development of
mountain region in SEE, etc;
d. We call to secure collaborative capacities in
monitoring and respond of accidents, early
warning systems, waste and hazardous waste and
chemical management;
3. We call on strategies and activities to secure
sustainable development:
a. We call for preparation and support to implementation
of different level Strategies for
sustainable development, stressing the
need for Working Group for preparation of Western
Balkan Strategy for Sustainable Development;
b. We are pointing out that the biodiversity protection
and animal welfare have to be included in
strategies for sustainable development;
c. To call for partnership between ministries, agencies
and other institutions (included business,
industry and NGOs) related to environmental
sector, including joint platforms aimed to
efficient activities;
d. We call for proper environmental education and
education for sustainable development on all
levels, including the establishment of formal
and no-formal educational institutions/institution/
School for environment and sustainable
development of SEE;
e. To call for efficient law implementation and judgury
system for environment and sustainable
development, including establishment of
Environmental Court for environmental and
sustainable development issues and Environmental Police;
f. We request efficient access and exchange of
information on environment and sustainable
development;
g. We call for promotion on importance of inclusion of
environmental issues in other sectoral policies, such as energy,
transport, agriculture, geology, fishery, hunting, mineral
resources, urbanization, industry, common regional market,
diplomacy and foreign policy', as well as to implement local
sustainable development strategies and corporate social
responsible activities
h. We call to respect of intergeneration justice
i. We call for gender equality representation in all projects,
delegations and activities (minimum 30% of women/men) in
sustainable development and environmental issues;
j. We call upon governments in region to make complete
commitment to support environmental sector by reaching minimum
3% GDP by the year 2020
4. We are requesting on modalities to monitor
Declaration follow-up and implementation,
including annually reporting on implementation
to UNECE
5. We request by international and EU institutions to
increase financial and other support to
region in achieving above listed goals.
For more information contact
Andjelka Mihajlov,
Environmental Ambassadors President and
Regional FORUM EfE07 NGO Network Coordinator for International
Activities
E-mail: anmi@EUnet.yu
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