Ambitious objectives will fight climate change

Climate change has become a word combination we hear every day from news, as well as from people talks, and ourselves speak of it too when it is too hot in summer and too warm in winter. Now why is it important and alarming? And what does Long-run Action Plan of Energy Development and Climate have to do with it?

We all perfectly aware that humans can not live without oxygen more than five minutes. Atmospheric air is essential for earth life, as it protects the planet from pernicious ultraviolet rays, generates precipitation, takes part in photosynthesis and energy exchange, hosts flying life forms. 

It is assumed that the contents and features of atmosphere have stabilized during the last 50 million years. The atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen, 21 % oxygen and other gases. Around 50% of atmosphere weight is concentrated in its lower layer 5 kilometers thick.

Abrupt development of heat-power engineering, metallurgical and chemical industries, increased number of traffic units have caused growth of greenhouse gases part in earth atmosphere, and dust, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, carbon monooxide, sulphur and other harmful substances, leading in turn to global climate change – that is, change of durable weather mode.

The concentration of hazardous substances may increase during unfavourable periods, while implementing drastic measures of atmosphere protection may be complicated and intended for a prolonged period.

Now the world faces the problem of preserving the environment, namely ecoanalytical control of atmospheric air.

One of the most considerable measure of preserving the environment has become United Nations Frame Convention on Climate Change followed by Kioto Protocol. What is it?

Kioto Protocol is the first global agreement on environmental protection based on market regulation of global trade – greenhouse gases emissions quotes, that obliges first-world and developing countries to decrease or stabilize greenhouse gases emissions compared with level of 1990.

Ukraine is among the few countries which decreased GHG emissions abruptly during 1990 – 2000 period of low industrial activity, and failed to regain the level of 1990 in next eight years of industrial growth. Having ratified Kioto protocol in 2004, the country received the opportunity to use its carbon quotes. National Ecological Center (NEC) claims that in 2009-2010 state budget received 470 million euros income for sold quotes. Together with this Ukraine has engaged in financing the projects that help decrease GHG emissions.

In fact, countries (primarily Russia, Ukraine, Bielorussia, Poland, and Romania) have gained quotes not because of purposeful policies of their governments, but because of economic recession and reconfiguration after 1990. 

The next step towards better situation was Covenant of Mayors – a general European Union initiative covering local and regional powers that deliberately engage themselves in higher energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources within their territorial units. 

The members of Covenant promise they will decrease domestic carbon emissions at least by 20% before 2020, and thus promote «green» economic growth and higher standards of living. The updated Covenant stipulates decrease of carbon emissions at least by 30% before 2030 due to energy efficiency measures and bigger share of renewable and alternative energy sources.

Now what does that mean?

In order to decrease energy consumption and emissions generation the members oblige themselves to introduce definite measures and report on this, at the same time they agree that their activity is controlled. Within the defined time period they secure to do the following:

1. prepare Basic emissions cadastre, develop and approve local policy of sustainable energy development;
2. establish respective administrative bodies, with sufficient staff available, to implement the approved policy;
3. present Action plan on sustainable energy development and climate within one year after joining the Covenant, with definite measures and objectives included;
4. after presenting the plan report at least every two years on its implementing, so it can be estimated, controlled and checked.

So, Action plan is a sort of manual containing methodics and guidelines for decreasing GHG emissions everywhere, be it industry, public sector, traffic, street illumination, urban areas, or other.

Sumy has joined the Covenant of Mayors on September 29, 2015. One year later Long-run Action Plan of Energy Development 2025 was developed and a number of liabilities defined for ambitious energy policy, like:

• decreasing annual energy consumption by 20% (544,3 thousand MWh);
• partially replace natural gas with alternative energy sources by 5,8%, (10,8 million cubic meters);
• decrease carbon emiissions by 20,2 % (199,1 thousand tons СО2);
• decrease annual spendings on fuel at least by 344,3 million UAH. 

The indicators are compared with the level of 2013, selected as the basic one for calculating.

The relevant Action plan is developed in compliance with EU letter on climate and energy till 2020 for members joined between 2008 and 2015. 

The members of updated Covenant of Mayors joined after 2015 are obliged to complete their Action Plans on Sustainable Energy Development and Climate taking into account energy issues as well as mitigation the aftermath of climate change and adaptation of cities before 2030.

According to public estimation by NGO “Social project “Ekoltava” and methodics by NGO “Ekoklub”, Sumy Action Plan on Sustainable Energy Development has scored 16,5 points out of 24. A rather ambitious rate of obligations, yet it does not takes into account a number of critical nuances that have to be considered while preparing updated document:

• including all sources of emissions into the plan (like industry) through communication and cooperation with local enterprises;
• more ambitious objectives on transition to renewables and more projects that engage renewable energy sources;
• integrated approach to mitigation of climate change consequences and adaptation to climate change;
• public access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy sources, as well as participation in housing modernization programs to defeat energy poverty;
• financial help for implementing defined measures and programs in time and in full.

Nowadays urban dwellers are the first ones to feel the impact of climate change. Vulnerable social groups suffer the most: they are seniors, children and women in charge of children care. Most citizens complain of frequent oppressive summer heat in asphalt jungle, repeated floodings and blasts that damage buildings and energy networks, cut the population away from electricity and water, enormous heat that increases bills for energy used for air conditioning and stimulates the demand for respective appliances. All this leads to even faster climate change and higher energy consumption.

Taking the mentioned guidelines into consideration guarantees energy safety of Sumy as well as readiness of its infrastructure for climate change, as it makes the town more green and suitable for living. Effective adaptation measures help decrease expenses for fighting the consequences of climate change, provide higher adaptation of Sumy and its population, thrifts natural and human resources, and stimulates economic growth.

By: 

Yuliya Avramenko, project manager, analyst, NGO “SP “Ekoltava”

Maryna Sadkina, project manager, analyst, NGO “SP “Ekoltava”

Composed thanks to financial support from German Federal Ministry of Environment Protection, Nature Preservation and Nuclear Safety, within the project “International Climate Initiative” (ІКІ)