Background Information to the ReCAP Climate Policy Seminar on 6 – 7 June in Tirana
Opportunities, benefits and challenges of EU climate policy and legislation
Climate change is a huge challenge to all of us. Temperatures are rising, rainfall patterns are shifting, glaciers are melting, sea levels are getting higher and extreme weather events such as floods and droughts are becoming more and more frequent. What's more, the dramatic consequences of climate change are predicted to intensify in the coming decades.
A lot of work lies therefore ahead of us over the next years. The EU climate policy is targeted at making Europe the most climate-friendly region in the world by continuing EU leadership in fighting climate change, leading international negotiations and helping worldwide to deal with the consequences of the degradation of the planet.
The European Union is looking at cost-efficient ways to make the European economy more climate-friendly and less energy-consuming. Over the past two decades, emissions have gone down by 16%, whereas the economy has grown by 40% over the same period. If current policies are fully implemented, the EU is on track to achieve its targets for 2020 of reducing emissions to 20% below 1990 levels and raising the share of renewables in its energy mix to 20%. We are currently only halfway towards the third goal for 2020 - improving energy efficiency by 20%; much greater efforts will be needed to meet this target.By 2050, Europe could cut most of its greenhouse gas emissions. Clean technologies are the future for Europe's economy.
To reflect the increased political attention and urgency to keep global average temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, the European Commission established a dedicated Directorate-General for Climate Action ("DG CLIMA") in February 2010. Within the Commission, DG CLIMA cooperates closely with other Commission departments, leads international negotiations on climate, helps the EU to deal with the consequences of climate change and to meet the “20-20-20” targets for 2020:
- A reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20% below 1990 levels
- 20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources
- A 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.
With its “Roadmap for moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050”, the European Commission is looking beyond these 2020 objectives and setting out a plan to meet the long-term target of reducing domestic emissions by 80 to 95% by mid-century as agreed by the European Heads of State and Governments. It shows how the sectors responsible for Europe's emissions - power generation, industry, transport, buildings and construction, as well as agriculture - can make the transition to a low-carbon economy over the coming decades.
In support of the above targets, the Commission (DG CLIMA) and the EU Member States develop and implement the EU Emissions Trading System ("EU ETS") and promote its links with other carbon trading systems with the ultimate aim of building an international carbon trading market. Furthermore, the Commission monitors the implementation of Member States' emission reduction targets in the sectors outside the EU ETS (“Effort Sharing Decision”). In so far as climate action is concerned, the EU has also adopted legislation in the fields of greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting, carbon capture and storage, vehicle efficiency and fuel quality standards,fluorinated gases, and ozone depleting substances. Significant climate relevant measures are also developed in many other EU policy areas as energy, transport, environment, agriculture and research – and therefore co-operation across policy sectors is essential.
During the development and implementation of climate policies and legislation, all actors at the EU and national level are called upon to have their say. In addition, the Commission supports the EU Candidates to bring their actions (also in the field of climate change) into line with EU standards.
The European Commission invites all citizens and other stakeholders from the EU and the EU Candidate and Potential Candidates to take an active interest in the EU action in this field. The Regional Environmental Network for Accession (RENA) assists the Candidate Countries and the Potential Candidates to align with the EU climate and environment policies and legislation from an EU accession perspective. In addition RENA has been designed to enhance regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and Turkey in the fields of environment protection and climate action.
The RENA Climate seminar (ReCAP Seminar) will be held on Wednesday 6 June, and Thursday 7 June in Tirana. The seminar will be held at the Tirana International Hotel and Conference Centre, Scanderberg Square 8.
The Seminar will focus on the EU climate policy and legislation and their opportunities, benefits and challenges. The target group of the seminar will include national and local authorities, the industrial sector and civil society organizations. The seminar is designed in such a way that the first day will target climate policies and implementation. The second day will address key EU climate legislation and the challenges ahead.
We trust that the seminar provides an opportunity not only for sharing knowledge and experiences on the EU climate policy, but also to further enhance cooperation and promote positive change.Let's all learn and maximise what we can do to fight climate change let's all make our planet a better place to live in.
Hereafter please find the Agenda attached.
This project is funded by the European Union1
AGENDA
Regional Environmental Network for Accession - Working Group 2 Climate
Opportunities, benefits and challenges of EU climate policy and legislation
National ReCAP Climate Seminar – Tirana, Albania
Place:Tirana International Hotel and Conference Centre, Scanderberg Square 8, Tirana
Date/Time:9.30 – 17.00, Wednesday 6 June, 9.30 – 17.00, Thursday 7 June 2012,
DAY 1
9:30 – 10.00 Registration
Keynote speakers
10.00 – 10.10Welcome and key notes by Deputy Minister of Environment, Forests and Water Management, Mr. Taulant Bino
10.10 – 10.20Welcome and key notes, Mr. François Begeot, Head of Section Operations, Delegation of the European Union to Albania
10.20 – 10.30Key notes by Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy, Mr. Neritan Alibali
10.30 – 10.40Key notes by Deputy Minister of Public Works and Transport,Mr. Ylli Manjani
10.40 – 10.50Key notes by Deputy Minister of European Integration, Ms.Grida Duma
10.50 – 11.00Key notes by Head of Unit for International and Inter-Institutional Affairs, European Commission, DG Climate Action, Ms. Laurence Graff
11.00 – 11.30Press / Questions and answers session
(Coffee break)
Introduction to RENA and ReCAP Seminar
11.30 – 11.45Introduction to RENA, by Mr. Imre Csikós (WG Coordinator Climate RENA)
Climate co-operation within the RENA
Opportunities, benefits and challenges of EU climate policy and legislation
11.45 – 13.00EU climate policy and legislation, by Head of Unit Ms. Laurence Graff, DG CLIMA
-Benefits of climate action
-EU Climate and energy package
-Commission Proposal for Roadmap on moving to a competitive low-carbon economy in 2050
-Mainstreaming of climate action into energy, transport, agriculture and other policy sectors; EU multi-annual financial framework 2014 – 2020
-Requirements of the EU accession process, Instrument for Pre-Accession
-Adaptation to climate change
-UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, Durban roadmap: Cooperation with the EU
Session onEU Climate policy and legislation
13.00 – 13.30National Climate Change activities, byMs. Laureta Dibra, Head of Air, Climate Change and Chemical Sector, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Management
-National Climate Change policies and Strategies
-Convergence with EU Climate Change Policy and Legislation
-Implications for Albania of the work under the UNFCCC
-Institutional challenges
-Inter-Ministerial Cooperation
13:30 – 14:15Lunch
14:15 – 14:30Some considerations about climate change impact on the Albanian economy, by Prof. Dr. Petrit Zorba, Head of Department of Climate and Environment, Institute of Geosciences, Energy, Water and Environment
14:30 – 15:15EU Energy and transport policies and legislation, fromclimate viewpoint, byMr. Imre Csikós,RENA
-Energy 2020 – Strategy for a competitive, sustainable and secure energy
-Energy Roadmap 2050
-Energy efficiency
-Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area - Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system (White Paper)
15:15 – 15.45Implementation of development EU and domestic climate policies: Example from Hungary, József Feiler, RENA
-Development of strategies to implement the EU Climate Policies
-Implications of climate policies for institutional capacity development
-Lessons learned and challenges
15:45 – 16.15Development and implementation of EU and domestic climate policies: example from Slovenia, byMs. Nives Nared and Mr.Dušan Pichler, Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Slovenia
-Development of strategies to implement EU climate policy and legislation
-Implications of climate policies for institutional capacity development
-Challenges of legal transposition
-Lessons learned and opportunities
16:15- 16.30Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:00Plenary discussion on key challenges and next steps and short commentaries (max 5 minutes):
-Expectations in relation to benefits of policy development and implementation
-Inter-Institutional cooperation and challenges
-Needs for institutional strengthening and awareness raising
Facilitated by Ms. Laurence Graff (DG Clima) and Ms. Laureta Dibra (Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Management)
- Short commentary by the Ministry of European Integration
- Short commentary by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy
- Short commentary by the Ministry of Public Works, Transportation and Telecommunications
- Short commentary by the Ministry of Finance
- Short commentary from representatives of the Governmental Bodies, NGOs, Industry and Academy of Sciences:
- Discussion
17:00Conclusions and introduction to Day 2, byMr. Imre Csikós (RENA)
DAY 2
9:00Welcome coffee and registration
9:30 – 9:45Introduction to the EU legislation relevant to climate change, Mr.Imre Csikós, RENA
-Introduction to the agenda for Day 2
-Overview of the EU climate legislation (acquis)
-And how the legislative elements fit in the Climate Energy Package and other climate policies
Session A -EU Monitoring Mechanism (GHG inventories, national inventory reporting)
9:45 – 10:15Overview MMD (280/2004/EC) and its implementing provisions (2005/166/EC) (including IPCC guidelines),Mr.Davor Vešligaj, RENA
-Basis for the EU GHG inventory (UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol)
-The EU GHG Monitoring Mechanism (280/2004/EC) – key issues
-The EU Implementing Provisions (2005/166/EC) – key issues
-Proposed Monitoring Mechanism Regulation
-Discussion
Session B -EU Emissions Trading Scheme
10:15 – 11:00Introduction to emissions trading ( EU ETS ),Mr.Chris Dekkers, RENA
-Explaining how a cap-and-trade system works
-Outlining the EU ETS directive, its main elements and implications
-Phase I and Phase II experiences and lessons
-Economic and environmental impacts and challenges ahead
-Objectives and scope of the revised EU ETS Directive
-Implementation of EU ETS and its main requirements (who is doing what?)
-Importance of transparency, consistency in policies, measures and implementation
-Use of Information Technologies to support EU ETS implementation
-Capacity Building and Training
-How to prepare for EU ETS - implications for your country
-Questions and answers
11:00– 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 – 12:00Implementation of the EU ETS requirements in a Member State – Example Netherlands,Steven Bank, Dutch Emissions Authority
-Implementation of the EU ETS in the Netherlands
-Institutional set up and who is doing what in ETS implementation
-Coverage of industrial sectors, their relative size and emission impacts
-Allocation of allowances in the 2nd Trading Period – lessons learnt
-Main elements in the EU ETS Compliance Cycle and lessons learnt
-Allocation of allowances in the 3rd Trading Period third – first experiences
-Ensuring compliance with EU ETS in the 3rd Trading Period
Session C -Effort Sharing Decision
12:00 – 12:30The Effort Sharing Decision,Mr. Davor Vešligaj, RENA
-Description of the Decision
-Policy implications for EU Member States (with high end of GDP and low end of GDP)
-Case example: Incorporation of Croatia into the Effort Sharing Decision
-Round table discussion
Session D – Developing strategies for achieving renewable energy targets
12:30 – 13:15Introduction on Directive 2009/28/EC, implications for national renewable energy strategies, and lessons learned in Member States and RENA countries,Mr. Vlasis Oikonomou, RENA
-Present steps towards strategy development
-Potential of technologies and strategy development
13:15 – 14:15Lunch
Session E – CO2 emissions from transport
14:15 – 14:45Reducing emissions from transport, Mr. Imre Csikós, RENA
-Aviation related legislation
-Road transport, CO2 from cars and vans, CO2 labelling of cars
14:45 – 15:15Fuel Quality andBiofuels, Mr. Jozsef Feiler, RENA
-Directive 98/70 on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels
-Greenhouse gas emission reductions (Article 7)
-Sustainability Criteria for biofuels
15:15 – 15:30Coffee Break
Forum Discussion
15.30– 16:30Forum Discussion - Facilitated by Mr. Jozsef Feiler (RENA) and Ms. Laureta Dibra, Head of Climate Change Department, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Water Management
- Challenges for transposing and implementing EU climate legislation Steps to take (best practices)
- Steps to take (best practices)
16:30Closure of the meeting, Mr. Imre Csikos, RENA
-Conclusions
-Evaluation of meeting
-Next RENA climate events
This project is funded by the European Union1