Developing capacities for climate policy in Southeast & Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia

Even 30 years after the Framework Convention on Climate Change came into force, the capacities for designing and implementing effective climate policies are still weak in the countries of the project region. The countries are united by the challenge of successfully transforming their economic systems into open market economies while integrating ambitious climate protection policies into national development planning. Above all, there is a lack of personnel and institutional skills and expertise. The project implements measures to raise awareness among decision-makers and improve national framework conditions so that the preconditions for a significant reduction of greenhouse gases are created and economic transformation goals are achieved at the same time. Furthermore, pilot activities and additional individual and small-scale measures are implemented to strengthen capacities that result from concrete needs in the project region.

Project data

Countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kosovo
IKI funding: 17,100,000.00 €
Duration: 06/2017 till 12/2024
Status: open
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Ministry of Economy - Montenegro

Ministry of Environment - Moldova

Ministry of Environment and Tourism – Mongolia

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MoEPA) - Georgia

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources - Ukraine

Ministry of infrastructure and energy - Albania

Ministry of sustainable development and tourism - Montenegro
Implementing Partner: NewClimate - Institute for Climate Policy and Global Sustainability gGmbH
Online: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/79216.html

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State of implementation/results

First field of action:
- Georgia: In Georgia the project provides advice and support for the development of a national climate strategy and an integrated action plan, the revision of the NDC, the development of the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) within the framework of the Energy Community and support to the development of a national climate change law. Work on the climate strategy and action plan as well as consultations on the NDC update was completed. In 2020, a high-level "Climate Change Council" was established. Furthermore, the updated NDC, as well as the draft Climate Strategy 2030 and Action Plan 2021-2023 (CSAP) was adopted and approved by the Government of Georgia in April 2021. On March 4, 2022, the first annual monitoring report on the implementation of the Climate Change Plan was submitted by the Government of Georgia. Discussions on drafting a climate law took place in December 2021 and February 2022, and recommendations for drafting a climate law were derived in a report. Furthermore, the project supported the preparation of an analysis on GHG emission mitigation measures in agriculture, which was completed in February 2022. In 2023, the project advises the Georgian partners on updating the climate action plan for the period from 2024. This will also include other sector-specific studies that the project has prepared as well as the monitoring reports supported by the project on the implementation of the plan (semi-annual report for 2023 has been submitted). Furthermore, the strengthens the technical capacities of the members of the Georgian negotiating delegation for the UNFCCC process.
- Mongolia: One project expert is based in Ulaanbaatar/ Mongolia. Revision of the NDC and Action Plan completed; three scientific studies (batteries, potential of green hydrogen, heat energy Ulaanabaatar) were completed and presented to national stakeholders. In close cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and other governmental partners a framework law for climate protection will be developed.
- Moldova: One project expert is based in Chişinău/ Moldova and supports the revision of the draft law on air pollution control, considering the new provisions of the directive on national emission ceilings for certain air pollutants (NEC). Respective work was completed, as well as the advice and support for the transposition of the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), the approximation of the EU Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions limitations Directives. The final draft for the transposition of the IED has been submitted to the government for approval. The air quality measuring station donated by the state of Saxony-Anhalt arrived in Chişinău in December. The location for the measuring station was identified and preparations for conducting trainings for national experts on the application of the station took place. Work to support the implementation of EU directives in the context of volatile organic components (VOCs) and in the context of national emission ceilings of certain air pollutants continued through support of the project. In 2023, the project supports the Moldovan partners in developing implementing regulations for the new law on industrial emissions and strengthens the technical capacities of the members of the Moldovan negotiating delegation for the UNFCCC process.
- Albania and Montenegro: In both countries, the project commissioned a team of energy system modellers and technical experts, who provided advice and support for the finalization of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) drafts as part of the countries’ Energy Community obligations. Political decision-makers and institutions were trained to understand and maintain the modelling underlying their NECP drafts; In Montenegro and Albania, activities were supported in the context of the strategic environmental assessments. In December 2021, Albania adopted the NECP 2021-2030 and submitted it to the Energy Community Secretariat.
- Energy Community: Under the umbrella of their Memorandum of Understanding, the project seconds a technical advisor to the Secretariat of the Energy Community. The cooperation covers in particular those topics, which are relevant for the work of the Energy and Climate Committee of the Energy Community such as processes towards National Energy and Climate Plans and the full transposition of the Governance Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. This also entails the facilitation of a monthly regional exchange of modelling experts involved in NECP development in the Western Balkans, which was initiated in April 2020.
- Ukraine: Inception phase to provide advice and support for the establishment of an EU co-funded Climate Innovation Resource and Consultative Centre (Ukrainian Climate Office) has started: The project aims to support the transition to a climate-neutral, clean, resource-efficient and secure energy supply and use, contributing to the achievement of climate neutrality in Ukraine in 2060. The Climate Office is planned to take over a supporting coordination role for climate policy in the Ukraine. The project was suspended until 5 September 2022 due to the acts of war. It supported the Ukrainian pavilion at the COP27 in Sharm El Sheik in 2022 as well as participation of ministerial staff. The project was officially launched at the COP at a high-ranking side event as Ukrainian Climate Office.
Second field of action:
- Small measures to strengthen capacities for climate policies and adaptation strategies to climate change in the countries of the project regions in cooperation with, among others, UNECE "Pathways to Sustainable Energy" phase 1 and 2; BildungsCent e.V on environmental awareness in Albania through an environmental mobile for training and educational activities; OECD on sustainable infrastructure development in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the countries of the Eastern Partnership and on supporting a high-level regional policy dialogue to promote sustainable and integrative energy, water and land use policies in Central Asia; Michael Succow Foundation on the establishment of biosphere reserves in Armenia and Georgia and the organic carbon content of steppe soils in Ukraine; HU Berlin on carbon storage and climate reporting of land use in Central Asia; World Bank in support of Russia's Green Finance Mechanism; Wetlands International on standardized processes for national reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from peatlands; German-Kazakh University (DKU) on renewable energies and energy efficiency through a study trip for young scientists and young experts from Central Asia; GIZ Russia conceptual preparations of a pilot an efficient, environmentally friendly and safe management of ash and slag waste and their processing as secondary raw materials. Advising the finalization and implementation of Kazakhstan's sector-specific long-term strategy for carbon neutrality by 2060 through GIZ. Technical and conceptual advice to Mongolia on the development of national climate legislation and the development of model calculations for sector-specific CO2 reduction pathways.

Latest Update:
04/2024