Preparation of the Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC
Background
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on September 7, 2000 and the UNFCCC entered in force on December 6, 2000. After UNFCCC ratification, serious efforts have been made to set up an appropriate policy, institutional and legal framework to meet the Convention commitments.
In December 2000, BiH National Focal Point to UNFCCC was appointed and in 2001, the State Steering Climate Change Committee of BiH was established as a governmental body facilitating Bosnia and Herzegovina’s climate change activities and has the leading role in major decision-making on possible policies and measures in the field of climate change. At present, on the institutional side, Ministry of Spatial Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology in Republic of Srpska, as the BiH Focal Point to the UNFCCC, the State Steering Climate Change Committee and Sub - Committee and Secretariat for Climate Change of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the GEF Operational Focal Point in BiH, are responsible for co-ordination of all climate change activities at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina and international level.
A Medium-Term BiH Program of Activities on implementation of UNFCCC for the period 2002-2006 was developed based on conclusions, recommendations and suggestions of the Round Table meeting and was adopted by the State Steering Climate Change Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina at its second meeting in 2002. Through the efforts undertaken by responsible BiH institutions, the climate change issues have been addressed and various environmental problems and challenges facing BiH have been identified. Hence, the Economic Development Strategy of BiH (DSPRSP) for the realization of the national sustainable development and poverty reduction strategy for the period 2003-2007, based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), underlines the climate change consequences and sets up several priority actions with respect to climate change protection issues.
The recently adopted National Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) for BiH which is based on national sustainable development priorities, Rio Agenda 21 and on objectives and priorities of The Sixth European Community Environment Action Programme 2001-2010, also considers climate change issues (NEAP BiH, 2003). Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a party to the UNFCCC, has participated in the work of Conference of the Parties (CoP6 to CoP13) and has carefully analyzed its obligations towards the Convention, such as commitment to prepare its Initial National Communication. Unfortunately, due to the after war activities that have occurred during the last decade, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a developing country, has found itself in quite a difficult economic situation.
The basic infrastructure systems, including meteorological and hydrological observation and telecommunication system, as the integral part of WMO/World Weather Watch and Global Climate Observing System, have been destroyed and the technology that exists is outdated. Due to this situation, national data on climate change is poor and there is a lack of reliable data on regional and local climate change. In addition, consideration of climate change issues are yet poorly integrated into sectoral and development policies; national capacities for planning and policy development is weak, vulnerability assessment and development of mitigation and adaptation measures are weak and awareness of decision makers on climate change is low. This difficult situation was worsened by the lack of technical assistance, lack of qualified staff to deal with climate change issues and degradation of the educational system. A large number of Internally Displaced Population exacerbated the situation and made the economic recovery even more difficult.
Due to these reasons, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs new and additional financial support from GEF, as well as technological support, in order to cover the agreed full costs of the preparation of its Initial National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties. This project will assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in meeting the reporting requirements under Article 12 of the Convention.
Objectives
Development Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC; Produce report on National Circumstances Produce National Greenhouse Gas inventories; Prepare programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change; Prepare programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change; Assess constraints & gaps, related to financial & capacity needs.
Achievements and Expected Results
Initial National Communication to the UNFCCC developed and submitted; Strengthened national capacities;
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