In the past two months citizens of Skopje, Kicevo and Tetovo were struggling with enormously high air pollution. Experts and environmentalists are familiar with the air pollution and the cause of it.

What does it mean an increase of air pollution and how it is measured? Particulate matters are small enough to cause serious health difficulties. They are divided into two categories: PM10 and PM-2.5. PM-10 particles enter through the air as a combination of metal, smoke, diesel soot, dirt, molds. They can be created not only by nature, but from human as well. Some human-made PM10 is coal dust, fly ash, wood smoke, diesel soot, roadside particles from tires and brake wear. Breathing of high level of particle pollution can influence or likely can cause death from respiratory and heart diseases could increase asthma among children and breathing difficulties.

In December, several times higher concentrations of PM10 were registered in Skopje air. At the official website of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning measurements from air quality monitoring stations in the centre of the city, as well as those in Lisiche and Karposh showed very high concentrations of PM10. (The index is very high when the concentration of PM10 is 180 micrograms per cubic meter, and high concentrations are considered when the concentration is between 90 and 180 micrograms. The permissible concentration is 35 micrograms)

The hourly concentrations of PM10 in the city centre and Karposh reached staggering 600 mcg/m3 and mid-day concentration of these places was 303 mcg/m3. For the protection of human health, that can not exceed 50, which means that with every breath citizens of Skopje were breathing air polluted several times above the safe concentrations.

Although the situation with air pollution in Skopje is slightly improving, citizens in Tetovo are still choking in smog.

Organised protests against the air pollution will continue until the government fulfils their requirements to ensure that “Jugohrom” and all other polluters stop the work until appropriate filters are instilled, and problems with the illegal landfills in the Polog region are solved.

For more info, click on the following links:

http://www.numbeo.com/pollution/rankings.jsp

http://www.numbeo.com/pollution/city_result.jsp?country=Macedonia&city=Skopje

http://www.time.mk/c/ccd685afe3/tetovo-utre-protest-protiv-zagaduvanjeto-na-vozduhot.html

Environmentalists in Macedonia are categorically against the government’s projects about the “Boshkov Most” and “Lukovo Pole” dams in the National Park Mavrovo.  Mavrovo will lose its status of a national park and the citizens will not get any benefit.

They fear that a majority of the ecosystem (plants and animals) would not survive the daily deluge. Furthermore, the roads necessary for the construction of the dams would fragment the Mavrovo reserve, making life difficult for wild animals there

It is unreasonable to destroy the biodiversity and to build a small hydro power plant that will produce electricity only in certain parts of the year; only in times of high electricity demand (Engineers call the technique “hydropeaking.”).

They argue that the money for construction of the two dams at Boshkov Most and Lukovo Pole can be used to replace the two dilapidated blocks in the thermal power plant “REK Bitola” or to finance the realisation of the hydro power plants “Chebren” and “Galishte” which currently is not moving forward.

See more info in the local press and in this World Bank press release

The first EU-Serbia Accession Conference, Brussels, 21 January 2014

Serbia is taking another important step on its path to the European Union. This first accession conference marks the beginning of a new and crucial phase in EU relationship with Serbia. It is a well-deserved recognition of the progress made over the past years. However, hard work will be needed and many challenges lie ahead…..

European Parliament published the resolution on the 2013 progress report on Serbia (2013/2880(RSP))

EASD / ENV.net Team from Serbia commented on the EP Resolution  with focus on the ENV.net related issues :

1. the role of civil society organizations, and
2. environment and climate change.

The workshop was organized by Co-PLAN, Institute for Habitat Development, in cooperation with three environmental organizations, namely Ekolëvizja, MilieuKontakt Albania dhe EDEN Center, in frame of the EU funded “Development of the ENV.net in West Balkan and Turkey: giving citizens a voice to influence the environmental process reforms for closer EU integration” project through the Partnership Programs for Civil Society Organisations.

The workshop gathered numerous civil society representatives, specialised in matters of energy efficiency in the residential sector in Albania, high profile representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Industry in Albania, the EU Delegation in Albania, the United Nations Development Program in Albania, the World Bank, etc.

The overall aim of the workshop was to:

I.            Provide an analysis of the institutional and legislative progress to date, in the energy efficiency sector in condominiums;

II.            Present recommendations to improve the current legislative and institutional framework for increasing energy efficiency in condominiums in Albania;

III.            Raise awareness among citizens, civil society organizations, and institutions on the necessity for progress in this field and,

IV.            Strengthen the role of civil society in improving legal framework on energy efficiency and facilitating its implementation;

At first, the Delegation of the European Union to Albania offered an expose of its stance concerning matters of energy efficiency in general.  The representative of the Delegation of the European Union to Albania, Mr. François Begeot stressed the importance of the necessity for Albania and other countries in the region to promote energy efficiency in order to achieve the 20% objective by 2020, particularly focusing on the use of domestic energy sources. Mr. Begeot highlighted the need for an effective domestic market, financial resources and more investments in the energy efficiency sector, the transmission infrastructure and the production of renewable energy.

Mr. Simaku, representative of Ministry of Energy and Industry, during his introductory speech, expressed the full engagement of the Ministry and the Albanian Government in addressing the problematic of energy efficiency. He also expressed the demand for the contribution of all the actors present in the meeting and interested on the energy efficiency issues.

Co-PLAN offered an analysis of the legislative and institutional framework concerning energy efficiency in the residential sector, particularly focusing on the institutional and legislative hindrances that need to be addressed in the near future in order to increase energy efficiency in compliance with the national objectives.

Further, Milieukontakt Albania shared the results of a survey conducted on the Albanian citizen knowledge and demand for energy efficiency vis-à-vis thermal isolation of residences, lighting, heating and cooling systems, and the use of green/eco-friendly household appliances.

The presentations proceeded with EDEN Center, introducing a model on how to calculate energy efficiency, which is expected to help the Albanian institutions calculation of energy efficiency in the residential sector, and in establishing a set of measures needed for the accomplishment of the national objectives.

ProCredit Bank Albania, introduced its environmental policies and approach regarding the facilitated loan and crediting options designated for citizens, private sector, or public institutions willing to increase energy efficiency in their premises.

Lastly, the representative of the Ministry of Energy and Industry outlined the approach and steps to be undertaken on a policymaking level for the transposition of the Energy Efficiency Directive through the Energy Code.

Upon completion of all scheduled input, a discussion followed focusing on the issues raised during the presentations, the conclusions of which we wish to share with you, for assisting you in any follow-up action.

The Conclusions of the National Workshop on the Improvement of Energy Efficiency on the Residential Sector in Albania:

1. The legislative framework for Energy Efficiency needs to be reviewed and updated in compliance with the most recent EU Directive for Energy Efficiency. The legislative framework needs to be unquestionably improved also through the immediate approving of its bylaws, which would eventually enable the implementation of the law, particularly on matters of energy efficiency calculation methodology, for the auditing and certifying parties, and any financial incentives. The Ministry of Energy and Industry, as well as other policymaking institutions ought to propose and approve fiscal implementing policies to draw the consumer closer to energy efficiency measures or investments. All such legislative framework, and respective bylaws, would need to be discussed beforehand with all interest groups, particularly with civil society.
2. Policymakers ought to set up a functional system/register building on the auditing of energy efficiency performance of existing residential building stock, so that to be able to determine a set of concrete objectives for the future.
3. The support of any incentives for the fulfilment of the national objectives on energy efficiency in the residential sector requires for the establishment of an Energy Efficiency Fund, as foreseen by the current legislation, and the draft law. The participants supported the idea of collaboration between the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Industry for the establishment of a common Fund for the Environment and Energy Efficiency, similarly to other countries in the Balkan region. The establishment of such structure will benefit from the preliminary legislative, institutional, and financial work conducted to date by national and international structures. The establishment of the Environmental and Energy Efficiency Fund would reduce the number of funds created, would encourage the absorption of both foreign and domestic funds, and would better coordinate all various institutional efforts, governmental or not, foreign or domestic, for energy efficiency in general, and the residential sector in particular.
4. Elements of energy efficiency would most certainly have to be integrated in the Code of Construction in order to include energy efficiency at a design and projection level. The Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism, as the core proposing and implementing party of the Code of Construction, would have to address with priority the issues of energy efficiency in the residential sector. Furthermore, it is important that certain construction norms are put in place, which take into account increased energy efficiency performance in residences. Energy efficiency ought to be viewed as an inter-sectoral responsibility, demanding the involvement of the Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism together with the Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Ministry of Environment.
5. The energy efficiency system needs human resources, vocational or professional, be them educated in the country or abroad, in order to fulfil the central and local institutional needs, as well as those of public entities, and the private sector. In fact, educational institutions in the country do offer solid curricula dedicated to energy efficiency in residences, and other sectors. In the meantime, policymaking institutions, as well as implementing ones, ought to identify and present their needs in terms of dedicated human resources, and ought to get to know the current educational programs available, and use them for raising capacities, and certifying the required expertise in the field of energy efficiency in residences and other sectors.
6. Public institutions ought to integrate and coordinate their plans and projects with civil society, in order to benefit from its cumulative experience in the field and its wide-felt impact in the community.
7. Civil Society ought to create its alliance for increased pressure on public authorities concerning all the measures and responsibilities to be undertaken for the implementation and fulfilment of the strategic objectives and legislative framework. This alliance would be used to also share among partners projects and programs implemented for the promotion of energy efficiency among the public, and to promote its civic reaction.

In December 2013 the Assembly of Kosovo approved the Law on Treatment of Illegal Constructions and Law for Waters of Kosovo, sponsored by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning.

The Law on Treatment of Illegal Constructions applies to illegal constructions identified in digital orthophoto map based on airial photogram metrical survey in the Republic of Kosovo. Upon the entry of this draft into force, all municipalities would legalize illegal constructions in accordance with the same”, said Minister Dardan Gashi in front of the MPs.

The “Law for Waters of Kosovo” will ensure sustainable development and utilization of water resources, environmental protection, and social and economic development of the Republic of Kosovo.

In December 2013, Kosovo and Macedonia have established a joint commission for environmental protection and spatial planning, which will be oriented towards processing and proposing joint appropriate measures; organizational, legal and technical cooperation on environment issues.

Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of Kosovo, Mr, Dardan Gashi, and Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning of Macedonia, Mr. Abdilaqim Ademi, signed Rules of Procedure of the Joint Commission in the area of ​​environmental protection and spatial planning.

The Committee composed from environment experts from both ministries will also share experiences in the use of European Union pre-accession funds for the development of cross-border projects of mutual interest.

In this area, priority will be given to the construction of water purification Plants Rivers of Kosovo which flow into Macedonia, for which the guarantor is the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two ministers in 2012.

ATRC started the process of collecting the Environment Reports, Literature, publication, reports, evaluations etc which will be good tools for having reference, data and source of information regarding different environment topics. The most reports, analyses, environment evaluations are collected from the Agency for Protection of the Environment and same other from the Ministry of Environment, Regional Environment Center – REC and environment CSOs in Kosovo. In the same time, additional environment strategies, laws, polities and municipal regulation, were collected, which can help us ATRC, to analyze and compare different perspectives from different institutions.

On December 20th, 2013, at the premises of Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), Environmental Ambassadors organised the seminar „Environmental Education for Further EU Citizens“.  Almost 20 schools participated.

This participatory seminar was extremely successful!  Motivated teachers were interesting in all topics; however recycling and upcycling, as well as involving children as the environmental reporters, as the tool to educate youth (future EU citizens), had the most attention. ENV.net lecturers, as well as presenters from Slovenia and Macedonia,  contributed to the success of the seminar.

More Minutes from the Seminar

ENV.net poster 2013

Co-PLAN, Ekolevizja, Milieukontakt Albania and Eden Centre co-organized a national workshop on the 12^th of December 2013, focusing on aspects of residential energy efficiency, and to fulfill the following objectives: (i) Provide an analysis of the institutional and legislative progress to date, in the energy efficiency sector in condominiums; (ii) Present recommendations to improve the current legislative and institutional framework for increasing energy efficiency in condominiums in Albania; (iii) Raise awareness among citizens, civil society organizations, and institutions on the necessity for progress in this field and (iv) strengthen the role of civil society in improving legal framework on energy efficiency and facilitating its implementation.

Some of the opening remarks of the workshop were held by representative of EU Delegation in Albania, and officials of the Ministry of Energy and Industry.

During the workshop there were raised several issues through presentation on: (i) Legal gap analysis on energy efficiency in residential sector; (ii) Energy efficiency in residential building – from citizens knowhow to implementation; (iii) Monitoring and analysis of energy efficiency in residential – An Open-source Prospective Energy Analysis tool; (iv) Financial instruments for supporting energy efficiency in residential.

Foreign donors located in Albania, CSOs working in the field of environment (more precisely on energy efficiency) and representative from the ministry delivered deeply augmented discussion, which ended in some conclusion to be followed up the next year: (i) Legal framework should be updated according to the new EU Directive on energy efficiency; (ii) It should be regularly consulted with groups of interests, especially with civil society for the methodology, energy efficiency calculation, certification and auditing bodies etc; (iii) It is absolutely necessary to know the energetic performances of building stock based on real calculations to put real objective for the future; (iv) Establishment of the environmental and energy efficiency fund, which should include the coordination role and implementation of projects; (v) Integration of energy efficiency elements in the construction code; (vi) The system dealing with energy efficiency issues have absolute needs to increase capacity building and train and qualify them, where  civil society and academic institutions should play an important role on preparing curricula for certification of expertise on energy efficiency issues; (vii) State institutions should integrate and coordinate their plans and projects, to profit from their wide experience on protecting and promoting community interests.