Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

Croatia has developed its administrative capacity for climate change issues. According to the Air Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 130/11, 47/14), the Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection is responsible for climate change issues, and is the national focal point for the UNFCCC. The Directorate of Climate Activities, Sustainable Development and Protection of Air, Soil and Sea, hosted by this Ministry, carries out administrative and technical work related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Commission for Inter-Sectoral Coordination of Policies and Measures to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change has been appointed by the Decision of the Government (Official Gazette No. 114/14). The Commission includes institutional representatives of ministries and agencies to discuss policy issues, while experts and practitioners from various sectoral institutions will address technical issues. Being an EU member, Croatia has full access to EU funds for the development of its climate-related strategies, as well as for their implementation. According to the Air Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 130/11, 47/14), the implementation of climate change adaptation measures will be financed also by the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund. FYR Macedonia ratified the UNFCCC in 1997 and the Kyoto Protocol in 2004. The government of FYR Macedonia submitted the First, Second and Third National Communications to the UNFCCC Secretariat in 2003, 2008 and 2014, respectively. The First Biennial Update Report will be carried out in the coming two years. Taking into consideration the EU

association process, FYR Macedonia needs to develop a comprehensive policy and strategy on climate change, in accordance with the expected EU 2030 policy framework for climate and energy. The country has not yet put forward a mitigation commitment for 2020, as required by the Copenhagen Accord that it signed. Climate change issues are incorporated into the Law on Environment, which details the preparation of GHG emissions inventory (Article 188), and adoption of a National Plan for Mitigation (Article 187). In 2000, the Climate Change Project Office was established within the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning aimed at improving the monitoring and coordination process of the implementation of UNFCCC in FYR Macedonia. This Office provides logistic support to the National Climate Change Committee – the inter-ministerial body meant to supervise and coordinate the implementation of UNFCCC, and climate change-related activities. The Committee is comprised of government institution’s representatives, but also has members from public institutions and the non-government sector. Domestic financial support for climate adaptation activities is limited: there are no allocations for climate change response within the relevant ministries’ budgets. The projects handling climate change were thereforemainly funded by international organizations such as UNDP, GEF and USAID, as well as bilateral and multilateral donors. Montenegro forests are extremely important from the ecosystem and economic perspective. Tourism

is considered as very important for the overall economy of Montenegro. Montenegro became a member of the UNFCCC as a non-Annex 1 Party in 2007 and ratified the Kyoto Protocol the same year. It prepared and submitted its First National Communication in 2010, while the Second National Communication was submitted to the UNFCCC in May 2015. National Strategy on Climate Change by 2030 was adopted by the government of Montenegro in September 2015. The Strategy has a strong focus on mitigation, but strongly recommends development of the National Adaptation Plan, for which it provides detailed guidance. Montenegro is in the process of transposing the acquis communautaire into its national legislation, particularly in environment and energy sectors, due to its membership of the Energy Community. Based on the Proposal of the new Law on Environment, Montenegro needs to adopt a national plan for climate change mitigation and another to combat desertification and soil pollution. The Technology Needs Assessment for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (National Strategy and Action Plan) was adopted in 2012. The Ministry for Spatial Planning and Environment is the body responsible for environmental policy, including climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency plays an important role in its implementation through permitting, inspection control, monitoring and reporting. The Agency maintains a national GHG Inventory. Another

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