Mapping Macedonia: Climate change and national policies
The Republic of Macedonia is a small continental (landlocked) country, located in the center of the Balkan Peninsula, in South-East Europe.
According to the data of the Institute of geography of Republic of Macedonia (www.igeografija.mk), the country’s climate is heavily affected from its a) geographic position (80 km away from the Adriatic Sea and 60 km away from the Aegean Sea), and b) its relief (valleys vs. high mountainous regions). Hence, the southern part of the country, which is more exposed to the Aegean Sea currents is characterized with altered Mediterranean climate, meaning mild winters and dry and long summers. The central part of the country is characterized by moderate-continental climate, with mild Mediterranean influence. The mountainous regions, on the other hand, have typical moderate-continental climate, characterized by extremely cold winters (up to -20°C) and very hot summer (+45°C).
Determined by its 1) geographic position (landlocked country, with Mediterranean climate influence) and 2) degree of economic development (according to the World Bank indicators data (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/), in 2012 Macedonia’s value added, as percent from GDP, from agriculture was 11%, 26% from industry and 63% from services), Macedonia faces serious economic, environmental and sustainability threats, as a consequence of the human-imposed climate changes. Namely, as summarized with the EEA report on Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012 (http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/climate-impacts-and-vulnerability-2012/), one may conclude that Macedonia is facing to suffer from a combination of the projected climate change threats, defined for the Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe region, which are:
According to the data of the Institute of geography of Republic of Macedonia (www.igeografija.mk), the country’s climate is heavily affected from its a) geographic position (80 km away from the Adriatic Sea and 60 km away from the Aegean Sea), and b) its relief (valleys vs. high mountainous regions). Hence, the southern part of the country, which is more exposed to the Aegean Sea currents is characterized with altered Mediterranean climate, meaning mild winters and dry and long summers. The central part of the country is characterized by moderate-continental climate, with mild Mediterranean influence. The mountainous regions, on the other hand, have typical moderate-continental climate, characterized by extremely cold winters (up to -20°C) and very hot summer (+45°C).
Determined by its 1) geographic position (landlocked country, with Mediterranean climate influence) and 2) degree of economic development (according to the World Bank indicators data (http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/), in 2012 Macedonia’s value added, as percent from GDP, from agriculture was 11%, 26% from industry and 63% from services), Macedonia faces serious economic, environmental and sustainability threats, as a consequence of the human-imposed climate changes. Namely, as summarized with the EEA report on Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012 (http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/climate-impacts-and-vulnerability-2012/), one may conclude that Macedonia is facing to suffer from a combination of the projected climate change threats, defined for the Mediterranean and Central and Eastern Europe region, which are:
- Increase in warm temperature extremes,
- Decrease in annual precipitation, annual river flow and hydro-power potential,
- Increasing risk of desertification,
- Increasing water demand for agriculture and decrease in crop yields,
- Increasing risk of forest fires and decrease of economic value of forests.
Images: Climate change consequences in Macedonia: Floods, forest fires and droughts
Recognizing the seriousness of the issue, and also following the requirements imposed by the European Commission, as part of Macedonia’s aspirations for EU membership, the Macedonian government and responsible Ministries developed policies and defined strategies that are to support the country to mitigate or prevent the identified threats arising from the anthropogenic climate changes (climate change as a result of human activity - greenhouse gas production and other pollution and environmentally hostile actions). Thus, Macedonia accepted the definition for sustainable development, as defined by the Brundtland commission - “Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”, and took it as basis for development of its National strategy for sustainable development. Hence, the Macedonian strategy on sustainable development covers and builds upon the three interdependent dimensions of: 1) economic development, 2) living environment protection, and 3) social solidarity and poverty reduction.
The reactive and proactive measures of the country are embedded in its national documents and strategies. Except for the National strategy of sustainable development, the Republic of Macedonia has also in place the following measures:
Yet, major challenges for Macedonia in regards to the climate change issue are: 1) the limited human and financial capacity of the Ministry of living environment, and the other responsible Ministries and sectors; 2) Lack of implementation of the protocols, laws and strategies; 3) Low public awareness about the issue; 4) Limited use of alternative energy sources (pure energy); 5) No strategic approach for abandoning business-as-usual and stimulating responsible entrepreneurship (corporate social responsibility).
The reactive and proactive measures of the country are embedded in its national documents and strategies. Except for the National strategy of sustainable development, the Republic of Macedonia has also in place the following measures:
- Signing of the Kyoto protocol - international agreement that commits its signatories by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets
- Development and implementation of a national plan for enactment of legislation in regards to climate changes,
- Establishment of supervisory body - National committee for climate change
- Incorporating the important climate change issues in the relevant sector policies and strategies (Strategy for agricultural development and rural development, Economic development measures and strategy, environment protection measures, Strategy of energetic sustainability, etc.)
- Communication strategy and action plan for climate change from the Ministry of environment, from March 2013, and other initiatives and legal binding documents.
Yet, major challenges for Macedonia in regards to the climate change issue are: 1) the limited human and financial capacity of the Ministry of living environment, and the other responsible Ministries and sectors; 2) Lack of implementation of the protocols, laws and strategies; 3) Low public awareness about the issue; 4) Limited use of alternative energy sources (pure energy); 5) No strategic approach for abandoning business-as-usual and stimulating responsible entrepreneurship (corporate social responsibility).
In order to overcome these challenges, Macedonia may follow the recommendations of the European Union, defined with the WHITE PAPER Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action. Thus, the national and local authorities should understand that dealing with the climate change issue is a process that requires permanent dedication and effort, which should be strategically framed. Following the EU example, the government should consider a phased approach, where the first phase will be the base work for policy and strategic framing, which will be implemented in the second phase. As recommended with the WHITE PAPER, the first phase should: 1) build a solid knowledge base on the impact and consequences of climate change; 2) integrate adaptation into key policy areas; and 3) employ a combination of policy instruments (market-based instruments, guidelines, public-private partnerships) to ensure effective delivery of adaptation. Only when all these will be in place, Macedonia may bounce up towards reaching its climate change mitigation and sustainable development objectives.