Climate Exchange

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nergy

of user awareness through participation in regional projects and

joint or co-sponsored workshops, think tank and brainstorming

events (Regional Environmental Center and SEEVCCC; Food and

Agriculture Organization and SEEVCCC).

Roles and responsibilities

The basic mission of SEEVCCC under the Belgrade climate change

initiative is to support the SEE countries in meeting their needs for

information on the sub-regional climate change projections, impacts,

vulnerability and adaptation options on a continuous basis, through

its operational, research, coordination and educational functions.

The centre participates in the development and implementation of

the SEE Climate Change Framework Action Plan for Adaptation, for

2009-2015. Further updates and implementation of the action plan

aim at implementing the United Nations Framework Convention

on Climate Change Capacity Building Framework, its Articles 5 and

6, and the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and

adaptation to climate change.

Building a partnership

The most important end users of weather and climate information

in SEE are those that could provide a substantial part of the national

income – sectors such as energy, agriculture, tourism, traffic and

insurance. Naturally, from the viewpoint of saving life and property,

the most important end users are the risk management authorities

with their structures on regional, national and local levels.

Being aware that energy is the key economic driver in all SEE

countries, RHMSS/SEEVCCC decided to establish closer links and

promote collaboration within the energy sector.

The historical turmoil in the Western Balkans during the 1990s led

to the disintegration of a unified energy system that stretched from

the Adriatic to the Black and Aegean Seas. What was once a single

system suddenly became a patchwork of several. Nevertheless, the

separate entities still relied on each other for the smooth functioning

of their power supplies. Hence, the Treaty Establishing the Energy

Community was signed in October 2005 in Athens, Greece, and

came into force on 1 July 2006.

The established Energy Community has extended the European

Union internal energy market to SEE and beyond on the grounds of

a legally binding framework. It has thereby provided a stable invest-

ment environment based on the rule of law, and tied the contracting

parties with the European Union. Through its actions, the Energy

Community contributed to the security of supply in wider Europe.

In the words of the European Commission,

“the Energy

Community is about investments, economic development, security

of energy supply and social stability; but – more than this – the

Energy Community is also about solidarity, mutual trust and peace.”

It is crucial that the improvement of the balance between energy

supply and demand should go hand in hand with economic devel-

opment in the region. This also means that countries should be

prepared to draw fully on the substantial gains which can result

from trading energy among themselves and with their neighbours.

Bearing that in mind, and in order to prepare for enhanced sub-

regional cooperation, RHMSS/SEEVCCC established closer links

with the Public Enterprise Electric Power Industry of Serbia (EPS).

EPS joined the efforts to hold regular SEECOFs with a view to

providing tailored climate services for the benefit of the energy sector

in the region. The support coming from EPS is twofold: a financial

one, enabling regular SEECOFs to take place, and the one realized

through the contribution of EPS experts to SEECOF

deliberations and improving the dialogue between

provider and end user. Very important knowledge is

shared regarding the energy production/consump-

tion planning and related dependence on weather and

climate conditions.

Building on the existing collaboration and future

requirements of the energy sector, but also taking

into account the potential of both entities, RHMSS/

SEEVCCC and EPS are considering formalizing the

partnership through the long-term agreement which

would also involve private entities (establishing a public

private partnership). The main areas of collaboration

include, but are not limited to, a climate watch system,

observational networks, computational resources and

telecommunications.

Further developments

The long-term vision in research and development activi-

ties is focused on the creation of a regional centre of

excellence in the frame of the European network of WMO

climate centres. This vision will be achieved through:

• Strengthening research and development capacities

in SEE

• Setting up a sub-regional climate prediction system in

collaboration with the scientific diaspora from SEE

• Joining in new world climate systems (GFCS, WMO/

Atmospheric Research and Environment Programme

Sand and Dust StormWarning Advisory and Assessment

System, World Climate Research Programme)

• Adhering to the activities of the IPCC

• Further enhancing partnerships with regional and inter-

national organizations active in climate-related matters.

Tailored climate services for the benefit of the energy sector lead to

more efficient energy supplies

Image: RHMSS