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With Temperatures set to Rise in Next 30 Years, Croatia Fights Back Against Climate Change
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Zagreb, Croatia, October 2009-Croatian President Stjepan Mesić has committed to a United Nations campaign to combat climate change as part of Croatia’s celebration of the 64th anniversary of the UN. The UN-led campaign—known as Seal the Deal—aims to spur public support and political will to reach an agreement at a landmark global climate change conference in Copenhagen in December. At the conference, countries plan to commit to reducing greenhouse gases between 50 and 80 percent, sealing the deal to reduce the effects of temperature rises of more than 2 degrees Celsius. Video: Energy in Our Homes Photo Album: Sealing the Deal With Conservation Programmes
Croatia has already launched several programmes to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. This year Croatia has pledged to reduce its carbon footprint and preserve a scenic landscape that brings in more than 10 million tourists per year. “Now is the time, now is the moment, now is the task and now is the challenge we have to, and I repeat —we have to—face,” President Mesic said on the need to immediately address climate change at a United Nations Development Programme event in February. As part of addressing that challenge, Croatia also partnered with UNDP Croatia 2008 Human Developement Report, Climate for Change and its Impact on Society. According to the report, changing environmental conditions due to temperature rises could have serious consequences in Croatia. Climate change could lead to submerged beaches, more droughts affecting agriculture and natural environments, especially wetlands. It could also result in decreased river flows and perhaps lower levels of groundwater used for drinking and increased heat waves. At the current rate of change, summers will be between 3 and 3.5 degrees warmer in Croatia in about 30 years. The Nerevta Delta, home to one of the few remaining wetlands in Europe, is also threatened. In response, the Croatia government is pushing energy conservation in the country as much as possible. Cities and counties have pledged to cut energy consumption in more than 10,000 public buildings. They have been continuously conducting energy audits in municipal buildings, schools and hospitals. In some buildings, new energy-conserving boiler systems have been installed and power switched to renewable energy sources. The UNDP, Global Environment Facility, the Croatian government and other partners have also launched public information campaigns. Information and resources on how to reduce one’s carbon footprint are available at 44 “energy efficiency centers and free energy efficiency hotline established to help the public learn to cut energy costs and better protect the environment. At the same time, there has also been an expansive media campaign stressing the urgency of conservation. Seal the Deal is a United Nations initiative aiming to encourage citizens and world leaders alike to take a more proactive stance towards climate change and contribute to the success of the negotiations in Copenhagen for decreasing the effects of climate change, and agreeing on fair and concrete measures for greener and cleaner economic development.
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President Mesić signing of a petition (pictured) for Seal the Deal is Croatia’s latest initiative to tackle climate change. The petition was also signed by 2070 people during an October environmental fair in Croatia. Additionally, 127 Croatian towns and 20 counties have committed to improving energy efficiency, promoting the use of renewable resources and energy management and protecting the environment.