Romania’s Reporting Activities under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol

1. Romania’s Reporting Activities under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol Mr. Vlad Trusca Head of Climate Change Unit, UNFCCC National Focal Point Ministry of Environment and Water Management - Fulfilling the monitoring and reporting requirements under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol - - Budapest, Hungary, 9-10 October 2006 -

2. Overview • Legal Framework • Institutional Arrangements • National Strategy on Climate Change • National Action Plan on Climate Change • Reporting Activities • GHG Inventory • National System on GHG Emissions • National Registry • Planned Activities

3. Legal Framework • UNFCCC – signed in 1992 and ratified in 1994 • Kyoto Protocol – signed in 1999 and ratified in 2001 • Romania – first Annex I country ratifying the Kyoto Protocol • Target – 8% reduction of GHG emissions from 1989 levels • European Union member state – from 1st January 2007 • Governmental Decision no. 658/2006 reorganization of the National Commission on Climate Change, established in 1996 as an inter-ministerial body coordinated by the MEWM • G.D. no. 645/2005 – National Strategy on Climate Change • G.D. no. 1877/2005 – National Action Plan on Climate Change • Various G.Ds and Ministerial Orders on climate change issues

4. Institutional Arrangements • Ministry of Environment and Water Management - National Focal Point, coordinating the climate change activities • National Agency for Environmental Protection - implementing strategies and policies on climate change, GHG inventories, National Communications • National Administration for Meteorology - vulnerability, impact, adaptation measures to climate change • National Environmental Fund Administration - GHG emissions reduction projects database, GIS funds • National Commission on Climate Change - advising the Minister of Environment on policy decisions, actions and measures for applying the UNFCCC and KP provisions • Local EPAs, research institutes, universities, NGOs, companies

5. National Strategy on Climate Change • G.D. no. 645/2005 approving the NSCC • Elaborated under the MEWM responsibility together with other ministries, within the National Commission on Climate Change • Danish EPA supported MEWM with financial and technical assistance for developing the NSCC (international consultants) • Established the framework for implementing climate change policies in the period 2005-2007 • Presented Romania’s national priorities on climate change • meeting the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol commitments • environmental and economic benefits by implementing Kyoto Protocol’s flexible mechanisms • implementing EU related climate change activities and participating in the EU Emission Trading Scheme • developing and implementing activities on adaptation to climate change impacts and reduction of carbon intensity

6. National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) • G.D. no. 1877/2005 for approving the NAPCC • Chapter 2 -Commitments on Reporting (9 different actions) • Prepared by MEWM, international and Romanian consultants as well as 50 experts from different stakeholders (4 WG) • Presents specificclimate change related actions andmeasuresfor period 2005-2007 • Represents the main tool to implement the NSCC and identifies • the reporting manner of accomplished progress • precise deadlines for meeting the objectives and actions • financing sources for specificactions • responsibilities of different institutions • Involves a permanent collaboration with responsible ministries, institutes, private sector, universities, NGOs

7. Reporting Activities • First National Communication – 1995 • Second National Communication – 1998 • In-depth review of the NC II – 1999 • Third National Communication – 2005 • Report on Demonstrable Progress on KP – January 2006 • Fourth National Communication and the Initial Report (Assigned Amount) – to be submitted by the end of 2006 • Delay in submitting the NC III and NC IV due to the lack of financial and technical resources • Danish EPA supported Romania to address its commitments on reporting under the UNFCCC and KP by financing the editing, publishing and printing of NC III and NC IV

8. GHG Inventory • In the IInd National Comm. (1998) - summary of GHG emissions for the period ‘89-’91 and estimates for the period ‘92-’94 • December 2002 – first submission of the inventories in the required format (CRF and NIR) covering the period 1992-2000 • May 2003 – first submission in time of the recalculated inventories for the period 1992-2001, including also an NIR • Oct. 2003 – first ever review of the Romanian inventory (in-country review) • May 2004 – submission of the inventories covering the entire time series 1989-2002, recalculated based on the in-country review report recommendations • Nov. 2004 – desk review

9. GHG Inventory (cont.) • May 2005 – submission of 2003 inventory and the recalculated inventories for the period 1989-2002, using the new reporting tool - CRF Reporter* (Romania - one of the 4 Parties) • Oct. 2005 – centralized review • May 2006 – submission of 2004 inventory and the recalculated inventories for the period 1989-2003, using the CRF Reporter • Last GHG inventory shows an approx. 45% reduction of GHG emissions due to reforms and economy decline • No problem with the KP’s 8% reduction commitment • Participation of two Romanian experts in the international reviews organized by the UNFCCC Secretariat – 2004, 2005

11. National System on GHG emissions • NS exists but still needs improvements • NEPA designated as the responsible institution from 2006 and assigned a team of 4 experts dedicated for GHG Inventories • MEWM together with NEPA is developing a G.D. as a legal, institutional and procedural framework for the NS (with the technical support provided by the Danish EPA) • Based on the Annex to the Decision 20/CP.7 • Considering also the EU Decision 280/2004/EC • General and specific functions • 3 parts: planning, preparation, management • New G.D. will complement G.D. 586/2004 establishing the Nat. System for Integrated Assessment and Mngmt. of Air Quality

12. National Registry • Romania (Annex B of KP) has to develop and administrate a National Registry in order to track the issue, holding, transfer, cancel, surrender of units (AAU’s, RMU’s, ERU’s and CER’s) • As an EU Member State and for implementing the Directive 2003/87/EC and Directive 101/2004/EC, Romania has to develop a Registry in order to track the issue, holding, transfer, cancel and surrender of EUA (allowances) • Unique registry for both KP and EU ETS to be ready by Dec. 2006 with technical support of the Danish EPA • NEPA designated as the National Registry Administrator • National Registry based on GRETA software (UK) • Internal or external hosting for 1-2 years to be decided soon • Ministerial Order on the registry operation to be approved

13. Planned Activities • Implementing the National Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change in the period 2005-2007 • Submitting NC IV and Initial Report to the UNFCCC – Dec. 2006 • Improving the National System for estimating GHG emissions and establishing (Nov. 2006) the new framework for ensuring a better preparation of the national inventory • National Registry – finalized by Dec. 2006 • Continuous increase of the institutional capacity especially on GHG inventory and registry (more experts & training needed) • Improving the cooperation and creating a strong relation between the Romanian institutions involved in this field

14. Thank youFor further information contact:Vlad Trusca, UNFCCC National Focal Pointemail: vlad.trusca@mmediu.roWebsitewww.mmediu.ro/dep_mediu/schimbari_climatice/schimbari_climatice.htm