Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

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Transportation, infrastructure and communication Transportation, infrastructure and communication policies are key to economic growth and transition in the Western Balkans region. The transportation sector, in particular, has significant environmental implications; an efficient transportation sector would reduce the emissions of GHG and lessen impacts of air pollutions on human health. While the transportation system in South-Eastern Europe has improved in recent years, standards are still generally low, and in the region’s large, rapidly growing cities, traffic is one of the main causes of poor air quality. Among the problems contributing to inefficiencies in the transportation sector are ageing vehicles, poor vehicle maintenance, variable fuel quality, the poor condition of many roads, and frequent traffic congestion. In FYR Macedonia, BiH and Serbia, the use of leaded fuel has been reduced but not yet banned. Public transportation within and between cities is inadequate, although demand for it has grown steadily in recent years, and demand for freight transportation doubled between 2001 and 2006.

European Union and countries from South-East Europe and the Black Sea region. 20 In October 2012, the Energy Strategy of the Energy Community was adopted; the first step towards streamlined and cost- efficient energy infrastructure planning in the region. The Strategy considers the impacts of climate change in order to appropriately adapt the current energy production and consumption patterns. An Energy Efficiency Law has been adopted by all countries, with the exception of the FBiH and FYR Macedonia. Nevertheless, in FBiH, this law is currently undergoing the adoption procedure within parliament, while the Ministry of Economy in FYR Macedonia has adopted certain energy efficiency measures, including a Rulebook on Energy Performance of Buildings and a Rulebook on Labelling of Energy-Related Products. Western Balkan countries submitted their first and second NEEAPs, apart from BiH (pending its first and second NEEAPs) and Albania (pending its second NEEAP). Measures contained in the NEEAPs are targeted at buildings, industry, appliances and lighting, transportation, and agriculture. In addition,

there are horizontal measures which include awareness-raising and training, innovative financing schemes, metering and billing provisions, subsidies, and fiscal measures. The NEEAPs of Albania, FYR Macedonia, Serbia and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo 1 (UNMIK) foresee setting up National Energy Efficiency Funds to contribute to the implementation of the NEEAPs. Croatia has had an Environmental and Energy Efficiency Fund in place since 2007, with one of the most developed incentive systems in the region. The Croatian NEEAP plans to establish energy efficiency teams within units of local and regional authorities, to ensure continuous monitoring of energy consumption in their own facilities, implement awareness-raising activities, and enable systematic energy management and local energy planning. It should be noted that adaptation measures in the energy sector in the Western Balkans are not explicitly indicated as such, and there are no specific adaptation measures for mountainous areas. The policies take into consideration sectors such as industry, building, transport and the economy. Gender issues are addressed in the policies.

Policy Evaluation Matrix

Mainstreaming of adaptation goals and targets

TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATION

1- low or not considered at all

2- low or mentioned at least

3- somewhat integrated/present

4- high or fully integrated

Adaptation targets

Participation

Bosnia and Herzegovina

FYR Macedonia

Regional (Joint responses)

Albania

Croatia

Serbia

Kosovo*

Montenegro

Availability of implementation tools

Monitoring and Evaluation

Regional/transboundary adaptation considerations

Mountain adaptation considerations

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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