BELARUS
CLIMATE FACTS AND POLICY 89.3 MILLION tCO2e 9.4 TONNES PER CAPITA
POLICIES AND PROCESSES Policy framework
National strategy for sustainable socioeconomic development until 2030 State programme on environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020 State programme to mitigate the effects of climate change for 2013-2020 Law on renewable energy sources Concept of energy security
2020 targets
8 per cent reduction of GHG emissions compared to 1990 Maintain GHG emissions in energy sector at the 2012 level Increase renewable energy sources to 6 per cent of gross energy consumption Reduce GDP energy intensity by 70 per cent compared to 1990 Reduce the share of gas in energy production from 91 per cent to 70 per cent
2030 targets and INDC
Mitigation Base year: 1990 Unconditional 2030 target: total GHG emissions reduction of 28 per cent compared to the base year Increase share of renewable energy sources to 9 per cent Reduce GDP energy intensity by 25 per cent compared to 2010 Reduce share of gas in energy production by 50 per cent
9.5
5,741 US $
MILLION POPULATION
95%
PER CAPITA GDP
OF TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION FROM FOSSIL FUELS
Sources: National inventory report (1990-2014); demographic, energy and economic data from World Development Indicators of the World Bank: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/
Adaptation priorities Forestry and agriculture as the most vulnerable sectors Adaptation measures on territorial and urban development, transport infrastructure, recreation and human health
GHG inventory of all sectors and gases
National inventory report to UNFCCC Second biennial report to UNFCCC Sixth national communication to UNFCCC MRV and GHG emissions modelling systems being developed and implemented
CLIMATE ACTIONS Paris agreement on climate change
Belarus ratified Paris agreement on climate change in September 2016
GHG emissions
2012 total GHG emissions 36 per cent below the 1990 level Regulation of GHG emissions across enterprises High and stable carbon absorption by forest and wetlands
Energy-related actions
50 per cent reduction in energy intensity of GDP from 2000 to 2013 Energy labeling, auditing and certification Special fixed tariffs for renewable energy sources and growing number of renewable energy projects
Adaptation actions
CLIMATE FINANCE National and international investments in a green economy Expected US $600 million by 2020
EBRD
Belarus Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (BelSEFF)
WB
US $125 million for energy efficiency for 2009-2017 US $135 million for forestry sector development and biomass district heating for 2014-2020
EU
Energy efficiency, renewable energy, green economy, air pollution, peatland management
Approved strategy for forestry adaptation until 2050 Programme on forestry adaptation measures until 2030 Strategy for agricultural adaptation under development
GEF
Local initiatives
UNECE
Projects on green economy development Growth in electric urban public transport 17 Belarus cities signatories to Covenant of Mayors
Energy efficiency in residential buildings, wind energy development, green urban development Climate change adaptation in the Neman River basin
UNDP
Wind power development, phase-out of ozone depleting substances (GEF), energy efficiency at schools (EU)
Rezekne gava Dau
L ATV I A Velikiye Luki
Siauliai
Nevel
Daugavpils Panevezys
R U S S I A
Drysviaty Lake
Visaginas
LI TH UA NI A
Novopolotsk
Braslav Lakes
Polotsk Za
Postavy
p.
ina
Dv
Glubokoye
Kaunas
Vitebsk Smolensk
Vilnius
Marijampole
Novolukoml
Vilnia
Orsha Molodechno
Tolochin
Borisov B er
Gorki
Minsk
Nem an
Stolbtsy
Baranovichi
E
L
A
Slutsk
Pruzhany emissions Energy and
Bykhov
R Bobruysk
Brest
S
Rogachev Zhlobin
Soligorsk
Klintsy
Svetlogorsk
Bug Dnie Kobryn per-BugCana l
U
Gomel Rechitsa
Pinsk
Petrikov
Mozyr
Stolin
Energy and emissions yat Prip
Shatsk Lakes
Chernihiv
K
R
A
I
E
Kyiv Reservoir
Korosten
Energy and emissions
Energy and emissions Energy and emissions
N
Fossil fuel energy installations and ca
CO2 emissions from thermal power pla
er
U
Chernobyl
D niep
Sarny
Kovel
0
more than 5 2—5 1—2 1000.5km— 1 less than 0.5
Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Network, December 2016
Fossil fuel energy installations and carbon emissions
Renewable energy installations and plans
thermal power tonnes per year: 2 emissions FossilCOfuel energy from installations and plants, carbonmillion emissions
parkinstallations / solar park under construction Renewable Solar energy and plans
Pipelines
Wind park capacity than 1 MW) Solar park (installed / solar park under more construction
Oil
Nuclear power construction Thermal power plant plant under (coal/oil/gas)
Hydropower plant / hydropower plant under construction Wind park (installed capacity more than 1 MW)
Gas
Nuclear power plant under construction
Hydropower plant / hydropower plant under construction
Gas, planned
CO2 emissions plants, million tonnes per year: more thanfrom 5 thermal power Thermal power plant (coal/oil/gas) 2—5 more 1 — 2than 5 20.5— —5 1 1less — 2than 0.5 0.5 — 1 less than 0.5
h Soz
er
B
Slonim
Cherven
Marina Gorka
Roslavl
Mstislavl
Mogilev
Berezino
D niep
Bialystok
POL AND
e zi
Lida
Grodno
na
Pipelines PipelinesOil
Forests (high CO2 absorption potential) Forests (high CO2 absorption potential)
Gas Oil Policies and institutions Gas, planned Gas
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Gas, planned (MNREP) is the main responsible body for environmental policies and legislation, including those related to climate change. It oversees the reporting to UNFCCC, and chairs the inter-agency working group on climate change. The Research Centre “Ecology“ within the MNREP maintains the national GHG inventory system. The National strategy for sustainable socioeconomic development until 2030 is the key guidance document for long-term development and a green economy in Belarus. MNREP in cooperation with other ministries is currently developing a national action plan to implement green economy principles for 2016-2020. An inter-agency commission for the transition to a green economy has also been established.
The State programme on environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020 defines climate policy until 2020 and covers GHG emission reductions. Belarus is currently developing a framework for reducing the energy and carbon intensity of the national economy. The country has also established a state programme to mitigate the effects of climate change for 2013-2020. The Concept of energy security until 2020 is focused on energy diversification, energy efficiency and renewables: Belarus plans to reach a 6 per cent share of renewables in energy use, and to reduce the share of gas in energy production. The country expects to complete construction of its first nuclear power plant in 2018.
Therma
Nuclea
ava Daug
L ATV I A
Siauliai
Velikiye Luki
Daugavpils Panevezys Drysviaty Lake
LI THUA NI A
R U S S I A
Novopolotsk
Braslav Lakes
Polotsk Za
Postavy
p.
Glubokoye
ina
Vitebsk
Dv
Kaunas
Smolensk
Vilnius
Marijampole
Novolukoml
Vilnia
Tolochin
Molodechno
Orsha
Borisov D nie
B er
Minsk
Nem an
Stolbtsy Bialystok
B
POL AND
Slonim
Baranovichi
E
Cherven
L
A
Mstislavl
U
Bobruysk
S Rogachev Zhlobin
Soligorsk
Klintsy
Svetlogorsk
Bug
Brest
Dnie perBugKobryn Cana l
Pinsk
Petrikov Mozyr yat Prip
Sarny
Chernobyl Forest productivity change by 2050: er
Kovel
Impacts of climate change Chernihiv D niep
Shatsk Lakes
U
K
R
A
I
N
Forest productivity change by 2050: less
Pine: less
E
Korosten
Impacts ofchange climate change Impacts of climate
more
Gomel Rechitsa
Stolin
Spruce: more
Roslavl
h Soz
Bykhov
R
Slutsk
Pruzhany
Mogilev
Berezino
Marina Gorka
Gorki
p er
Grodno
na
e zi
Lida
Kyiv Reservoir Spruce:
more
less 0
Pine:
100 km
more less Network, December 2016 Map produced by ZOÏ Environment Increasing risk of peat fires
Invasive animals and plants from the west
More frequent droughts
Invasive fish and other aquatic species from the south
Increasing risks of floods Negative impacts on agriculture and food production
Heatwaves, infection outbreaks, air and water pollution, drinking water scarcity
Invasive animals and plants from the west
Belarus scorecard Invasive fish and other aquatic species from the south
Share of global GHG emissions
National climate policy actors
Emissions volume per capita
Policy leadership: Inter-agency Commission for transition to a green economy; Inter-agency Working Group on climate change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection
Climate change targets
Mitigation commitment: Emissions reduction Decoupling from population growth
UNFCCC focal point: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection
Decoupling from economic growth
GHG inventory: Research Centre “Ecology“
Renewable energy prospects
Climate Technology network coordination: Republican unitary enterprise “Ecology invest”
Adaptation action
Greenhouse gas emissions and projections for Belarus
Million tonnes 160 140 120
INDC
100 80 60 40
0 Projections
20 40 0 1990
1992 Energy
1994
1996
1998
Industrial processes
2000
2002
Agriculture
2004
2006 Waste
Projections are based on Belarus' national targets and INDC
2008
2010
2012
2020 2030
Land use, land use change and forestry
© Zoï Environment Network (2017)
20
Climate actions In September 2016 Belarus ratified the Paris agreement on climate change. In its INDC, Belarus aims for an unconditional reduction of GHG emissions by a minimum of 28 per cent of the 1990 level by 2030 (exclusive of LULUCF). By 2018 necessary legal provisions and a framework for implementing the commitment are to be developed. The country managed to significantly reduce GHG emissions in the past, with relatively low marginal costs. In the period of 19952005 energy efficiency, energy saving and the promotion of renewables accounted for about 1.6 per cent of GDP, and in 20112015, 5 per cent of GDP. The share of state budget funds in these investments was at least 30 per cent, while the rest was covered by external funding sources and aid. In one of the fastest rates of low-carbon development in Europe, the carbon intensity of the economy decreased by almost 70 per cent from 1990 to 2012. Still, significant steps remain to be achieved to make Belarusian economy more energy efficient. Forests and peatlands play a major role in the absorption of GHG emissions in Belarus: forest cover has increased by 4 per cent since 1990, forest cover being 39 per cent in 2013 and expected to reach 41 per cent by 2030. At the same time, forestry has been identified as one of the most climate-vulnerable sectors, and a forestry adaptation strategy until 2050 has been developed. An adaptation strategy for the agriculture sector is under development. Between 2016 and 2019 the country is planning to draft legislation and an institutional framework for implementation of specific national adaptation measures.
Climate finance Belarus finances climate change activities both through government programmes and through external donor funding. Modernization of the energy sector, including development of renewables, is identified as a national policy priority, and international agencies such as GEF, World Bank and UNDP support projects on energy efficiency both through grants and loans.
EBRD maintainsa Belarus Sustainable Energy Finance Facility (BelSEFF) credit line, of which US $50 million is aimed at renewable energy and energy efficiency in the private sector, and US $42 million at reforms in housing and communal services. GEF supports a portfolio of energy-efficient housing development and wind energy, and the World Bank has been providing loans for improved energy efficiency for several years. The European Union funds several energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate adaptation, waste management, green economy and environmental projects. The amount of EU funding in 20122020 is expected to reach €37 million. UNECE, through the Environment and Security Initiative, supported the preparation of a climate adaptation strategy for the transboundary Neman River basin.
Sources of information for the scorecard Publications, strategies and legislation: the National strategy for sustainable socioeconomic development for the period until 2030; the Law on renewable energy sources; the Energy security concept; the State programme on energy savings; the State programme on environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources for 2016-2020; Sixth national communication to UNFCCC, INDC. Publications and materials of World Bank, EBRD, GEF, UNECE, UNDP, EU ClimaEast project Analytical materials and information provided by Zoï Environment Network, and organizations and experts of the Republic of Belarus This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
The designations employed and the presentation do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or region or of its authorities, or concerning delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.