1. Romania’s climate strategy and action plan: outcomes from recent World Bank advisory services Gabriela Popescu Romanian Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests

2. Before OPERA-CLIMA I. At national level: 2005: First national CC strategy and action plan (2005-2007) established. 2008: National adaptation action guide approved through MO. 2013: National CC Strategy 2013-2020 approved by GD II. At European level: 2011: EU launches its 2050 Low-Carbon Growth Roadmap. The 40% GHG reduction target for 2030 is indicated in its Council conclusions related to the 2050 Roadmap 2013:EU Adaptation Strategy is launched in April 2013, complemented (in 2014) by a thorough (draft) EU Adaptation Preparedness Scoreboard. 2013: The European Council agrees on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020 of almost 1,000 Billion Euro. (at least 20% should be climate-related expenditure) 2014: New EU 2030 Climate and Energy Framework is launched in January May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 481452

3. The 2013-2020 CC Strategy

4. May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 481454 The paradigm: Devising a practical tool and identifying key sectoral actions to be propped up and “pumped” into the sectoral strategies (mainstreaming, but acting from within other strategies, advised by the climate strategy). Additional and critical merit of the current strategy: Romania was able to move into the 2014 – 2020 MFF negotiations due to meeting the requirement to have a climate strategy in place. The gaps: No cost-revenue balance. Lack of indicators to assess the progress. Lack of implementation, assessement and monitoring tools.

5. OPERA-CLIMA: A climate change story

6. May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 481456  2012, April MoU signed by the Romanian Government and the World Bank to provide Technical Assistance towards modernizing the public administration and making full use of the EU funds. Climate change area identified as priority area.  2012, September MECC began to develop the CC two-years program (Opera-Clima) with the World Bank, under a Technical Assistance funded from ERDF.  2013, July Agreement signed; Comprehensive objectives encompassed.

7. May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 481457

8. The Romanian CC Strategy and Action Plan 2016-2020

9. May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 481459 Completing and operationalising the national CC strategy and developing the action plan is essential to:  Provide concrete and consistent policies and measures;  Identify the resources (national budget, EU funds, flexible financing instruments etc.).  Schedule the calendar of implementation.  Assess ex-ante and ex-post costs and benefits (efficiency and effectiveness).  Provide result indicators.  Link the actions and measures with the key policy objectives emerging from EU strategies, directives and regulations..

10.  Three layers of work (WB consultants, Ministry’s team, SEA Procedure WG members) - a real challenge, due to: - Different visions - Different sets of priorities (at times) - Different EU/domestic/internal procedures and regulations to be met. - Different languages! - The need to operationalise (by building on the backbone of the strategy in place). CC Strategy - Work in progress:  Preparatory work commenced in November 2014.  First version submitted to MEWF in March 2015.  But the strategy took flight in August 2015.  The public debate meeting held on November 12, 2015.  Several critical views on a red thread need.  The environmental permit released.  Governmental approval process and the legislative act to follow May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 4814510

11. The CC Strategy aims to achieve a competitive economy with: low greenhouse gas emissions (GHG); physical infrastructure and socio-economic change impacts resilient climate; an interconnected approach (international, national, regional, local); maximizing socio-economic benefits in close correlation with the climate. May 11, 2016Footer text here11

12. The CC Strategy addresses the following sectors: 8 sectors within the mitigation component (energy, transport, industrial processes, urban development, waste management, water, forestry, agriculture and rural development); and 12 sectors within CC adaptation component (industry, agriculture and rural development, tourism and recreation, health, living environment (infrastructure and urban planning), transport, water, forestry, energy, biodiversiy, insurance and education). May 11, 2016Footer text here12

13. The Climate Change National Action Plan 2016-2020 The CC National Action Plan contains a total of 25 objectives related to the component of reducing GHG emissions (mitigation) and a total of 38 goals associated to the CC adaptation component. The actions listed within the CC Action Plan are laid down in the following categories: Public policy (e.g.: adoption of the Forest Sector Development Strategy; drafting of a maintenance and development strategy for the green areas around urban areas) Institutional (e.g.: developing the administrative capacity to implement the 2016-2035 energy strategy) Investment (e.g.:public buildings and services: improving energy efficiency through complete thermal rehabilitation) May 11, 2016Footer text here13

14. Results achieved through the project: National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan operationalized – over 60 strategic climate objectives in all key sectors identified; Six sectoral reports and a summary report on the analysis of Operational Programs actions consistent climate; A macroeconomic model that allows the development of scenarios joined negotiations under the 2030 Climate – Energy package; 50 deliverables in this project: including reports, workshops and trainings, conferences, an electronic platform (website) and dissemination products (flyers, dissemination notes, CC animation video). May 11, 2016Footer text here14

15. Flyers July 22, 2012Footer text here15

16. Conclusions The OPERA-CLIMA project was completed in November 2015. MEWF explores its possible developments based on the support provided by its main results: -CC Strategy; -Strengthening administrative capacity; -Macroeconmic model; -Methodology of using the money from auctioning allowances under the ETS. But, the most important challenge is represented by the implementation, monitoring and evaluation process of the CC Strategy and Action Plan. May 11, 2016OPERA-CLIMA, SMIS 4814516

17. Thank you for your attention! gabriela.popescu@mmediu.ro