A Climate for Change

(^220) Evaluation of Current Activities to Mitigate Climate Change – Institutional Analysis Human Development Report - Croatia 2008
13.3. Information: Availability
of information to consumers
and major actors on reducing
emissions
To overcome the market barriers to mitigation, intro-
duce technology, and set the right carbon price, there
must be enough information available to stakeholders,
large emitters, large energy users and the public about
how to reduce emissions, why, and what the costs/
benefits will be. In particular, information on energy
efficiency measures, emissions reduction opportuni-
ties, and increases in renewable energy use should be
available to actors who may utilise these methods for
mitigation. Within Croatia, there is a fairly active com-
munity engaged in issues related to climate change,
ranging from institutions engaged in analysing the ef-
fects of climate change on the environment to those
assessing how Croatia could incorporate climate
change mitigation into its development plans.
13.3.1. Information on emissions sources:
Research into tracking emissions is primarily driven by
Government agencies such as the Croatian Environ-
ment Agency, which supports efforts including the
National Communication on Climate Change,^11 the
National Emissions Inventory,^12 and numerous other
reporting requirements. The Ministry of Science, Edu-
cation and Sports is supporting research by universi-
ties, through a small grants programme for Croatian
Researchers that is open to any topic.VII Additional
support is available for technical research and research
into the economic aspects of reducing emissions in in-
dustry, and there is an increasing market for technical
expertise in emissions reductions particularly geared
towards energy efficiency.
13.3.2. Information available for larger scale
energy efficiency, pollution reduction, and
renewable energy:
There are positive trends in the availability of informa-
tion about efficiency measures, pollution reduction
measures, and renewable energy technologies. Or-
ganisations such as APO – Environmental Protection
Services (part of Croatia’s national electricity utility
HEP), Ekonerg, and Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar have
been involved in analysing various segments of indus-
try, including electricity production, cement produc-
tion, and others. This analysis has included examining
the potential for renewable energy. Additionally, pri-
vate firms have increased the capacity of the market
to implement energy efficiency, renewable energy,
and emissions reductions projects. These include
larger companies such as HEP Energy Services Com-
pany (HEP-ESCO), as well as smaller companies that
carry out audits and install equipment. The develop-
ment of these actors is being supported by UNDP and
the World Bank, along with EU funds. However, these
services are primarily available to the building sector
and currently there is little centrally organised activ-
ity related to energy efficiency and emissions reduc-
tion within the industrial sector, with the exception of
internal activities at HEP and, to some extent, within
the cement industry. INA, the major oil and gas explo-
ration company and petroleum distributor in Croatia,
has – at least in public relations materials – recognised
the importance of reducing emissions, and reduced
its CO 2 emissions by 7% in 2005.^13 The company is also
active in the renewables sector through its activities
in the geo-thermal industry, with numerous plants
around the country.^14
VII See the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports’
website for more information. http://www.mzos.hr/.