Climate change mitigation - National Responses (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)

The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planing is the body of the state administration responsible to coordinate activities concering Climate Change. In the Republic of Macedonia, these activities are divided on a strategic level, legislative and institutional levels, and bilateral, regional and international cooperation.

With efforts to emphasize the importance,devotion and obligations for activities towards Climate Change actions, basic documents which are developed are addressing the climate change issues as part of the First and the Second National Communication on Climate Change. They include data on GHGs emission by sources and sinks (GHG Inventory), climate change scenarios, analysis of the most vulnerable sectors in relation to climate change, proposed measures and actions for climate change abatement and adaptation, activities of public awareness improvement, education, etc. The Second National Communication on Climate Change was adopted by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in December 2008, and the First in 2005.

National Strategy for the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol for the first period of commitments 2008-2012 was adopted in February 2008 and it contains institutional and technical recommendations for projects implementation under this mechanism.

One of the most important strategic documents on national level - National Strategy for Sustainable Development - identifies the climate change issue as one of the key cross-cutting issues affecting several sectors, such as energy, agriculture, industry. Other strategic documents dealing with climate change include the Second National Environmental Action Plan, National Strategy for Approximation with EU in the area of environment, National Strategy for Environmental Investments, draft Strategy for Comprehensive Energy Development, etc.

National climate change indicators have been developed and the issue is subject of analysis in the state of the environment report 2010.

Climate change issues are treated among global environmental issues in the Law on Environment which provides legal basis for the developemnt of the National Communications on Climate Change and plans for mitigation and adaptation. Specific article on Clean Development Mechanism has been introduced to specify the competences of the MEPP in implementing coordination activities in accordance with the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.

For the purpose of implementing the projects based on the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol, three Memoranda of Understanding have been signed (with the relevant ministries of Italy and Slovenia and UNDP Carbon Fund). Cooperation with the Governments of the Kingdom of Norway, Austria and cooperation at regional level with the Regional Environmental Centre, Energy community, Regional council for cooperation, etc.

The Ministry takes part as partner in the implementation of project and programme activities of other institutions as well, such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Economy and academic institutions in the frames of the EU Programme for research.