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significant role in adaptation to climate change
is played by Institute for Hydrometeorology and
Seismology. In 2008, the Ministry was designated
as the national authority for approving Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. As with
other Western Balkans countries, funding for climate
change is heavily dependent on international support
(EU funds, EBRD, KfW, GEF/UNEP, GIZ), although
some projects are implemented through national
budget funding.
Serbia joined UNFCCC as a non-Annex I Party
in 2001, and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2008.
Under the Convention, Serbia does not have
GHG emission reduction commitments, but it has
obligations to establish and implement measures and
activities that contribute to achieving the objectives
of the Convention. It submitted its First National
Communication in 2010. The Second National
Communication – currently under development
– will contain an overview of realized adaptation
measures, and will also analyse the climate change
impacts and risks for water management, forestry and
agriculture sectors, since they have been identified as
vulnerable and important to national development
goals. At present, the First National Communication
is the only strategic document for climate change
responses which also addresses the needs of other
sectors in Serbia. Considerable progress has been
made to harmonize national legislation with the
EU requirements. The Air Protection Act (Official
Gazette of RS, 36/2009 and10/2013) deals with
climate change mitigation. It foresees adoption of
the Air Protection Strategy (including response to
climate change).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental
Protection is a national focal point for UNFCCC
and the Kyoto Protocol, with a recently opened
Department for Climate Change. The Environmental
Protection Agency is responsible for the GHG
Inventory.
The national budget contributes to financing climate
change projects, but its funds are not enough to meet
climate change adaptation requirements for Serbia.
Climate change responses are therefore mainly
financed through projects funded by international
donors and ministry programmes, although these
sources are not strictly oriented to adaptation.
Kosovo
1
is highly vulnerable to climate change
since two of its most important economic sectors
– agriculture and forestry – are climate dependent.
Kosovo
1
has not yet been recognized by the United
Nations system. Consequently, it is not eligible
for the ratification of international conventions,
although it could participate in negotiations as an
observer under UNSCR 1244. Kosovo
1
is, however,
committed to aligning its legislation with the EU
legislation, given its EU approximation process.
Additionally, the climate change adaptation
strategy is relevant for Kosovo
1
to meet the EU
approximation requirements, particularly in its
assessment and management of flood risks under
the EU Flood Directive.
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While there is a need for innovative approaches
to secure adaptation, current institutional
arrangements are insufficient to manage these new
challenges adequately. The authority responsible for
climate change is the Ministry of Environment and
Spatial Planning (MESP), namely its Department
of Environmental Protection, while Kosovo
1
Environment Protection Agency (KEPA) monitors
the state of the environment.
National funding allocations to environmental issues
are still not sufficient, and it is expected that domestic
funding will remain low for the foreseeable future.
Therefore, the funding for adaptation will heavily
depend on the private sector, international donors
and the EU funds. Establishment of an environmental
fund is foreseen for the end of 2015.
Specific consideration of mountain areas is
particularly poorly represented in the climate change
policies of all the countries. Most countries, apart
from Croatia, are in the initiation stages of their
overall policy response to climate change, with most
climate considerations being either donor-driven or
a part of EU accession requirements. Most countries
have started recognizing the importance of and
vulnerability to climate change, especially of the
sectors reliant on natural resources. Concrete and
innovative responses to climate change adaptation
are still in the inception phase, hampered by limited
capacity and sources of funding for adaptation.