ACHIEVE - Open Call for Proposal for ECSOs

The project ACHIEVE - Albanian Civil Society for a European Environment, which is implemented by REC Albania and financed by the EU Delegation in Tirana has as an overall objective the encouragement and active participation of civil society in policy-making and contributing to the fulfilment of Albania's obligations under the EU Albania Stabilization and Association Agreement.

Through the different Working Packages, REC Albania in close cooperation with the Environmental Civil Society Organizations wants to reach the following strategic objective:
- Reinforced group of CSOs able to work in a professional and sustainable way addressing – also in collaboration with other CSOs and with the relevant governmental counterparts – environmental issue also at policy level.

Objectives and priority issues for the call
General objective: At least 4 group of ECSOs one per each topic (air quality, nature protection, waste management and horizontal legislation) will work at national level both on policy making and policy implementation issues.
Specific objective: At least 4 group of ECSOs one per each topic (air quality, nature protection, waste management and horizontal legislation) will collaborate with each other and work program based to improve the rule of law, fight the corruption and reduce the environmental pollution in the above topics and promote of regional and EU values and initiatives, in the areas related to environment and climate change.

The deadline for the applications is October 23th, 2015

The presentation of the first digital map of the waste landfills in Albania

On Friday, 16 October, under the auspices of the Minister Englantina Gjermeni, Ministry of Urban Development organized a national meeting for the presentation of the "digital map of urban waste landfills in Albania". The process was conducted by the Ministry of Urban Development with financial and technical support of REC Albania in the framework of the program SENIOR-A. Present at the event were the Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Niko Peleshi, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Mr. Edmond Haxhinasto, Minister of Innovation and Public Administration Mrs. Milena Harito, donors, investors, representatives of the central government, local government and civil society.
The Minister Gjermeni in her speech said that the new digital map is the product of two years’ work in the Ministry of Urban Development as a result of the united efforts of a highly qualified staff.
Mrs. Gjermeni further added that the Ministry of Urban Development is ready to provide an unconditional assistance to the 61 new municipalities, for ensuring protection of the environment from pollution and to guarantee a stable and integrated development. Even the Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Niko Peleshi stressed that this map will serve more to the local government units, which are also developing general local plans. This new digital map highlights the situation on existing landfills across the country and will be used as a planning tool for determining the spots, where are aimed to be built new landfills and to follow developments on the ground, in the waste sector.
Mr. Mihallaq Qirjo, the Director of REC Albania stressed the real possibility that this map provides not only regarding territorial planning but also the assistance it gives to various actors, particularly NGOs of civil society that can now identify, track and also compile projects for the benefit of the rehabilitation pollution in these areas. Also, CSOs should play a major role in raising awareness in the community living near and around these waste landfills, already clearly identified. This map will also serve to the local government units for the identification of landfills that are inherit in the territory of the new municipalities, expanded after the administrative-territorial reform.
The map helps even to determine the areas where landfills will be built according to the plans and directives at the national level and to identify the areas that do not have proper service because of a lack of supporting infrastructure, or rural character. The Digital Map of waste is an interactive map with more valuable information on location, proximity to reestablish sources and residential areas, the situation frame, the field layout, etc. There are reflected 89 unsanitary landfills and 3 sanitary landfills. For its fulfillment were performed field visits conducted in 65 municipalities and 31 communes. Map data will help the citizens to be informed on the distances from residential areas, lakes, rivers, and other natural resources of national significance; on new developments in the field of waste as rehabilitation of landfills and construction of landfills. Information will raise awareness of civil society and the influence of stakeholders in governance.
Map is expected to be further developed and it can be publicly accessed at the appropriate domain: http://mbetjet.zhvillimiurban.gov.al/
At the same time, the map will serve to the central institutions to collect informative database while updating the strategic and development documents of new environmental policies; orientation in establishing the location of infrastructure projects at national and regional level as well as the orientation of the donors and other developers to invest in this area. The information it contains, is available online and is provided through official communication between the Ministry of Urban Development and the Local Government Units. 

Shared mobility

Promotional campaign targets Hungary and neighbouring countries

A successful two-year campaign to promote mobility sharing in Hungary and surrounding countries concluded in June. Car sharing, carpooling and bike sharing, along with other innovative mobility services, appear to be opening up as niche markets in the region. There are a number of individual motorised transport alternatives that offer sustainability credits, while at the same time making it more fun to get from point "A" to point "B". The introduction of different schemes for sharing vehicles guarantees their more efficient use, supports greenhouse gas emission reduction, decreases the number of privately owned vehicles, and opens up more urban space for public use. And the list goes on.

Stakeholder consultation

Hungary's first car sharing service, Avalon Car(e)Sharing, brought up the initiative initially, while the Regional Environmental Center (REC) contributed to the initiative's  success by deploying experts from its Smart Cities and Mobility team. The initiative got off the ground with a series of meetings between municipal politicians and public transport companies in Budapest, Bratislava and Krakow. Afterwards, information days, open air roadshows and conference presentations were organised in Hungary, Slovakia and Poland to raise public awareness. Several study tours were also organised for Avalon management personnel during which they were able to take on board European good practices.

Legacy

Mobilising a wide range of transport stakeholders, a sharing mobility roundtable was held in December 2014 in Budapest. The meeting resulted the preparation of a Hungary-based association to continue with work that the REC has started.

Car sharing

Car sharing (US)-or car clubs (UK)-is a model in which people rent cars for short periods of time, often by the hour. The scheme is attractive to people who make only occasional use of a vehicle, but also to others who might like to have access to a different vehicle type than the one they use from day to day. The rental organisation might be a commercial business, but also might be run a public company, public agency, cooperative or ad hoc group.

Bike sharing

A bicycle sharing system, public bicycle system, or bike share scheme, is a service in which bicycles are made available for shared use to individuals on a very short-term basis. Bike share schemes allow people to borrow a bike from point "A" and return it at point "B", which allows each bike to serve several users per day.  Many bike share systems offer subscriptions that make the first 30-45 minutes of use either free or very inexpensive. In most cities with a bike share system, casual riding over several hours or days is better served by bicycle rental than by bike share.  Many systems employ smartphone mapping apps to show nearby stations with available bikes and open docks.

Carpooling

Carpooling (also ride-sharing, lift-sharing and covoiturage) is the sharing of car journeys so that more than one person travels in a car. By having more people using one vehicle, carpooling reduces each person's travel costs-such as fuel costs and tolls-and eases the stress of driving. Carpooling is a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way to travel, as sharing journeys reduces carbon emissions, traffic congestion on the roads, and the need for parking spaces. Authorities often encourage carpooling, especially during periods of high pollution periods or high fuel prices.

Business of the future

According to a 2014 study, conducted by RolandBerger Strategy Consultants, in terms of revenue, the mobility sector is one of the fastest-growing segments of the shared economy in terms of revenue (20 to 35 percent annually). The study also finds that 50 percent of car owners in industrialised countries would, in principle, share their vehicle with others.

This segment of the economy is using technologies of the future such as e-vehicles, satellite-based tracking, intelligent vehicle booking and billing software etc. Large growth potential and the use of digital technologies are giving many start-ups a chance to find their place in the world of socially innovative urban services, thereby helping to shrink our ecological footprint while satisfying growing mobility needs.

Environment Today 146 - A green horizon for a new administration

This edition of the Environment Today magazine is dedicated to the local elections and inclusion of environmental alternatives to election programs of new candidates for mayor.
"... These issues require necessarily a leader who sees beyond today and has a clear multi-year development plan, which must meet administrations over the years. He / she must show to its citizens the distant horizon and be engaged seriously with them on the road towards a new horizon. The success of new administration can not be measured in a decade, but the failure will appear immediately ... ". This part is detached from one of main writings in this number, dedicated to the inclusion of green policies in the new administrative local governance for a better economic and social development of our country, in accordance with environmental sustainable development.

Among the main articles in this issue, we mention the "Greening of Elections and green policies in coming up elections," prepared by Mr. Xhemal Mato, referring to the 2007 campaign for "greening of local elections". In the article is reflected the work done by civil society at the time for involving environmental considerations into candidates' electoral programs, presenting the results of that campaign as a reminder to today candidates. While the opinions of three members of the Municipality Councils from Shkodra, Elbasan and Vlora ...a local unit pro environment... come as a suggestion for new candidates for mayor.

In actuality section takes place the scandal with pharmaceutical waste near Bovilla lake and presentation of the Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change of Tirana municipality, related to floods and hot waves.
Among the activities of REC, in this edition is reflected the 25th anniversary of the Regional Environmental Center, which marks a very important historical moment in the life of the organization and its future.

In news from world a special place is devoted to "Road to Paris 2015" - UN Conference on Climate Change, where on occasion of it scientists call to the leaders around the world that in the talks will be held in Paris in May 2015, to sign the action plan with eight points about climate change

Albania hosts Regional NGO Forum on Turning Regional Challenges into Opportunities

The REC implements a number of support projects in SEE countries to help environmental CSOs to address the main environmental challenges in the SEE region, and to strengthen capacities and preparedness in the process of EU integration. In this context that the Regional NGO Forum on Turning Regional Challenges into Opportunities took place in Durres, Albania on May 12-13, 2015. NGOs from Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo*, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia participated in the event.

The main specific objective of the forum was to discuss climate change-related challenges, in addition to ways that NGOs can contribution to transboundary natural resource management.

The opening speech was delivered by Mihallaq Qirjo, director of REC Albania, the event's host organisation. He welcomed the participants and thanked them for their willingness to engage in discussions at this level. Regional Director of REC SEE, Gordana Kozuharova, also delivered a welcoming address to the participants. She gave a brief presentation of climate change impacts and the initiatives that the REC has undertaken and implemented to tackle this global problem-one successful example of which is integrated management of the Drini River, in the context of the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC).

Representatives of environmental organisations brought various cases from their home countries regarding cooperation between communities and environmental NGOs on cross-border projects. Participants from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia presented their experience with river basin management plans in their country. The representative of Macedonian organisation Eco Guerilla, Arian Xhaferi, emphasised environmental problems facing the city of Tetovo as a result of illegally discharged pollution.

REC Serbia representative Ivana Tomasevic presented a simulation of climate change impacts, prepared in cooperation with a number of environmental NGOs from Serbia. Four other environmental organisations discussed their approaches to climate change issues in their countries, and described the tools they use to cope with the situation. Boris Jokic from Eko Element, an NGO in Bosnia and Herzegovina, shared his experience with monitoring water resources and the impact that climate change has on these resources. Ermelinda Mahmutaj from EDEN Center in Albania gave a presentation titled "An Eye on the Environment" that dealt with environmental watchdogging and other issues related to climate change. Green Home representative Azra Vukovic outlined a number of projects that her organisation carried out in connection with energy efficiency in Montenegro.

The programme continued with presentations and group discussions, providing a good opportunity share experiences and identify partners with whom to implement regional projects.

The event was organised within the programme "Support to Civil Society Organisations in the field of Environment in Albania (SENiOR-A)", implemented by REC Albania with financial support from the Government of Sweden.

6 arrests in nationwide waste dumping raids

6 people were arrested during dawn raids today following a nationwide Environment Agency probe into illegal dumping of waste.

6 people were arrested during dawn raids today (Tuesday 10th March) - 4 for suspected waste offences and 2 for suspected human trafficking. This follows a nationwide Environment Agency probe into the illegal dumping of potentially hazardous waste at illegal waste sites in Bristol, Scunthorpe and Newark in Nottinghamshire. The investigation is also looking at links to an abandoned waste transfer site in Orpington run by operators Waste4Fuel.

More than 40 Environment Agency investigators, supported by Humberside, Nottinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police, swooped on suspects home addresses and the sites as part of Operation Encore.

Environment Agency crime staff from across England, including a number in specialist breathing apparatus, have been brought in to support the operation due to its large scale.

The police were deployed to support with arrests, access properties and assist with collecting evidence. The Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Social Services were also involved as part of this multi-agency operation, due to a suspected number of illegal workers at the sites.

The 6 people arrested have all been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

The investigation is ongoing and expected to take many more months to complete.

Andy Higham, Head of the Environment Agency’s National Investigation Team, said:

The Environment Agency will relentlessly target organised criminals who risk damaging health, livelihoods and the environment by trading in illegal and hazardous waste for criminal gain.

Following a covert Environment Agency investigation we have worked with the police to arrest these suspects and secure evidence. Our enquiries will continue to probe the full extent of suspected offending.

We take waste crime extremely seriously. This is a live and complex investigation, anyone with further information should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Resource Management Minister Dan Rogerson said:

Waste crime causes problems for local communities, undermines legitimate businesses and costs taxpayers. While it is not appropriate to comment on these arrests, we support the Environment Agency in taking a robust approach to tackle crime.

Earlier flood protection for thousands of homes across England

Budget announcement: More than 31,000 homes and businesses will be better protected from the risk of flooding sooner

The government is bringing forward more than £140 million of the £2.3 billion six-year flood defence programme announced in December to better protect more than 31,000 homes and businesses from flooding sooner than planned.

47 brand new schemes have been given the green light as part of the long-term investment programme and work will start on another 165 flood defence projects earlier than previously announced.

The 6 year programme represents a real terms increase in expenditure and will reduce flood risk across the country by 5%.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said:

We’ve already protected 230,000 homes from the risk of flooding and coastal erosion so far this Parliament.

We’re now bringing forward more money to protect thousands more homes and businesses sooner than originally planned, as part of our long-term economic plan.

Projects include;

• In the North West, more than 2100 properties will be protected by the development of the Fairhaven and Church Scar Coast Protection scheme in Fylde, which is now scheduled to start three years earlier than previously planned.
• In the South East, the Southsea Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management scheme - which will improve the standard of protection to more than 2,400 properties in Portsmouth - is now scheduled to start development more than 2 years earlier.
• In Yorkshire, the development of the River Foss Flood Risk Management project will help protect up to 1,500 properties from surface water and river flooding.

Environment Agency Chairman Sir Philip Dilley said:

This programme of more than 1,500 flood risk management schemes will significantly reduce flood risk to more than 300,000 properties in England by 2021, benefiting people, the economy and the environment. Government funding has also been brought forward meaning that over 30,000 properties will benefit from reduced flood risk earlier than originally planned.

Our priority is to do as much as we can with every pound of funding from government and local partners, but of course the risk of flooding can never be entirely eliminated. With one in six homes in England at risk of flooding, I encourage people to check their flood risk and sign up to the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service.

Szentendre considers introducing bike-sharing scheme

REC staff members pitch idea to City Hall

There's some news about a new bike-sharing scheme in Szentendre - good news, and better news!

The idea germinated last fall while the REC's Smart Cities and Mobility Topic Area team was investigating ways to reduce the environmental impact of the REC's own commuting habits, as more than half of the staff live in Budapest. The HEV (suburban rail system) and Volan buses offer a sustainable transport option for Budapest-bound commuters, but at the Szentendre end there's no public transport service for the "last mile".  Ad-hoc car-pooling groups appeared, but a big number still commute in single-occupancy vehicles. Even though many of them would like to come by bike, currently it's not a terribly attractive option as it's 22 kilometres each way from downtown. There is limited capacity for loading your bike on the HEV, not to mention that transporting a bike costs a full extra ticket!

Szentendre itself is a bedroom community: more than half of the town's working population of about 11,000 people work in Budapest and face exactly the same issues as REC employees. An extension to the Budapest Business School (BGF) is now under construction near the REC's offices - about two kilometres north of the HEV - further increasing the area's mobility needs.

A bike-share system could be an effective and relatively inexpensive way to solve this. If the system were cleverly integrated with the HEV and BuBi (the Budapest bike-share system launched last fall), it would allow commuters to bike at both ends of their HEV journey without having to pack their own rides, thus creating an environment-friendly, healthy transport option door to door.

But bike sharing would be good for more than commuters. Szentendre has outstanding tourist attractions and a bike-sharing system would give tourists a fun way to tour the city and its environs, including the Pap Sziget recreation area north of town and the Skanzen folkloric museum a few kilometres away in the Pilis foothills.

Based on these rough ideas, the REC applied for funding from the CIVITAS Initiative and will conduct an in-depth feasibility study by the end of June. The plan is to investigate the market potential, funding sources and operational model - including possibilities for integration with the BuBi system - and then analyse whether the proposal would be financially feasible, and under what conditions.

The interest that Szentendre City Hall has shown is very encouraging: four city experts at the kick-off meeting, supplemented by a team from the Centre for Budapest Transport (BKK/BuBi), are dedicated to supporting the project. In order to achieve the best possible results, the project team will rely not only on experts, but will actively involve the local biking community, set up an interactive Szentendre bike-share website, and conduct large-scale market research among citizens to hear their opinions.

REC launches new PRTR project in SEE and Moldova

April , 2015

The REC officially kicked off a new project, "Support Establishment and Advancement of Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTRs) in Western Balkan Countries and in Moldova", on March 1, 2015. The project will be implemented for two years with financial support from the German Federal Agency for Environment within the Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP) for Environmental Protection in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

The project will focus its main activities on four parties to the UNECE Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR Protocol): Albania, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Moldova, with activities assisting these countries in fulfilling their obligations by putting operational PRTRs in place and improving the efficiency of already functioning PRTRs.

In the other three countries in South-Eastern Europe (SEE): Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Kosovo*, stakeholder discussions will be held to give impetus to the PRTR development process, to discuss and evaluate the current situation, and to develop proposals for the next steps.

A regional experience-sharing workshop will be organised in the project's second year to support all project partners in exchanging information, sharing knowledge with each other and EU countries, and learning from best practices.

Project activities will be implemented in line with the PRTR Protocol and the EU's E-PRTR system, and also in close cooperation with national PRTR focal points, respective ministries and agencies of the project countries, as well as with the PRTR Protocol and Aarhus Convention bodies and Secretariat. Synergies will be developed with other ongoing PRTR projects and former REC PRTR project results.

More information about the project can be found here.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

REC, Sida organise study tour to Czech Republic for Serbian CSOs

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY: Serbian study tour participants assemble in front of Brno's Ecological Institute Veronica.

A study tour to the Czech Republic for representatives of Serbian civil society organisations currently implementing grant projects awarded through the Supporting Environmental Civil Society in Serbia (SENSE) project took place on March 23-27, 2015. The visit was organised by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The study tour enabled CSOs from Serbia to exchange experiences with EU organisations and learn about their impact on decision making, how to establish dialogue with government bodies, and about various organisational functions (e.g. financing, human resource management, organisational structure, leadership, membership issues, engagement of volunteers, concrete actions and campaigns, and overcoming obstacles). The event also provided an excellent opportunity for both Serbian and Czech environmental organisations to establish personal connections with each other that could lead to fruitful cooperation and joint initiatives in future.

During the first day of the study tour, Serbian CSOs visited the Czech Ministry of Environment and talked with officials in charge of various sectors, such as finance, international projects and cooperation, nature protection and cooperation with civil society.

Serbian CSOs also met and connected with international environmental organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the National Network of Healthy Cities, and People in Need, as well as with the most important national civil society organisations such as Green Circle (an association of 28 environmental NGOs), local partner organisations of the National Association of Nature Protectors, Frank Bold, and Ecological Institute Veronica.

Participants then visited the VIA Foundation and the Partnership Foundation, two groups that support the work of NGOs.

Two excursions to protected areas (Cesky kras and hady) were organised in order to demonstrate how Czech NGOs support management of natural protected areas.

The SENSE project started in December 2012 and will run through Ocotber 2015.

A Look at the Landscape in 2015

Happy New Year!

As we begin a new year we are excited and deeply grateful to count on the continued support of friends like you!

Executive Director Barbara Vallarino at work planting native tree seedlings in Honduras (Photo: Nicholas Shufro)

Before 2015 sweeps us away, we want to thank you one last time for helping make 2014 a memorable, impactful year for EcoLogic and the communities we work with in Central America and Mexico. We put together a slideshow of the amazing things you helped us accomplish last year, and you can view it here!

Working with local communities to achieve our shared vision of a world where rural and indigenous communities lead in the creation of a sustainable world for both people and nature remains our true north.

REC, Sida organise study tour to Czech Republic for Serbian CSOs

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY: Serbian study tour participants assemble in front of Brno's Ecological Institute Veronica.

A study tour to the Czech Republic for representatives of Serbian civil society organisations currently implementing grant projects awarded through the Supporting Environmental Civil Society in Serbia (SENSE) project took place on March 23-27, 2015. The visit was organised by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The study tour enabled CSOs from Serbia to exchange experiences with EU organisations and learn about their impact on decision making, how to establish dialogue with government bodies, and about various organisational functions (e.g. financing, human resource management, organisational structure, leadership, membership issues, engagement of volunteers, concrete actions and campaigns, and overcoming obstacles). The event also provided an excellent opportunity for both Serbian and Czech environmental organisations to establish personal connections with each other that could lead to fruitful cooperation and joint initiatives in future.

During the first day of the study tour, Serbian CSOs visited the Czech Ministry of Environment and talked with officials in charge of various sectors, such as finance, international projects and cooperation, nature protection and cooperation with civil society.

Serbian CSOs also met and connected with international environmental organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the National Network of Healthy Cities, and People in Need, as well as with the most important national civil society organisations such as Green Circle (an association of 28 environmental NGOs), local partner organisations of the National Association of Nature Protectors, Frank Bold, and Ecological Institute Veronica.

Participants then visited the VIA Foundation and the Partnership Foundation, two groups that support the work of NGOs.

Two excursions to protected areas (Cesky kras and hady) were organised in order to demonstrate how Czech NGOs support management of natural protected areas.

The SENSE project started in December 2012 and will run through Ocotber 2015.

Managing Natural Resources and Combating Environmental Crime

Themis is an informal network of national authorities responsible for natural resources management and protection, and for the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, in particular on nature conservation, in EU candidate countries, potential candidates and countries with EU Association Agreements in South Eastern Europe. The network’s mission is to protect the environment by improving the capacities of its members to implement and enforce legislation on natural resources management and forestry, and to combat environmental crimes. This newly designed website has been created for the second phase of the Themis project, which began in October 2014.

The REC's Law Development, Enforcement and Compliance Topic Area implements the Themis project and provides secretariat services for the network. Themis has been funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation since its launch in November 2010.

Enhancing EHSS Skills and Competence of Local Consultants in EBRD Countries of Operation

Together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Monkey Forest Consulting the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) is organising a series of capacity building workshops for local environmental consultancies in Albania, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Mongolia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine. The workshops will focus on the following:

(i) The EBRD's environmental, health and safety, and social (EHSS) policies, procedures and due diligence requirements, including project monitoring,

(ii) A summary of the International Financial Institution (IFI) banking and investment processes, clarifying the differences in the environmental and social requirements related to different investment types,

(iii) The legal mechanisms through which the EBRD and others IFIs agree on, covenant, and ensure actions that are designed to manage risk and drive compliance with their respective policies,

(iv) Sector-specific EHSS issues faced by IFI clients, and

(v) Basic EHSS consulting skills, including the contracting requirements of the EBRD.

The workshops will include the participation of both EBRD staff and senior international environmental, social and health and safety experts. The planned workshops dates are as follows:

Date Location

23-27 February Tirana International Hotel; Tirana, Albania,

2-6 March Panorama Zagreb Hotel; Zagreb, Croatia,

13-17 April Ankara, Turkey

18-22 May Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

25-29 May, Kiev, Ukraine

15-19 June Belgrade, Serbia

TBD Skopje,former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

TBD Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

REC Chinese and European practices: Lectures now available for viewing!

E-learning course on urban sustainability and low-carbon development
ec2
Cities around the world are increasingly facing the challenges of mass urbanisation. Rapid urban growth, higher energy demand and consumption, and rising levels of pollution are driving the need for new patterns and models, in which sustainable development solutions are a key element in advancing urbanisation and managing its after effects. Focusing on new, decentralised energy technologies and enhancing the share of renewable energies can help to safeguard the environment and human wellbeing, while at the same time accelerating positive change in both urban and rural areas.
The fourth component of the EC2 e-learning training course introduces the Demo Zone Toolkit, which was designed to support local governments and institutions in China in the fields of energy and urban development and regeneration. The toolkit comprises a set of flexible tools for decision making, involvement and partnership, technology development and business planning. In addition, the e-learning course presents the Low-Carbon Model Towns (LCMT) initiative of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which is actively supported by the Chinese Government. The LCMT initiative aims to combine energy-efficient buildings, means of transportation and power systems in order to create communities in which reductions in energy use, lower carbon emissions and healthy living conditions are dovetailed in an affordable way.
The e-learning programme features two interconnected series focusing on the Demo Zone Toolkit and the APEC LCMT initiative. It also integrates two levels of engagement, according to the envisaged goals and the target audiences. The programme comprises keynote addresses, thematic presentations and supporting training materials. Key experts introduce the key aspects of the Demo Zone Toolkit; while Chinese and European experts present best practice examples, challenges and difficulties relating to the LCMT.
Training materials are available for Chinese and European stakeholders and experts from the public, business and finance sectors, creating an opportunity for a wider audience to find out about the showcased activities and to explore possibilities for cooperation. Visit http://ec2.rec.org/e-learning/ and join the lectures!

Ice loss sends Alaskan temperatures soaring by 7C

Scientists analysing more than three decades of weather data for the northern Alaskan outpost of Barrow have linked 7C rise to the decline in Arctic sea ice, reports Climate News Network

If you doubt that parts of the planet really are warming, talk to residents of Barrow, the Alaskan town that is the most northerly settlement in the US.

In the last 34 years, the average October temperature in Barrow has risen by more than 7°C − an increase that, on its own, makes a mockery of international efforts to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2°C above their pre-industrial levels.

A study by scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks analysed several decades of weather information. These show that temperature trends are closely linked to sea ice concentrations, which have been recorded since 1979, when accurate satellite measurements began.

The study, published in the Open Atmospheric Science Journal, traces what has happened to average annual and monthly temperatures in Barrow from 1979 to 2012.

In that period, the average annual temperature rose by 2.7C. But the November increase was far higher − more than six degrees. And October was the most striking of all, with the month’s average temperature 7.2C higher in 2012 than in 1979.

Gerd Wendler, the lead author of the study and a professor emeritus at the university’s International Arctic Research Center, said he was “astonished”. He told the Alaska Dispatch News: “I think I have never, anywhere, seen such a large increase in temperature over such a short period.”

The study shows that October is the month when sea ice loss in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, which border northern Alaska, has been highest. The authors say these falling ice levels over the Arctic Ocean, after the maximum annual melt, are the reason for the temperature rise. “You cannot explain it by anything else,” Wendler said.

They have ruled out the effects of sunlight because, by October, the sun is low in the sky over Barrow and, by late November, does not appear above the horizon.

Instead, they say, the north wind picks up stored heat from water that is no longer ice-covered in late autumn and releases it into the atmosphere.

At first sight, the team’s findings are remarkable, as Barrow’s 7.2C rise in 34 years compares with a global average temperature increase over the past century of up to about 0.8°C. But what’s happening may be a little more complex.

The fact that temperatures in and around Barrow are rising fast is no surprise, as the Arctic itself is known to be warming faster than most of the rest of the world.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says observed warming in parts of northern Alaska was up to 3C from the early 1980s to the mid-2000s. It also concludes that about two-thirds of the last century’s global temperature increase has occurred since 1980.

But Barrow’s long-term temperature rise has not been uniform, the Fairbanks study says. Its analysis of weather records between 1921 and 2012 shows a much more modest average annual rise, of 1.51C. In 2014, the city experienced the coolest summer day recorded − 14.5C.

So one conclusion is to remember just how complex a system the climate is − and how even 34 years may be too short a time to allow for any certainty.

“Environment Today” Magazine 145 – “No more time to play…!”

"Studies show that more than half of victims from natural disasters and most of economic damages are result of floods, local fires, soil erosion in certain areas, or hot weather and small earthquakes, which in most of the time are not reported: mainly small tragedies in small communities."
This sentence is from the editorial of “Environment Today” magazine, issue 145, which is dedicated to natural disasters and their damages on environment.

In preparation of this number have contributed, in particular, well-known experts in field of civil emergencies and disasters, as Mr. Shemshi Premçi, director of Civil Emergencies at the Ministry of Interior; Ms. Miranda Deda by the National Natural Hazards Forecast near IGJEUM; Mr. Polikron Horeshka, specialist in the Department of industrial accidents and waste in the Ministry of Environment; and Fatos Xhengo from the program for preparation and disaster response near Albanian Red Cross.
"Civil Emergency in Albania: ... between limited capacities and lack of awareness"; "A Rapid Assessment Report after floods caused by Vjosa river "; "The prevention of natural disasters - a possible mission"; "Industrial threats in Albania: the invisible risk!" etc., are some of the main articles inside this number.

Among REC activities presented here we emphasize the article "Strong and prosperous communities along the international rivers", which reflects the international meeting held in Shkodra, on 9-10 March 2015, in framework of CRESSIDA program, with main goal to discuss local challenges and opportunities for fair management of water resources.
In the rubric from the world a special place is dedicated to the "Earth Hour 2015" movement with the slogan for this year: Change climate change, where Albania is participating for the 7th time in this event.

International river communities focus on water assets and related challenges

"A water source is an indisputable asset, a source of life and development for people. Therefore it should be respected and treated with care, in order to continue to be a source of life even for future generations. Everyone, together, regardless of state borders, is united under the same attitude: water should be managed for the benefit of all parties, and the quality of nature should not be affected nor alienated!" These words were spoken by Ruzhdi Lata, mayor of Greater Debar, at an international meeting held on March 9-10, 2015, in Shkodra, in the framework of the programme "Local Community Resilience for the Sustainable Development of River Basins in South Eastern Europe" (CRESSIDA).

The same commitment was shared by the deputy ministers of environment from Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Oliana Ifti and Stevo Temelkovski. They presented a broader overview of efforts in their respective countries and of bilateral relations, which are receiving today unprecedented levels of attention and interest.

As part of this programme, a second meeting was held in Sarajevo on March 12-13, 2015, and the impact of recent flooding in the region was an immediate topic of concern.

"The flooding in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia that occurred last year clearly revealed the unpreparedness of local communities to cope with natural disasters and minimise the negative consequences in terms of human lives and economic costs", said Zineta Mujakovic from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Both events brought together more than 100 national and local-level representatives from the Drini River basin (Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo*) and Drina River basin (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia). The focus was on discussing local challenges and opportunities for the fair management of water resources and translating the objectives of sustainable development at country level alongside these two important rivers in South East Europe. This was a follow-up activity to the 2014 Course for Sustainability, organised in Venice by the REC's Sustainable Development Academy, and was intended to foster cooperation between local communities.

The goal was to exchange opinions and confront the challenges faced in 18 municipalities in the six countries that lie along the Drini and Drina Rivers. These municipalities will be CRESSIDA programme beneficiaries over the next five years.

"A long journey starts with a single step": Lek Kadeli, assistant administrator at the Research and Development Office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) based his comments and suggestions on this ancient Chinese proverb. He urged communities to be proactive and to focus on key local development issues using as many experiences and available tools as possible. Based on the municipalities' needs, USEPA's committed researchers have available a modern set of practical working tools for officials responsible for water resources management.

During working group sessions, local government officials identified a range of issues related to water management plans, which will help in the development of beneficial strategies. A similar activity took place later that same week in Sarajevo, where local representatives from Drina River municipalities discussed challenges and sought healthy solutions for their communities.

The CRESSIDA international programme is implemented by the REC in cooperation with, and supported by, USEPA.

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Jordan hosts WATER SUM project workshop

Jordan hosted a national workshop for the project "Sustainable Use of Transboundary Water Resources and Water Security Management" WATER SUM) at the Dead Sea Spa Hotel on March 15-16, 2015.

More than 60 participants, representing national bodies and institutions responsible for water management, municipalities from across Jordan, academia and businesses, discussed start-up activities of this three-year (2014-2017), EUR 6 million project. The project is being implemented by the REC and is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

Basem Telfah, secretary general of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation of Jordan, confirmed the full support of his ministry and expressed hopes that WATER SUM will contribute towards addressing the main pressures related to scarce water resources and increased water demand in Jordan.

Anders Jagerskog, counsellor at the Embassy of Sweden in Amman and responsible for regional development cooperation and water resources, announced the continuation of Swedish support to countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) over the next five years.

Radoje Lausevic, REC deputy executive director and WATER SUM project director, introduced the REC's experts and management team who will work with stakeholders in Jordan within the framework of two project components: Integrated Water Resources Management Good Practices and Knowledge Transfer (WATER POrT) and Water and Security (WaSe). He also announced the launch of the WATER SUM web portal, which will serve as the project's main information and knowledge-sharing tool.

The two-day workshop presented participants with an excellent opportunity to interact and discuss the planned list of actions and to agree on the next steps.

Chinese and European practices: Lectures now available for viewing!

E-learning course on urban sustainability and low-carbon development

Cities around the world are increasingly facing the challenges of mass urbanisation. Rapid urban growth, higher energy demand and consumption, and rising levels of pollution are driving the need for new patterns and models, in which sustainable development solutions are a key element in advancing urbanisation and managing its after effects. Focusing on new, decentralised energy technologies and enhancing the share of renewable energies can help to safeguard the environment and human wellbeing, while at the same time accelerating positive change in both urban and rural areas.

The fourth component of the EC2 e-learning training course introduces the Demo Zone Toolkit, which was designed to support local governments and institutions in China in the fields of energy and urban development and regeneration. The toolkit comprises a set of flexible tools for decision making, involvement and partnership, technology development and business planning. In addition, the e-learning course presents the Low-Carbon Model Towns (LCMT) initiative of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which is actively supported by the Chinese Government. The LCMT initiative aims to combine energy-efficient buildings, means of transportation and power systems in order to create communities in which reductions in energy use, lower carbon emissions and healthy living conditions are dovetailed in an affordable way.

The e-learning programme features two interconnected series focusing on the Demo Zone Toolkit and the APEC LCMT initiative. It also integrates two levels of engagement, according to the envisaged goals and the target audiences. The programme comprises keynote addresses, thematic presentations and supporting training materials. Key experts introduce the key aspects of the Demo Zone Toolkit; while Chinese and European experts present best practice examples, challenges and difficulties relating to the LCMT.

Training materials are available for Chinese and European stakeholders and experts from the public, business and finance sectors, creating an opportunity for a wider audience to find out about the showcased activities and to explore possibilities for cooperation. Visithttp://ec2.rec.org/e-learning/ and join the lectures!

Raport i shpejtë vlerësimi pas përmbytjes së shkaktuar nga lumi Vjosë - shkurt 2015

Në periudhën 31 janar – 5 shkurt 2015, si pasojë e reshjeve të shumta të shiut (>200 mm shi për 24 orë), lumenjtë në pjesën jug-perëndimore të vendit dolën nga shtretërit e tyre duke shkaktuar përmbytje masive në Qarkun e Fierit, të Vlorës dhe të Beratit. Përmbytjet ishin më të theksuara në zonën fushore dhe në deltën e lumit Vjosë, ku mbi 17.000 ha tokë u mbulua nga uji në një lartësi që në disa vende shkonte deri në 3 metra. Kjo ngjarje shënoi nivelin më të lartë historik të nivelit të ujit në Vjosë në 900 cm pranë Përmetit.

Qendra Rajonale e Mjedisit (REC) Shqipëri, duke marrë shkas nga kjo përmbytje, ndërmorri nismën e hartimit të një raporti të shpejtë vlerësues të gjendjes.

Raporti kishte si qëllim të identifikojë, në mënyrë të shpejtë, disa nga pasojat e përmbytjes, reagimin qytetar dhe çështjet që çuan në shtrirjen e përmbytjes në shkallën që ajo ndodhi. Në këtë raport jepen disa të dhëna historike, të cilat do mund të shërbejnë për të krahasuar ndodhitë e ndryshme, shkaqet dhe ndryshueshmërinë në pasojat që kanë shkaktuar.

Raporti nuk shërben si një studim shkencor, por më shumë si një dokument profesional për të interesuarit të cilët dëshirojnë të thellohen më tej në vlerësimin e gjendjes dhe të masave që duhen marrë në të ardhmen.

Për përgatitjen e këtij raporti u angazhuan ekspertët Molnar Kolaneci dhe Xhemal Mato, me ndihmën e Eduart Cani, në kuadër të programit SENiOR-A “Mbështetje për Organizatat Mjedisore të Shoqërisë Civile në Shqipëri”.

Puna u përqëndrua në dy drejtime: puna në terren që konsistoi në hetimin e zonës së përmbytur në bazë të dokumentacionit vizual dhe audiovizual; dhe puna në zyrë, e fokusuar në interpretimin e fakteve dhe të imazheve, në hartimin e raportit dhe në ndërtimin e materialeve informative fakt-nxjerrëse.

Video e raportit në këtë link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI3SbF5tZas

Mjedisi Sot 145 – S’ka më kohë për të luajtur…!

“Studimet dëshmojnë se më shumë se gjysma e viktimave të katastrofave natyrore dhe shumica e dëmeve ekonomike janë pasojë e përmbytjeve, e zjarreve lokale, e rrëshqitjeve të dherave në zona të caktuara, apo e motit të nxehtë dhe tërmeteve të vogla, që në të shumtën e kohës nuk raportohen: kryesisht tragjedi të vogla në komunitete të vogla.”
Kjo pjesë është shkëputur nga editoriali i numrit të rradhës së revistës Mjedisi Sot 145, i cili këtë herë i dedikohet katastrofave natyrore dhe dëmeve të tyre në mjedis.

Në përgatitjen e këtij numri kanë kontribuar, në mënyrë të vecantë, emra të njohur në cështjet e emergjencave civile dhe përballimin e katastrofave, si z. Shemsi Premci drejtor i Emergjencave Civile në Ministrinë e Brendshme; znj. Miranda Deda nga Qendra Kombëtare e Parashikimit të Rreziqeve Natyrore pranë IGJEUM; z. Polikron Horeshka, specialist në Sektorin e mbetjeve dhe aksidenteve industrial në Ministrinë e Mjedisit; dhe Fatos Xhengo nga Programi i përgatitjes dhe i përgjigjes në raste katastrofash pranë Kryqit të Kuq Shqiptar.
“Emergjencat Civile në Shqipëri: ... mes kapaciteteve të kufizuara dhe mungesës së ndërgjegjësimit”; “Raport i shpejtë vlerësimi pas përmbytjes së shkaktuar nga lumi Vjosë”; “Parandalimi i katastrofave natyrore - një mision i mundur”; “Kërcënimet industriale në Shqipëri: Rreziku i padukshëm!” etj., janë disa nga shkrimet e pasqyruara në brendësi të tematikës së këtij numri.

Ndër aktivitete e REC të pasqyruara në këtë numër përmendin shkrimin “Komunitete të forta e të begata përgjatë lumenjve ndërkombëtarë”, i cili pasqyron takimin ndërkombëtar të mbajtur në Shkodër, më 9-10 mars 2015, në kuadër të programit CRESSIDA, me qëllimin për të diskutuar mbi sfidat lokale dhe mundësitë për menaxhimin e drejtë të burimeve ujore.
Në lajmet nga bota një vend i vecantë i është kushtuar lëvizjes “Ora e Tokës 2015” me sloganin: Ndrysho ndryshimet e klimës, ku Shqipëria merr pjesë për herë të 7-të në këtë eveniment.