CSOs priorities for Trieste 2017

Well I opened a few themes already which I thought we would discuss but it seems not so I put the collective ideas here. My thought would be that these points from last year are not null and void because they were last year, but I am trying to judge the value of repeating them especially as they are not - at least not all of them the hot topics that will be discussed at Trieste (or at least I understand that since EBF has not replied yet about agenda. We might say as a development of last years requests....

The issues which are strongly pressing in terms of the policy framework are:

1) Immediate inclusion of MMR - which we have been working on with MEPs and through network - into the legal framework of the Energy Community with affect from 2018 for both GHG inventories and Low Carbon Road Maps

2) Regional Hydro Master Plan - which WWF has been leading on - should be used only to approve "no regret" projects for upgrade or remedial work on existing hydro as the process has not been adequate in terms of time or quality control/data a availability to determine which proposed green field hydros would meet and pass EIA and SEA

3) Air Quality - which OPENAQ and HEAL have been on - should be considered as a major threat to the economy and health of the citizens of the region and all future energy planning should take as its highest priority interim and long term actions to reduce to EU emissions standards.

4) Green Jobs/Youth/Energy Efficiency - which Go Green is working on - based on the principle of no regret project financing and the inter linked issues of energy poverty youth unemployment and energy in efficiency a core focus should be maintained on increased building regulation for NZEB and use of solar and targeting resource for energy efficiency upgrades and attendant training up-skilling for young people

Just some thoughts....

Ohhh and one constructive...DG NEAR should fund an assessment of the inclusion of renewables into the grid and look at the technical limits for wind and solar and the effect that the conversion of the system from centralised to decentralised could have as they have funded the hydro master plan last year. This would be a technical, legal and policy study...

I believe one of the priorities should be fight against pollution as the WB countries have the worst air within Europe. It is of course interlinked with the heavy reliance on fossil fuels in the energy sector but also the transport sector and households. This further can be linked with the boosting of EE programmes in the region as the better the efficiency in the homes, the less need for energy. As the whole region suffers greatly from energy poverty it must be stressed that it's the governments' role to push the politics of implementing energy efficiency measures in the households through some form of EE Funds.

Another comment would be that transport sector should probably be mentioned somewhere as again the entire region of WB is dependent on fossil fuels and the countries need strategies put in place for changing of the transportation modes and greening the sector.

Good points Sonja...I think we can tweek MMR and Air Quality so the explicitly mention transport if you think its necessary but both topics would usually include transport sector

Also I think we need to say something positive. We should welcome the adoption of the sustainability charter last year and say that in order to breath life into it they should adopt our 4 or 5 recommendations...?

I suppose it's in order to mention good things as well, you are right. Like the initiative Hahn mentioned, several millions for energy efficiency in the region within the Berlin process.

Very good suggestion...last years WB6 allocated 50 million for EE which was turned into a 230 million EE package for residential EE...we should say this is a great start and should be doubled...and also that any blocks to 100% draw down be examined and solved

Q. for all, what about some country specific suggestions? While most of the countries have similar challenges, some of them are country specific. I guess I am thinking on whether each government should also get some more specific recommendations, or should we stick to regional approach?

Ok this is just an opinion but I would say since its a regional meeting we keep it regional UNLESS of course one of the agreed points is not relevant to one or more of the WB6 Governments...big picture simple messages

Marko, what is the time line on this process...when will it close?