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Climate
Change and
Energy News: Weekly Digest by
CAN EECCA
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Dear
subscribers,
We’re excited to bring
you the latest updates on the energy transition
and climate adaptation across our
region.
This edition highlights
key events and insights we found noteworthy. If
there’s something important we missed, we’d love
to hear from you—your feedback is always
welcome.
Be
sure to check out our section on ongoing
opportunities and access the last three editions
at the end of the digest.
Stay informed with the
latest climate news with us,
Aliya, CAN EECCA
Communications Coordinator
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News from the EECCA
Region
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The
President of Kazakhstan has signed a law to
promote renewable energy sources and advance the
country's energy sector. The law introduces the
concept of "small-scale RES facilities" with
capacities up to 200 kW, allowing these units to
generate electricity and heat for personal use,
while selling any excess energy. Additionally,
the law streamlines grid access for small-scale
RES and establishes clear guidelines for energy
supply companies to purchase surplus
electricity.
Moldova's Ministry of
Energy will invest $55 mln over the next five
years to improve energy efficiency in public
buildings, with the goal of reducing energy
consumption by up to 65%. The project, supported
by a loan from the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, includes
renovations for 46 schools, such as thermal
insulation, heating upgrades, and the
installation of photovoltaic panels and heat
pumps. This initiative will improve learning and
teaching conditions for approximately 46,000
students and staff.
A
new report by the UNCCD and FAO showcases a
Kyrgyzstan initiative where women cultivate
medicinal herbs to combat land degradation and
economic hardship. This project not only
restores degraded lands but also provides
sustainable income for vulnerable women in
remote regions. The initiative emphasizes the
importance of women's land rights for achieving
food security and highlights their leadership in
addressing climate challenges.
Dust and sand storms in
Tajikistan have become much more frequent, yet
their economic impact remains largely
underassessed. These storms cause significant
damage to agriculture, public health, and
infrastructure, but their full effect on the
national economy is not well understood. Experts
stress the urgent need for better monitoring and
stronger international cooperation to develop
effective strategies for mitigating their
consequences and protecting the
population.
Armenia is set to
outline specific steps to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and adapt to climate risks by
mid-2025. These actions will focus on addressing
significant climate risks, especially in local
communities. Donor organisations stress the
importance of community involvement in
implementing these climate policies, with a
particular emphasis on developing localized
action plans and reviving Aarhus Centers for
better climate risk
management.
Uzbekistan has
completed preliminary assessments of 14
potential sites for building small nuclear power
plants. Detailed studies of these sites are
planned to advance the development of small
reactors, which could be used for both
electricity generation and various industrial
applications. The project aims to bolster the
nation's energy security and decrease its
reliance on fossil fuels.
On
15 October, the EU Energy Council discussed
Ukraine's energy situation and the EU's
readiness to stop importing Russian gas.
European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson stated
that the EU is prepared for the gas transit
agreement to expire by the end of 2024, with
alternative supply routes and LNG (liquefied
natural gas) terminals ready to replace Russian
gas. She emphasized that continuing to import
Russian gas is a dangerous political
choice.
On
October 20, in honor of Energy Workers' Day, the
Azerbaijan newspaper published an article by
Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, titled
"The Green Era in Azerbaijan’s Energy Sector."
The article highlights Azerbaijan's efforts to
transition to green energy, including the
development of renewable energy and strategic
plans for sustainable energy growth. Shahbazov
also emphasized Azerbaijan's role as the host of
COP29, which, in his view, reflects the
country’s leadership in global climate
initiatives and its commitment to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
The
Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural
Resources of Ukraine, together with several
government bodies and international partners,
has signed a memorandum to advance the just
transition of coal-dependent regions. Despite
the ongoing war, Ukraine is committed to
reducing emissions and supporting local
communities through the shift to alternative
energy sources. The memorandum focuses on
economic development, social support, and
environmental solutions for areas affected by
the declining coal industry.
The
latest book by Belarusian author and PhD in Law,
Elena Laevskaya, is now available to the public
online, free of charge. This 2024 publication
from Minsk delves into the legal frameworks
governing climate policy, covering
international, regional, and national climate
regimes. It places particular focus on
Belarusian climate legislation, climate justice,
and emerging judicial practices in climate
litigation.
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World Climate
and Energy News
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The
2024 Living Planet Report from WWF reveals that
wildlife populations have declined by an average
of 73% globally since 1970, with the most
significant losses in freshwater species. The
report highlights alarming biodiversity loss and
warns of impending ecological tipping points
that could lead to irreversible damage if
current trends persist. WWF calls for urgent
systemic changes to protect ecosystems,
emphasizing the need for transformation in food,
energy, and finance systems to mitigate climate
change and halt the destruction of
nature.
Finance is at the
forefront of the upcoming UN biodiversity summit
(COP16) in Cali, Colombia, focusing on the
implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global
Biodiversity Framework. CAN calls for ambitious
national-level actions, aligning biodiversity
and climate plans while integrating a
human-rights approach and addressing systemic
issues like debt and tax justice. With political
will, Global North countries could provide the
necessary $20 billion annually by 2025 and at
least $30 billion annually by 2030, essential to
achieving global biodiversity
targets.
Climate Action
Network’s latest Renewable Energy Tracker Report
shows that no country is doing enough to provide
clean, accessible, and affordable energy,
putting the goal of 100% renewable energy by
2050 out of reach. Renewable energy remains
concentrated in a few wealthy countries, leaving
millions, particularly in rural areas, reliant
on harmful energy sources. Barriers such as
debt, high capital costs, and limited financing
are preventing developing nations from growing
their own renewable energy
capacity.
Despite being at war,
Ukraine has built more onshore wind capacity
than Wales, according to an industry report.
While Ukraine's Tyligulska wind plant powers
200,000 homes, Wales has installed only four
mini turbines in 2023. RenewableUK Cymru warns
that without urgent action, Wales risks falling
behind in meeting clean energy
targets.
In
2023, the absorption of CO2 by natural carbon
sinks, such as trees and land, sharply declined,
raising concerns that these critical systems are
breaking down. Scientists are increasingly
worried that if this trend continues, it could
accelerate global heating beyond current climate
model predictions. The collapse of natural
carbon sinks has not been adequately accounted
for in most climate models, highlighting the
need for urgent action to protect and restore
ecosystems while cutting fossil fuel
emissions.
This handbook, prepared
by the NDC Transparency Initiative, provides a
framework for civil society and policy experts
to engage with governments on Nationally
Determined Contributions (NDCs), which countries
will update in 2025 as part of the Paris
Agreement. It emphasizes the need for urgent
domestic action to reduce emissions, enhance
resilience, and address key drivers of climate
change, such as fossil fuels and
deforestation.
At
COP28, nearly 200 countries pledged to achieve a
net zero energy system by 2050, including goals
such as tripling renewable energy capacity and
doubling energy efficiency by 2030. These
measures, if fully implemented, could cut global
emissions significantly, keeping the path to
limiting warming to 1.5°C open. The success of
COP28’s ambitious targets relies heavily on
global cooperation, investment in infrastructure
like grids and storage, and ensuring that
countries act quickly to implement comprehensive
energy transitions, according to the new IEA
report.
China has established
the China Resources Recycling Group Co., Ltd., a
new state-owned enterprise focused on resource
recycling and reuse. One of the key areas the
company will address is the recycling of
decommissioned wind power and photovoltaic
equipment, crucial for supporting China's
renewable energy transition.
Lithuania is set to
launch a mobile app for monitoring radiation
hazards, offering real-time information on
radiation levels and nearby monitoring stations
based on users' locations. The app's development
was driven by concerns over the Belarusian
nuclear power plant and the Russian military's
seizure of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Funded by the Lithuanian government, the app is
expected to be released in 2025.
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Climate Action Network
EECCA, in partnership with CEE Bankwatch
Network, is offering grants to CAN EECCA member
NGOs in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and
Tajikistan to develop communication campaigns
promoting renewable energy. The funding, ranging
from EUR 3,000 to 5,000, will support campaigns
addressing topics like dispelling myths about
non-renewable energy, highlighting the financial
benefits of renewables, and exposing fossil fuel
dependency. Member NGOs are encouraged to submit
proposals by October 24, 2024, with campaigns to
be implemented between November 2024 and
February 2025.
Join our Zoom call on
October 25 for climate journalists and
communicators attending COP29, or those simply
interested in climate reporting. In this
session, we will talk how to prepare for and
what to expect from the Baku climate summit. We
will explore how to communicate climate policy
to diverse audiences and discuss how CAN EECCA
and n-ost can support your coverage of the
climate negotiations.
This campaign calls on
climate advocates and communicators from Eastern
Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia to unite
in addressing the region's colonial legacy and
environmental exploitation ahead of COP29. With
the upcoming UN climate conference in Baku, the
campaign aims to amplify the voices of those
affected by authoritarianism and ecocide,
advocating for decolonial action and human
rights. Whether attending COP29 or supporting
remotely, participants can contribute by sharing
local stories, creating campaign materials, or
engaging with the media.
The
Mountain Future Award 2024, organized by the
FAO, invites individuals and institutions to
submit innovative project proposals that address
challenges in mountain regions, such as climate
adaptation and youth engagement, for a chance to
win the award. Three winners will receive
international recognition, USD 5,000 in seed
funding, and project incubation assistance.
Proposals must be submitted by October 30, 2024,
with a focus on fostering sustainability in
mountain communities through innovation, climate
resilience, and empowering youth as agents of
change.
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Sent: Tuesday, October 22,
2024 3:05 PM
Subject: CAN EECCA
Newsletter: A Solution from Kyrgyz Women, the EU Without Russian Gas, and
Networking Ahead of COP29
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