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e c e nt ly t he SU R E proj e c t (Sustainable Urban Energy in the Region of the European Neighbourhood Partnership — towards the Covenant of Mayors) was presented in Polotsk. It was launched in 2010 and is to last for thirty months, costing around 800,000 Euros. Its partners are the city of Friedrichshafen (a leading partner from Germany), the city of Murcia (Spain), Polotsk’s City Executive Committee (Belarus), the city of Sale (Morocco) and the Inter-Mediterranean
initiative pledge to implement EU strategy, known as ‘20-20-20’. The strategy aims to achieve significant improvements in the sphere of sustainable energy development by 2020, reducing CO2 emissions by 20 percent, while expanding application of alternative energy sources by 20 percent and raising energy efficiency by 20 percent. Spain, possessing great experience in this area, is currently working on a plan of sustainable energy development for Belarus. The National Academy of
In line with popular initiative Polotsk may join European Covenant of Mayors in September Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (France). In all, 250,000-300,000 Euros are to be allocated to finance the project, promoting co-operation between the Eastern and Southern regions of the European Neighbourhood Partnership. The project aims to ensure sustainable energy development in Polotsk and Sale by their joining the Covenant of Mayors. The participants of this popular European
Sciences’ Energy Institute could join the project as a subcontractor. The plan for Sale and Polotsk will be submitted to the Covenant of Mayors by the end of the year, including fundamental analysis of CO2 emissions across the city and information on major energy resources and their consumers. In addition, there will be conducted an audit of ten municipal facilities, looking at their energy saving potential and offering ideas on how best to introduce alternative energy resources.
Avoid disturbing natural balance Belarus hopes to attract around $3mln. from Global Environment Facility to preserve its wetland marshes
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h e M i n i s t r y f o r Na t u r a l Resources and Environmental Protection has already applied to the GEF for funding for a new 2012 project: restored damaged wetlands. A decision needs to be made as to how each marshland should be used. “Taking into account all factors, we’ll decide whether to restore each marsh or whether to extract peat in line with definite criteria,” explains Alexander Kozulin, a leading research officer at the National Academy of Sciences’ Scientific-Practical Centre for Bioresources. The Energy Ministry is currently involved in developing the schemes, while participation of the Ministry for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection will allow specialists to make more informed decisions. Measures are also planned to improve the system of specially protected natural territories. At present, peatlands in Belarus account for 2.4mln. hectares, with only 862,000 hectares preserved in their natural state by 2010. For more than half, their hydrological regime was broken, as the land has been drained and peat extracted. Belarus hopes to receive soon around $9mln. from the GEF for new ecological projects to preserve wetlands and develop wind power. In addition, energy efficiency in residential buildings is to be improved.
2011 беларусь.belarus
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