A Climate for Change

(^216) Evaluation of Current Activities to Mitigate Climate Change – Institutional Analysis Human Development Report - Croatia 2008
The Central Office for Development Strategy and Co-
ordination of EU funds (CODEF) has been very active in
assisting ministries and other governmental adminis-
trations with accessing European pre-accession funds,
available for legal harmonization and implementa-
tion of the EU acquis communautaire. In the area of
climate change, the Ministry of Environmental Protec-
tion, Physical Planning, and Construction (MEPPPC) is
the primary responsible Government ministry. Regu-
lations have been, and continue to be, put into place
to address climate change in Croatia and move it into
compliance with the Kyoto Protocol and the EU acquis
communautaire. Perhaps most interestingly, the Gov-
ernment has introduced a carbon and other air pollut-
ant fee of 14 HRK (EUR 2) per tonne that will become 18
HRK (EUR 2.50) in 2009. There are also rules designed
to improve the energy efficiency of new buildings, an
ordinance on labelling passenger cars and upcoming
legislation that relates to the ETS.^7 Croatia has commit-
ted to generating at least 5.8% of all electricity from re-
newable energy sources by the end of 2010.^8
In addition to MEPPPC, a number of other govern-
ment ministries manage programmes that reduce
emissions. These include the Ministry of Economy,
Labour and Entrepreneurship (MELE), governing is-
sues related to energy production; the MAFRD; and
the MSTI. In particular, MELE has taken very proac-
tive steps in dealing with climate change, especially
in promoting energy efficiency programmes such as
the “Removing Barriers to Energy Efficiency” project
undertaken in partnership with UNDP, other initiatives
to increase energy efficiency in public buildings/ busi-
nesses/ services, and initiatives to increase renewable
energy production. The MELE has introduced a “feed-
in tariff ” to encourage renewable energy measures
by allowing small producers to sell electricity from
renewable sources to the grid.^9 This tariff has been in
place since 2007, and projects that take advantage of
this initiative are beginning to commence. Interest in
this programme is significant and already more ap-
plications for installing wind capacity and receiving
compensation for it have been received than can be
supported. While the feed-in tariff is a major step for-
ward, its duration is limited and new producers selling
electricity to the grid can only receive payment for the
next 12 years. In other European countries (Germany,
Italy, France, and Spain), payments are guaranteed for
at least 20 years.
Croatia’s Government has sent a strong signal to busi-
nesses and other actors that emissions reduction is im-
portant. At the time of writing, the MSTI, and MAFRD
are only just beginning to address these issues. The
MSTI is improving its baseline assessment of emissions
from sea vessels and is interested in becoming more
engaged with inter-ministerial cooperation on road
transport issues. Croatian Forests Ltd., a state-owned
company that manages forests and forest-lands is be-
ginning to think seriously about adaptation to climate
change – especially in relation to forest fires. However,
they are not considering land use change and its signif-
icant potential as a mitigation option. Forests in Croatia
are becoming an important and growing carbon sink
Croatia’s
Government
has sent a
strong signal
to businesses
and other actors
that emissions
reduction is
important
Figure13-1: Mayors and Government representatives at a UNDP conference on energy efficiency in 2008.
Source: UNDP.