Environment
Energy and environment are essential for sustainable development. People are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean affordable energy services. These issues are also global as climate change; loss of biodiversity and ozone layer depletion cannot be addressed by countries acting alone. UNDP helps countries strengthen their capacity to address these challenges at global, national and community levels.
Throughout the past years, UNDP interventions in FYR Macedonia have been tackling a wide range of issues at both national and local levels, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, trans-boundary water management, ecosystem and biodiversity management, pollution mitigation and clean up. A variety of projects have and are being implemented in many areas, including, nature conservation,solid waste management, river restoration, reforestation and infrastructure development.
UNDP has been supporting the country to create national policies and plans for better addressing climate change mitigation, adaptation needs and challenges. In this context, UNDP is assisting the country to fulfill the reporting requirements to the UNFCCC through the GEF umbrella programme that supports preparation of national communications, while also actively working on strengthening the country’s capacity to change its path towards a low carbon future. Assistance is also provided through implementation of concrete projects that reduce greenhouse gases emissions and are favorable to the local economy. All interventions aim to increase the country’s resilience to negative impacts of climate change in most vulnerable sectors such as water resources, agriculture, biodiversity, forestry and human health.
The second pillar comprises interventions in the area of environmental protection aiming to strengthen national capacities for the management of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. Strengthening the planning, financing and management practices of the national network of protected areas will make a significant contribution to the country’s efforts in meeting its obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity and in enforcing the Law on Nature Protection. UNDP is also assisting the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning in the development of a Watershed Management Plan for the Macedonian part of the Prespa basin, in line with the country’s newly adopted Law on Waters. Efforts to promote an integrated ecosystem management will continue with special emphasis put on enhancing the trans-boundary frameworks and collaborative processes, contributing to the increased capacities of the country to implement the EU Water Framework Directive.
UNDP supports the country to increase its overall ability to reduce disaster risk and respond to natural and man-made disasters. The focus of this third pillar is put on supporting the country to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015, which aims at building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters.
Harnessing on the positive experience in addressing the issues of historic pollution and mitigation of adverse environmental effects of mining practices created through collaborative public-private sector interventions for the clean-up and rehabilitation of two environmental hotspots, the Lojane and Bucim mines, UNDP will continue to encourage joint actions with private sector and corporate social governance in dealing with environmental legacies and “Brownfields”, in compliance with environmental standards. At the same time, UNDP will continue to support regional cooperation and capacity development through exchange of best practices with both EU and non-EU member states, so as to enhance political dialogue on environment and reinforce regional and cross-border cooperation in the Balkans.
| Project Name | Start | End | |
| Sustainable Mining Clean Up and Pollution Management in Bucim and Lojane Mines | 12.2007 | 12.2010 |
|
| UNDP GEF Medium-Sized Project: Strengthening the Ecological, Institutional and Financial sustainability of Macedonia’s Protected Area system | 11.2007 | 12.2010 |
|
| Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Prespa Lakes Basin of Albania, FYR Macedonia and Greece | 09.2006 | 08.2011 |
|
| Mitigating Climate Change Through Improving Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings | 06.2009 | 05.2011 |
|
| Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management - SAICM | 01.2008 | 12.2010 |
|
| |
|
|
|
Partnerships Push Pollutants Out of Macedonian School and Agricultural Communities
|
|
|
» 21.06.2010
Children in the Lipkovo municipality, situated in the northern part of the country, can now breathe easier as a partnership between their Government, local council and the UN has removed one of the most troubling pollution problems from nearby their school. Since exploration at the Lojane mine site was abandoned in 2007...
|
|
|
|
|
World Environment Day Observed with Focus on Preserving Diversity of Species
|
|
|
» 05.06.2010
On the occasion of the World Environment Day – 5 June 2010 – the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning together with UNDP organized a filed visit and a set of presentations on the topic “Macedonian Biodiversity Values and Obligations towards EU Accession" which took place on Shar Mountain.
|
|
|
|
|
Transboundary Fish and Fisheries Monitoring Starts in Prespa
|
|
|
» 24.04.2010
For the first time ever, all three countries sharing the Prespa Lake Basin will initiate the transboundary fish and fisheries monitoring, fulfilling one of the main conditions for integrated management of the Lake’s fish populations.
|
|
|
|
|
Energy Efficiency Workshop with Municipalities
|
|
|
» 03.03.2010
The Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Mr. Nexhati Jakupi, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Ms. Ann Marie Ali, ZELS Executive Director, Ms. Dusica Perisic and EVN Chairman of the Management Board, Mr. Georg Waldner, officially opened the workshop for local self governments on the topic of Energy Efficiency in Building Sector.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
UNDP and Ministry of Environment Signed the New Energy Efficiency Project
|
|
|
» 03.07.2009
Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Mr. Nexhati Jakupi and UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Ms. Ann-Marie Ali, signed Friday the new Energy Efficiency Project, officially titled “Mitigating of Climate Change through Improvement of the energy Efficiency in the Building Sector”.
|
|
|
|
|
Your Planet Needs You! World Environment Day 2009
|
|
|
» 05.06.2009
As the international community charts its way forward through these uncertain times, it is crucial to remember that climate change and ongoing environmental degradation represent a crisis that will not go away. In fact, it will only exacerbate the threats to human development.
|
|
|
|
|
New Sources of Financing for the Environment
|
|
|
» 20.02.2009
High-level mission consisted of experts and high officials from the UNDP Environment and Energy Group, came to official visit to the country from 17 to 20 February 2009. The mission was led by Mr. Yannik Glemarec, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Executive Coordinator and UNDP Director of Environmental Finance.
|
|
|
|
|