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Climate
Change and
Energy News: Weekly Digest by
CAN EECCA
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Dear
subscribers,
We’re excited to share
our latest roundup of news on the energy
transition and the fight for climate and nature
in our region. As we gear up for the coming
winter, civic engagement remains at the
forefront of the conversation. Ukraine is
receiving special attention, where over half of
the country’s energy infrastructure has been
destroyed by Russian military strikes. Yet,
civil society is actively promoting renewable
energy in non-occupied areas, defending natural
landscapes from harmful projects, and the
Verkhovna Rada has passed a landmark climate
law.
We’ve compiled key
events and insights that stood out to us. If
we’ve missed something important, feel free to
reach out—we’re always open to feedback. Also,
don’t miss our section on upcoming opportunities
and links to previous editions at the end of
this digest.
Stay updated 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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On
October 6, Kazakhstan held a referendum on the
construction of a nuclear power plant, with over
71% of voters supporting the initiative. Despite
a high turnout of nearly 64%, some activists
raised concerns about the legitimacy of the
results. Representatives from three CAN EECCA
member organizations reflect on the way this
referendum was organised, its outcome, and the
lessons they have learned from the anti-nuclear
campaign.
Ukraine's Verkhovna
Rada has adopted a framework climate law aimed
at achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The law
outlines the architecture of climate governance,
financial tools, and integrates climate goals
into post-war recovery plans. This legislation
aligns Ukraine's policies more closely with EU
laws, strengthening the country's case for EU
membership and financial
assistance.
The
Supreme Court of Ukraine has issued a final
ruling, overturning plans to build a ski resort
on the Svydovets Ridge, siding with the appeal
by the organization Environment People Law. The
legal battle lasted nearly seven years,
beginning with the approval of detailed plans
for the resort in 2017, which triggered protests
from environmentalists and local communities.
Activists warned that development in the unique
Svydovets natural area would cause irreversible
harm to the ecosystem and result in the loss of
rare plant and animal species.
Armenia has received
its largest grant to date—€26 million—for a
six-year project focused on biodiversity and
sustainable local development, funded by
Germany's Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development via KfW bank. The project aims to
strengthen biodiversity conservation, improve
the management of protected areas, and enhance
the socio-economic conditions of nearby
communities. The program will also involve
comprehensive inventory work of Armenia’s flora
and fauna to revise the Red Book and support the
sustainable development of protected areas
through increased
investment.
Ukraine’s energy
transformation has been a subject of discussion
for many years, but the war has significantly
accelerated the shift to renewable energy.
EcoClub and other civil society organizations
have been actively installing renewable energy
systems in various communities: since late 2022,
five NGOs alone have completed nearly 50 such
projects, adding 1.7 GW of capacity. However,
experts stress that for long-term
sustainability, it’s crucial to strategically
integrate decentralized energy into the national
grid and reduce dependence on large-scale
projects like nuclear power
plants.
Ukrainian homeowners
are increasingly using solar panels to prepare
for a harsh winter amid widespread power outages
caused by Russian missile attacks. Rooftop solar
systems allow residents to store energy in
batteries, providing electricity even during
blackouts. Supported by Ukraine's Energy
Efficiency Fund, which covers up to 70% of
equipment costs, this initiative aims to help
people through the winter while also
contributing to the country's green energy
transition.
On
September 27, 2024, Kazakhstan approved a
hydrogen energy development concept that will
guide the sector's growth until 2030. The plan
focuses on the implementation of hydrogen
technologies and attracting investments in pilot
projects. This is expected to help the country
achieve carbon neutrality and strengthen its
position on the global energy
stage.
Kyrgyzstan is currently
exploring the possibility of building a nuclear
power plant, with efforts already underway to
identify a suitable location. However, experts
argue that the country has significant untapped
potential in its existing resources, such as
water and coal. The construction of a nuclear
plant presents many challenges, including high
costs, energy demand, the need for trained
specialists, and waste management, making it a
complex undertaking at this stage. Many experts
suggest that it would be more practical to focus
on traditional energy sources, which are more
affordable and accessible to the population for
now.
Belarus is losing
ground in global environmental rankings due to
the slowdown in implementing environmental
projects, a result of sanctions and the mass
shutdown of non-governmental organizations.
Experts from the BEROC center note that the
country is stagnating in areas related to the
environment, such as renewable energy and waste
management. For Belarus to achieve sustainable
development, it is crucial to expand the use of
renewable energy sources, encourage research in
green technologies, and engage civil society in
environmental initiatives.
The
frequency of natural disasters and industrial
accidents in Russia and Central Asian countries
is noticeably increasing. In Russia, devastating
forest fires continue. Kazakhstan is battling
new steppe fires and coming to terms with the
prospect of having a nuclear power plant, which
was favored by the majority of citizens in a
recent referendum. Uzbekistan is trying to
address the issue of hydrogen sulfide emissions
from a gas field, Tajikistan is seeing an
increase in sandstorms, and Turkmenistan is
leading the world in methane emissions into the
atmosphere.
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World Climate
and Energy News
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COP29, set to take
place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024, is
being called the "finance COP" due to the focus
on setting a new global climate finance goal to
replace the previous $100 billion target. Key
discussions will include how much funding
developing countries need to mitigate and adapt
to climate change, with estimates ranging from
$500 billion to over $1 trillion annually.
Additionally, countries are expected to submit
stronger national climate commitments and
address the implementation of past agreements,
such as the loss and damage fund launched at
COP28.
Ahead of COP29, Climate
Action Network (CAN) is urging environmental and
energy ministers to deliver an ambitious climate
finance goal that meets the urgent needs of
developing countries. The 130 civil society
organizations that signed this letter to
ministers emphasize that the new finance goal
must prioritize grants over loans, ensure
transparency, and set clear targets for
mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage.
Failure to achieve this would undermine the
Paris Agreement, as developing countries,
particularly in regions like South Asia and
Southern Africa, face immense challenges from
climate-related disasters and require
significant financial support to build
resilience.
The
popular FLICC poster, which illustrates common
disinformation strategies, is now available in
Russian and Romanian, adding to the eight
existing language versions. The new translations
were created in collaboration with environmental
organizations from Moldova and Russia,
highlighting the universal nature of
disinformation tactics, regardless of the topic
or region. The FLICC acronym represents five key
strategies: fake experts, logical fallacies,
impossible expectations, cherry-picking, and
conspiracy theories, and the posters are
available for free in all
languages.
The
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
has presented a new report showing that the
levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from most
renewable sources continued to fall in 2023,
with solar PV leading the cost reductions,
followed by offshore wind. The global weighted
average LCOE for utility-scale solar PV projects
dropped by 12% from 2022 to 2023, and overall,
new renewable capacity added since 2000 saved
the electricity sector at least USD 409 billion
in fuel costs in 2023. This trend highlights
that renewable energy has become the most
cost-effective option for new power generation,
contributing to both energy security and a
transition to more sustainable energy
systems.
A
new report by leading climate experts warns that
many of Earth's "vital signs" have reached
record extremes, with 25 out of 35 indicators
showing unprecedented deterioration, including
carbon dioxide levels and population growth. The
report highlights the increasing likelihood of
societal collapse due to global heating, extreme
weather events, and ecological overshoot, driven
by fossil fuel emissions and overconsumption.
The scientists call for urgent action, including
reducing fossil fuel use, transitioning to
plant-based diets, and addressing economic
inequality, to avert catastrophic consequences
and safeguard future
generations.
Calls to reduce
participation at climate COPs, in response to
frustration over slow progress, are misguided,
according to Manuel Pulgar-Vidal of WWF. He
argues that the COP process must remain
inclusive and transparent, especially for Global
South nations and civil society, as diverse
participation strengthens global climate
negotiations. Instead of limiting attendees, the
focus should be on setting more ambitious
national climate targets and addressing the
influence of corporate lobbies that hinder
progress.
A
recent report found that a third of the 158
agreements signed under Japan's Asia Zero
Emission Community (AZEC) involve fossil fuel
technologies, such as liquefied natural gas,
carbon capture and storage (CCS), and ammonia
co-firing. Critics argue that these projects
could slow progress toward carbon neutrality, as
they promote continued use of fossil fuels, the
primary cause of climate change. While some
agreements focus on renewable energy, only 11
out of 158 involve solar or wind power, raising
concerns about the initiative’s overall impact
on climate goals.
Due
to the impacts of climate change, forests in
Germany have, for the first time in decades,
begun emitting more carbon dioxide than they
absorb. However, the country has made progress
in expanding mixed forests, which are more
resilient to climate change, now covering 79% of
the total forest area. Globally, deforestation
remains a significant challenge, and despite
international goals to halt it by 2030, 6.4
million hectares of forest were lost last year,
primarily in tropical regions.
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The
Pre-COP29 Listening and Learning Session,
scheduled for October 16, 2024, will focus on
the impacts of climate change on gender equality
in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The session,
organized by the Women and Gender Constituency,
aims to deepen understanding of how climate
issues intersect with gender and will bring
together gender advocates to share data and
experiences from the region. This discussion
will set the stage for more informed and
meaningful dialogues at COP29, highlighting key
challenges faced by women and gender-diverse
individuals amid the climate crisis. Be sure to
register!
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 us on October 17th
for a networking event with journalists and
communicators from the EECCA region, hosted by
CAN EECCA and n-ost, to discuss the challenges
of climate communication and share experiences.
This is an opportunity to connect with peers,
exchange insights, and explore new strategies
for effective climate storytelling. The
communEECCAtors community offers professionals
from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central
Asia a platform to share experiences, resources,
and the latest news, fostering collaboration and
helping shape the narrative around climate
action.
The
Divočina eco-adventure center in the Czech
Republic is looking for three volunteers to help
organize eco-adventure workshops and camps for
children, and to teach conversational English
using fun, informal methods. Volunteers will
receive private accommodation, vegetarian meals,
training, and opportunities to engage with the
local community and develop their own projects.
The application deadline is October 31,
2024.
The
Youth Climate Innovation Programme offers young
innovators from developing countries the
opportunity to develop and scale climate
solutions through a virtual program.
Participants will engage in a 7-day Idea Lab to
refine ideas, followed by a 12-week Incubator
for hands-on support, and a 4-week Accelerator
to prepare for investment and partnerships.
Applicants aged 18-35 from Africa, MENA, Latin
America & the Caribbean, and Asia-Pacific
can apply by October 20,
2024.
The
2025 YGC Recoupling Awards aim to recognize
young changemakers who align economic prosperity
with social and environmental sustainability.
Eligible applicants—individuals only—have until
October 31, 2024, to apply, and the top 15 will
receive a full scholarship to attend the Global
Solutions Summit in Berlin, where they can
present their projects to a jury. The top
category winners will also receive a €2,500
prize, and applicants will gain access to a
global network of like-minded
individuals.
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Sent: Tuesday, October 15,
2024 5:30 PM
Subject: CAN EECCA Newsletter:
CAN EECCA Newsletter: Ukraine Prepares for
Winter, Disinformation and Climate Change,
Promoting Renewable Energy in Central Asia
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