Building Bridges

Presentation of The Regional Environmental Center

for Central and Eastern Europe

Marta Szigeti BonifertExecutive Director

Our Mission

• “(…) The REC is a non-partisan, non-advocacy, not-for-profit international organisation with a mission to assist in solving environmental problems (…)”

• The REC is legally based on a charter signed by the governments of 28 countries and the European Commission

• International organisation

• 200+ staff (some 30 nationalities)• Over 300 running projects• 12 million Euro annual turnover

REC Video – Click!

Mission in Practice

• RESEARCHING AND MONITORING • ASSESSING THE NEEDS

• RAISING AWARENESS• PROVIDING INFORMATION

• PROMOTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION• BUILDING CAPACITY

• PROVIDING CONSULTATIVE SUPPORT TO ACTUAL PROBLEM SOLVING

Donors •The European Commission •The governments of

Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States

•Other inter-governmental and private institutions

Donations by Geographic Location

1990-2002

22%EuropeanCommission

7%Others

18%Japan

36%European

Countries

17%USA

Bridges

Government

LocalGovernments

Business

Citizens

NGOs

The REC

Government NGOs

LocalGovernments

Business

Citizens

Bridges – Across Borders

The REC Network

• Head OfficeSzentendre, Hungary

• 16 COs

• 3 FOs• Operations beyond Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)

Partnership in focus…

• The REC fulfils its mission by promoting cooperation of all environmental stakeholders, and by supporting the free exchange of information and public participation in environmental decision making

• The REC has developed, promoted and implemented numerous models and tools to address environmental challenges and sustainability, such as – stakeholder engagement– clearing house mechanism– capacity building – regional/international partnerships

Partnerships – Energy• REEEP

– A global coalition to accelerate the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, announced at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, initiated by the UK

– REC’s role in REEEP• Develop Information Clearing House for CEE and Turkey• Organise regional workshops and training; disseminate information

• MEDREP– Type 2 partnership of governments, businesses and associations, initiated

in 2002 during the Johannesburg Summit by the Italian Government– REC’s role in MEDREP

• Developing and operating the training and development centre; to provide capacity building on both macro and micro levels

• Execution of projects leading to the development of an advanced renewable energy market across the target regions/countries (tradable renewable certificates, biomass and geothermal projects in the Balkans, etc.)

• Coordination between the MEDREP and REEEP initiatives

• CLEAN FUEL AND VEHICLE INITIATIVE– UNEP/US EPA and other partners – Global coalition – REC’s role

• Addressing Clean Fuels and Vehicles Issues in Central and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia regions

Project Implementation

• Programmes:• Business and Environment• Capacity Building • Climate Change • Environmental Law • Environmental Policy and Local Initiatives • Information • NGO Support• Public Participation

• Key Topic Area Groups• Governance for Sustainable Development• Stakeholder Support• Sectors of the economy• International Instruments• International Mandates

• Funds• Italian Trust Fund• Japan Special Fund

REC Climate Change Programme

• Established in 1999

• What we do– Capacity building for developing national climate policy– Strengthening public participation and access to

information of climate policy– Support for implementing UNFCCC and the Kyoto

Protocol– National action plan on climate change– GHG emission inventory– Registry system (for Emission Trading and JI)

Programme Projects (1)

• 1999-2001: Capacity building for climate protection (with WRI)– Experiences of Activities Implemented Jointly; Sectoral

integration of climate consideration into energy policy (1999)

– Capacity needs to implement the Kyoto Protocol; Good practices in policies and measures (2000)

– Public participation and access to information of climate-related policy development (2001)

• 2002-2004: Support for implementation of the KP– Developing national registry system (2002)– Developing GHG emission inventory (2003-; with UNDP)

Programme Projects (2)• 2003-2005: Promotion of Flexible Mechanisms

– Database on JI environment in CEE countries: JI potential assessment by countries (Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic)

– Feasibility Studies on potential JI projects (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania)

• Present and Planned Activities– SE Europe and Turkey

• Capacity building, assistance to formulate CC Strategy/Action plan, promotion of CDM, support of development of Green Investment Scheme (Bulgaria, Romania)

– EECCA (Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia)• Transfer the experience: Capacity building,

institutional, legal background to promote JI/CDM

Thank You for Your Attention!