CSOs priorities for Trieste 2017

Soon!!!

The idea is to try to reach out and engage as many CSOs as possible. The consultation process may take a week more, perhaps 10 more days if there is interest, and then we will put some issues on vote, and see how that plays out.

Thanks Marko, will you also tell us how are you planning to coordinate this with what goes on at Energy Community CSO day on the 9th of June...once you know of course.

HI all, happy to join you
I would like o point out how important is to prof that all topic we are talking about are the topic which could be use for sustainable social economic development.
We are not talking about garbage but about waste as the resource
We are not talking about non renewable source for the energy but about renewable source or even waste as the energy source
We are talking about waste as the resource for nZEB in construction sector by using natural traditional local materials
we are talking about circular economy as the best model for undeveloped countries.

Good morning Sanela! WE would totally agree with the circular economy concept...and its becoming former and firmer EU policy too so its the right policy track. My question is if this is agreed as a strategic goal what are the tactical decisions we can link it to in the WB6 to make concrete steps towards that...and for this we definitely need to see the agenda.

I thought to inject some ironic humour into the forum...on topic of course!!!

Trump "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.".

Mayor of Pittsburgh "Pittsburgh stands with the world & will follow Paris Agreement."

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/335994-pittsburgh-mayor-fires-back-at-trump-my-city-will-follow-paris

Concerning coordination with the Energy Community consultative meeting to be held in Vienna on Friday, 9 June, we will be sharing inputs from this online process with ECS people and we are expecting to receive their conclusions on how they plan to proceed with their process. I believe it would be great if we can pick up the ECS Sustainability Charter agenda and take it even further in Trieste. @garrettankosickell you are banned from replying! :smiley:

@barborapoyner could also provide some more insight into this issue.

Dear colleagues,

Happy to join!

We have strongly embraced Nenad's idea of thinking beyond Trieste. When we think on the processes in which CSO can have a lasting facilitative or even a leading role I think mainly about energy poverty eradication. This particular field entails dealing with the air pollution and residential energy efficiency . It looks to us as a solid programming framework for numerous civil society organisations of diverse background through which benefits to millions of people in the region, who are most in need, can be delivered. This is a genuine case for bottom up policy in which civil society is indispensable actor with the role that goes way beyond corrective actions. In this area there is a need for the CSO engagement in advocacy, policy design, institutional development, policy implementation... We see no other topic that provides such a great opportunity for continuous work of CSOs, a work that actually cannot be done by anyone else. All other topics proposed are relevant as well, beyond any doubts, but it is the nature of the issue that makes us believe that energy poverty is the only really feasible topic for long-lasting work of CSOs and the only topic in which CSOs participation is critical for success. To cut the long story short: energy poverty eradication is not going to happen without strong involvement and even leadership of CSOs.

Best regards,

Aleksandar and Jasminka

Thanks for the embrace Aleksandar and Jasminka ! And thank you to all who are participating. And yes, we now DO have the opportunity not just to have our voices heard in Trieste at the WB6 Summit, but to go beyond what we could have before. To actually structure our work for the road to the next Summit and appear there with tangibles that will be recognised and can't be ignored.

We certainly look forward to discussions and working towards a consolidated position on sustainability for the Trieste Summit at the EnC Sustainability Forum. Those who can make it, don't forget the CSO breakfast 8-9am @ Parkhotel Schönbrunn, Hietzinger Hauptstraße 10-16, 1130 Vienna (same venue as the Sustainability Forum).

@nenadsebek Precisely. It is important to structure the discussion and outputs of the Trieste meeting to maximize outputs in the period Jul 17- Jul 18. Also to consider the advantages of having this process nested in the framework of Heinrich Boell Stiftung's framework.

@nenadsebek I also have a question. Would there be possibilities for your Foundation's programming cycle to absorb some of the outcomes of this consultative process and the Trieste meeting?

@srdjansusic it is one of the main reasons why the Heinrich Boell Foundation is joining in. Not just to boost the role of the Civil Society Forum of the Berlin Process - a worthy goal in its own right - but also to share the know how he Foundation and our partners have with others and pick up new ideas, new partnerships and initiaives. We believe that "know how shared" is "know how doubled". In short... yes to your question.

Great. Thanks formsahring the info.

Hi to all, thank you for this space to share our thoughts and work. Thanks Garret for mentioning our work on green jobs and youth. It is indeed a pressing issue, as the youth unemployment rates in the WB countries are averaging round 50% and the RES and EE sectors are opening many employment possibilities. In order to enable a successful energy transition the education system and the employment policies need to adapt as well. Some thoughts and suggestions on the topic based on our experience so far:
1. Green jobs - General challenge is that criterias for “green jobs” has not been adopted nor a standardized methodology, consequently no measurement, or strategy for green jobs can be made by Governments. Macedonia had an estimation in its INDC that by implementing energy efficiency measures in buildings and by introducing low-carbon energy supply technologies (renewables and gas) about 6000 green jobs can be created by 2030. There needs to be a consultation process on “green jobs” criteria and methodology, and suggest a definition and methodology to be adopted on political level, so we can start developing political documents such us programs, strategies, actions plans etc.

1. Energy efficiency / education – there needs to be alignment and reinforcement of the vocational schooling. In the “sustainable buildings” sector, there is a huge lack of qualified workers of different profiles (craftsmen) and the companies are facing real challenges with this. The workers that are knowledgeable and have certain experience go to work in Western European countries where they are better paid. The pool of potential workers in the future is also narrowing down cause of low interests of young people to study in vocational schools and become craftsmen. Trainings and skills of young people is important, but to address this issue holistically we need to work on improving the vocational education system. Added to training and skills development, I would add “promote and improve vocational education”.

2. Young people/RYCO – you are aware that this process also lead to the formation of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), an institutional mechanism for youth cooperation among WB countries. In the Article 7 of their statute “The mandate of RYCO is to support youth projects that aim at, and contribute to:…”, environmental protection or climate change is not mentioned at all. Lobbying for “our” topic to be put in their strategic documents and actions plans is also of importance in advancing youth’s involvement in climate change and energy topics.

Looking forward to further discussion and hopefully see you in Trieste.

Kind regards from Skopje,
Antonio

One BIG thanks to all of you for your inputs so far! On behalf of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, I would like to let you know that we will consolidate your inputs from this discussion and put them up for a vote in one week. This public vote will enable us to transparently select up to three topics to be discussed during the Civil Society Forum in Trieste in July 2017. Outcomes of these consultations and those of our discussions in Trieste will result in a Western Balkans CSO Declaration on Environment, Energy and Climate Change to be included in the overall CSO Declaration that will be presented to the WB Prime Ministers on the WB Summit on 12 July 2017.

So, your inputs remain really important. Please, consider that only those topics to be proposed by WB CSOs here in this consultative process will be discussed in Trieste and presented to the Prime Ministers. We are looking forward to your inputs!

Hi there @jasminkabjelavac and @macura , fully agree that energy poverty is a very important tool in communicating complex energy issues in a way that - like pollution - touches ordinary peoples lives. However I wonder if in fact its the case that "no other topic provides such a great opportunity for continuous work of CSOs".

As you know our network with DOOR as lead partner did a study on this and presented it to the Energy Communities Ministerial COUncil last year and the problem with it is that no EU countries agree on a standard definition for it and there is no EU target or goal, much less one that has been agreed in this region...having said that there are targets for indoor air pollution and for energy efficiency and these can all be communicated as reducing energy poverty and as @antoniojovanovski has said improve job opportunities for youth,

Report called "Surviving the Cold" here:
http://seechangenetwork.org/energy-poverty-in-south-east-europe-surviving-the-cold/

Hi @garrettankosickell !

We are very familiar with the work that you did with the DOOR and our colleagues from FRACTAL @anarankovic who did a great job in Serbia.
Energy poverty is our core topic and we closely monitor developments in this field since 2003. As you probably know we were able to learn about this topic back in 2003 and 2004 in the process of preparation of "Stuck in the past", a study referred to by the EU on a very day of signing the Energy Community Treaty. Stefan Bouzar in his lectures still refers to this publication as the best in the field. Both Stefan and Brenda Boardman, your collaborators on Surviving the cold, have had the opportunity to exchange their experience with @aleksandarkovacevi who authored this study, in early 2000s with a little help from UNDP where I worked at the time.
@jasminkayoung and myself together with Zvezdan Kalmar ( did not find his name in the members list, is he not invited? CEKOR is very present in the field supporting those affected by unsustainable energy policies) authored the report "Energija na drugi način" published by our host HBS, where, I believe, we have shown why is this topic so important for Serbia, with all arguments being pretty valid for other countries of WB6. @aleksandarkovacevi and my self authored the article "Persistent energy poverty in Western Balkans" for OGEL's special on Energy Community. We have done a lot more on energy poverty and pollution also with our GiZ partners @tanjapopovicki.
Excuse us for this long intro but we want to try to add some weight to our proposal running the risk of being very boring in presenting ancient history actions.

Based on all this, and other experience in energy poverty but also in other proposed topics, and having in mind @nenadsebek vision of longer term involvement, we believe that this is where we should focus our efforts. The fact that EU countries are indecisive about this topic poses feasibility risks, but could be our strength. We may be pioneers together with the WB6 governments in shaping effective policies to combat energy poverty. We, therefore, also strongly support the idea to use SDG7 as framework goal ( and we do it in our work) @kalterinashulla, understanding and acknowledging the risk identified by Garret in the post on different thread, and having some ideas how to mitigate it.

The risks of failure are huge, so is the value of possible success. CSOs, let us repeat ourselves, are indispensable for energy poverty policies creation, implementation and monitoring. Unique case, we believe.

Having said all of this we also want to share our satisfaction with this exchange of ideas and joint collaboration. We hope that we will jointly choose a good direction for our road to Trieste and beyond. See you on that road in few days in Vienna!

Aleksandar

I think it may be useful to look also into the EU progress reports, and try to find some common threads in recommendations for WB6 countries for 2017. There are common issues to be addressed as a matter of priority for most or all WB6 countries, for e.g. common threads in energy priorities for WB6 in 2017:

• Implementation of power sector legislation, energy laws that tackle financial stability and economic sustainability of the electricity sector, and setting up transparent mechanisms to adjust energy prices;
• Adopting and start implementing national energy efficiency action plans in line with the EU acquis on energy efficiency, strengthen capacities to promote investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy, etc.
• Adopting the primary and secondary legislation implementing directive on energy performance of buildings;
• Meeting in full international obligations from the Energy Community Treaty, avoiding penalties;
• Adopting legal frameworks for electricity and gas in compliance with the Third Energy Package (unbundling of the electricity and gas system operator, opening energy markets, developing competition in the energy market, etc.);
• Implement connectivity reform measures in the energy sector, start coupling with neighboring markets.

Similar I will do for environment and climate change. Some of these issues on energy are naturally mentioned above already, but we should perhaps try now to move towards summing them up and trying to determine through priority voting by the end of the week the issues to be put forward in Trieste. How do you see these priorities recommended by EC, do you think we should include or refer to them somehow?

Interesting discussion so far. For further clarification and narrowing down the CSOs position paper for Trieste we should look beyond Trieste and the EU progress reports for that matter. We/RES propose to focus on the bottom up perspective when defining priorities that also fits into any of overall climate and environment policy goals defined at the higher political level since they are vague and broad anyway serving to show a direction we should take, but now which problems to tackle first and how to address them. The EU progress reports reflect administrative evaluation that is indeed very good and comprehensive but as @macura already pointed out we/CSOs who do lots of field work are actually a source of evidence for both the EU and the Ministry of agriculture and environment, Ministry of mining and energy, etc. Since 2015, RES Foundation have been collecting evidence from all over Serbia, and this activity was highly welcomed and praised by the Serb institutions in charge of environment and climate policies. This is no surprise given their mandates, centralised governance style and focus on producing the papers with no interaction with I would dare to say reality, instead of collecting evidence. The RES Foundation is not alone in this process, lot of colleagues from the CSOs talk to beneficiaries and all interested parties and actually know more about the most pressing issues including at the regional level. Therefore, we believe it is important to include at least two topics that are based on vast collection of evidence in a direct interaction with more than 60 local entities: energy poverty and air pollution. The strengths of the proposed topics are: combined they represent one of the most pressing issue in all WB countries in terms of households and individuals affected; they are interdependent which will make countries rethink the consistency of existing policies within the policy framework and take strategic multi-level approach to solving these issues, the solutions to these problems combine stringent product standards defined by Eco-design Directive, phasing out of fossil fuels, advanced energy efficiency solutions, the promotion of renewable energy and local community solutions with no "one size fits all" model which promotes needed local democracy and decentralised decision making. This is a great show case for local energy transition, regional cooperation that could be successful, with embedded human rights and public health perspective. It goes without saying that it is also a great area where the CSOs could work with authorities and international organisations to implement the program that contributes to the goal attainment: clean air and no energy poverty in WB through energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and local energy governance. So the vote goes to energy poverty and air pollution in the WB region. The next step would be the justification of the topic that will fit regional and national political and policy framework, UN obligations and the EU requirements (we/RES can help with that).

Marko, thank you for the proposal.

RES proposals are based on the pre-assumption that we know more, since we are here, than people who write Progress reports and people in Vienna in EnC Secretariat. If not, we can still be watchdogs and corrective factor.

Serbia recently adopted Third Energy Efficiency Action Plan and is green on some dashboards. The best thing related to the report is that it is unimplementable. Brussels and Vienna cannot know that, since it requires reading it ( already a difficult task) and knowing numerous figures behind. Only In the last two weeks, for example, we have discussed EE topics with the representatives of 17 least developed municipalities near their homes, and we feel we should bring that knowledge to the scene.

We as a group should choose whether we want to try to set the scene or to follow.
In a later case I would strongly support your proposal to look in the progress reports and focus our Trieste and post Trieste work based on common denominators found there.

Topic that I find very important from different angles, including energy consumption and climate change is urban agriculture. It also provides green jobs for unemployed and youth. And so much more...

@MA Dear Aleksandar, let me pick up on your sentence: "The risks of failure are huge, so is the value of possible success." As an optimist at heart and a great believer in the role of the Civil Society - lets look just at the second half of that sentence and do the best we can. Turn the "Possible" into "Probable". And then make sure the "Probable" happens. In Trieste and after Trieste :)

@macura Is the 3rd EE AP for Serbia available somewhere? Thanks.

Here. Cyrilic. Not yet translated, at least I am not aware of the translation.

Many thanks!

I see some common concerns emerging and wanted to suggest that some of them are our own strategic views for whats important for the future, bottom up, energy efficiency, energy poverty, pollution, climate change, agriculture, UN goals, EU goals and targets, Energy Community Targets.

But I would suggest that we should from all these issues try to pick some tactical asks from the Governments of the region which are measurable and meeting EU/UN/EnCom standards or goals. Governments will much more easily accept statements, which are principles which they cannot be held accountable for later ...we should ask measurable things and insist they are reviewed and reported on next year?...as an illustration we might ask...

a) The countries of the region double their annual energy efficiency targets from 2019 for retro fit of buildings from 1% per year to 2% and that funds are committed to make sure at least half this target is residential.

(this would speak to energy poverty, energy efficiency, EU and UN targets)

b) The countries of the region by end 2019 have conducted SAS;s (Source Apportionment Studies) to EU standards in all pollution hotspots so that targeted action plans can be developed to reduce pollution to EU standards can be developed

(these studies are the critical first step to telling you who exactly is causing the problem)

c) The countries of the region adopted MMR regulations at the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community this Autumn and commit to develop - based on this legislation:

Green House Gas inventories for the year 2019
Low Carbon Road Maps based on EU Goals and Targets by 2020

d) Regional Hydro Master Plan: Western Balkans Trieste Meeting 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 availability to determine which proposed green field hydropower plants are likely to be in compliance with EU legislation.

(this statement is an agreed one from the group that is working very hard on this for the last year being co led by Euronatura, River watch and WWF amongst many but this is going to be a hot topic in Trieste

I am sure there may be other concrete targets with numbers and time lines...if others have them?

An update on other ongoing processes in the WB region. I am sure you are all aware of this, but the Energy Community Secretariat is organizing SUSTAINABILITY FORUM
”Clean Energy for a Sustainable Future” in Vienna on Friday, 9 June 2017. Agenda attached.

Can we work together? Can this process be mainstreamed into CSF in Trieste? Can we avoid overlaps?

Any thoughts/reactions to Mr. Hahn? https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019/hahn/announcements/johannes-hahn-conference-towards-better-investment-climate-western-balkans_en

Hahn said: "One important investment we are pursuing involves physically connecting the region with the rest of Europe, what we call our 'Connectivity Agenda'. We have allocated 1.3 billion euro worth of grants and aim to leverage up to 13.5 billion euro of investments from the public and private sector in key energy, environment and transport investments by 2020."
Maybe we should stress that taking environmental protection into account is a must while planning these investments and that all the big projects must go through SEA and EIA.
We had too many cases where big projects were done without any regard to the environment.

Agreed 100%! Any suggestions on how to do this?

The countries will focus on public investments in the ecological transition and will pledge to open the finances and promote policy alternatives based on sustainable development.

Short but concise statement that we believe these investments should be for the citizens and to go in line with protecting the environment and lowering dependence on fossil fuels.

Hi Sonja
Can you make that SMART
Specific, Measurable, Agreed (we would need to hahahah), Reasonable, Time bound?

G

Hi Garret,

Ok I tried: WB6 countries and governments pledge to invest in ecological transition in energy and transport, with the goal of cutting emissions by 80% up to 2050. WB6 governments will open foreign and domestic funds to reasonable policy solutions that take into account economic development and environmental protection.

Hello to everyone, I would just like to also point out to the significance of EIA/SEA for envisaged development activities, in particular, those pertaining to the Connectivity Agenda (10 already agreed projects, but also potentially new ones, as well as those outside of the Connectivity Agenda). I think that Trieste Summit could be a good opportunity for civil society to send a clear message to the decision makers that these procedures have to be effectively implemented across Western Balkans i.e. not to be treated as a mere formality. This entails inter alia, ensuring opportunities for effective public participation, public informing and access to justice, taking into consideration transboundary aspects of the proposed activities (projects, plans, programs etc.), considering environment-friendly alternatives etc. Extension of SEA to wider policy aspect and strategic planning (not only plans and programs) should also be considered. Finally, the Summit could be an opportunity to send a message to the decision makers to accelerate the harmonization process of the WB countries with the EU acquis concerning Appropriate Assessment (as defined in the Habitats Directive) again in relation to the Connectivity Agenda, but also other developmental activities. This comment can also count for the "LET'S FINALIZE THE LIST.." thread, but I wanted to also add to the discussion held here.

Best regards,

Stefan Sipka

Dear All
Thank you a lot
I would like to point out how important is the EDUCATION
Innovation and research, adaptation of the education to the new needs and requirements
New professions- green jobs
Best
Sanela

Hey Serdan and all,
I am from the NGO Riverwatch and I coordinate the Balkan Rivers campaign www.balkanrivers.net. For us the Trieste meeting could be important, because there is a huge run towards more and more hydros in the area (in fact 2,700 projects are in the pipeline!). But since I´m pretty new in this forum I think I don´t understand this process very well. Is it like this:
1) We are going to vote which of the 12-14 points will become an issue in Trieste. When do we vote and how?
2) In case hydro makes it into the top 3, someone of us will need to speak up in Trieste, correct? In front of the present ministers or in a side discussion?
Thanks for clarification.
Best from Vienna, Ulli E.

Hello, @ulricheichelmann. You can find more information on this consultative process and the CSF in Trieste on the "ENVI @ WB SCF - successes and disappointments" thread here on Loomio. Please, look at the document attached to the introductory text. Voting for priority issues will be organized once the list of priorities is finalized. If you feel you should add anything to this list, please do so on the "Let's finalize..." thread. Everybody is invited to contribute, and the voting will start on Thursday. @markovujacic has more details.