Low Carbon South East Europe 

Combating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is one of the biggest challenges of the European Union which is addressed also in the Europe 2020 Strategy with the objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by year 2020 compared to year 1990. Because of its diversity and extreme weather events it is expected that South East Europe region will be impacted by climate change more than other regions. The countries in the region already have various experiences with the preparation of low carbon policies, transferring EU climate legislation, introduction of low carbon technologies and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions but they are at different levels. The main challenge in the SEE region is lack of systematic approach for creation of low carbon policies which would contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and lack of knowledge and capacities of public authorities and other institutions dealing with climate change for development and implementation of low carbon policies. Public authorities have different levels of capacity and are partially addressing the field of climate change without cross-sectoral cooperation which is crucial for development of low carbon policies and without capitalising enough upon existing experience and know-how in the region. Furthermore, they are lacking the capacity for coordinated transfer of EU legislation in the field of climate change, especially in candidate and potential candidate countries. The main objective of the LOCSEE project is to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of public authorities and other institutions dealing with the climate change in the SEE countries and to develop a systematic cross-sectoral approach for creation of low carbon policies which will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions on the way to low carbon South East Europe. The project aims at increasing know-how of public authorities and other institutions dealing with the climate change for coordinated transfer of EU climate legislation and to enhance the involvement of stakeholders in policy development. In order to increase the capacity of public authorities and other institutions dealing with climate change to develop cross-sectoral low carbon policies a common systematic approach for creation of low carbon policies will be developed. On the basis of involvement and experiences of the main target groups (national or regional public authorities in charge for climate change, expert support level and stakeholders from different sectors) a common cross-sectoral Step by step manual for creation of low carbon policies will be prepared. LOCSEE project will contribute to faster transfer of EU climate legislation with the development of common guidelines for coordinated cross-sectoral transfer of EU guidelines and directives in the field of climate change. To encourage pooling, transfer and exchange of innovative and efficient good practices from and to SEE region and to capitalise the results of other projects a good practice platform will be established on the project website. To ensure political support, transferability and sustainability of project results after the project conclusion and beyond the partnership a Regional Policy Network of high level representatives will be established. Project results will be disseminated throughout the entire project through the different communication means and at different project events. The added value of the LOCSEE project is the implementation of integrative and participatory cross-sectoral approaches and involvement of key organisations in charge for climate change which have the power to transfer the know-how into their organisations and to develop policies. This project will combine a process toward EU integration and a progress of all countries in the framework of international negotiations in the field of climate change.