Introduction of The Regional Environmental Center

for Central and Eastern Europe

24-25 April, 2008

Zsuzsanna IvanyiHead of Climate Change Department

Our Mission

• “(…) The REC is a non-partisan, non-advocacy, not-for-profit international organisation with a mission to assist in solving environmental problems (…)”

• The REC fulfils its mission by promoting cooperation of all environmental stakeholders, and by supporting the free exchange of information and public participation in environmental decision making

• The REC is legally based on a charter signed by the governments of 28 countries and the European Commission

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Mission in Practice

• RESEARCHING AND MONITORING • ASSESSING THE NEEDS

• RAISING AWARENESS• PROVIDING INFORMATION

• PROMOTING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION• BUILDING CAPACITY

• PROVIDING CONSULTATIVE SUPPORT TO ACTUAL PROBLEM SOLVING

Bridges

Government

LocalGovernments

Business

Citizens

NGOs

The REC

Government NGOs

LocalGovernments

Business

Citizens

Bridges – Across Borders

The REC Network

• Head OfficeSzentendre, Hungary

• 16 COs

• 3 FOs• Operations beyond Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)

Project Implementation

• Programmes:• Business and Environment• Capacity Building • Climate Change • Environmental Law • Environmental Policy and Local Initiatives • Information • NGO Support• Public Participation

• Funds• Italian Trust Fund• Japan Special Fund

Climate Change Programme

WHAT WE DO: Support countries in CEE and beyond in reforming their policies, disseminate best practices, and facilitate capacity building through:

• Providing services to governments to identify barriers of compliance and to develop national climate change strategies

• Building capacities for different stakeholders• Collecting and analysing information• Disseminating information through workshops,

conferences and trainings including various stakeholders• Promoting the spread of renewable energy sources and

energy-saving technologies

Selected Activities in 2005-2008

• Establishment of GIS in Bulgaria• Assistance in developing new mechanisms such as

Green Investment Scheme (GIS) in Romania and Ukraine

• Contribution to Belarus national Strategy on FM (GIS)• Promoting of institutional, administrative and legal

background for CDM in FYM and Serbia• Case studies on adaptation measures (Albania, BiH,

Serbia and Turkey, addressing the potential impacts in water sector, forestry and agriculture)

• Contribution to the EEA Report: Greenhouse gases emission trends and projections in Europe 2007 in cooperation with EEA/ETC

• Promotion of activities of the REC as Regional Focal point for Article 6 of the UNFCCC.

Opening of new Conference center(minimizing energy needs)

Invitation for: Opening of renewed conference center 2008) The aim is to reduce fossil-fuel based energy consumption to zero, and thereby eliminate all

CO2 emissions• minimise energy demand • use of local energy resources

ZERO EMMISSION DETAILS•Energy systems and architecture have been designed in a modern and integrated approach

•High energy efficiency

•Minimise heat loss in winter, prevent heat gains in summer and maximise the exploitation of natural lighting

•a „light shelf” will diffuses natural light throughout the interior

•Photovoltaic system generating 22,300 KWh of energy annually

•A ground source heat pump will be the primary source of heating and cooling to utilize the area's wealth of geothermal resources.

Thank you for your attentionwww.rec.org/Climate