Topic: ukraine

Review of the Clean Technology Investment Fund Plans

Smita Nakhooda — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400

This review is based on the Clean Technology Fund Investment Plans that have been publicly disclosed on the Climate Investment Fund website as of 25 October 2009.

	Ukraine	South Africa	Morocco
Baseline and objectives	A business as usual (BAU) scenario is set against Ukraine’s Energy Strategy. Plan based on Ukraine’s targets under the Kyoto Protocol, and to reduce emissions by 20% and 50%below 1990 levels by 2020 and 2050 respectively. Energy and industry priority sectors for intervention as account for 91% of emissions. Based on “low carbon development” options to reduce emissions relative to the BAU including: rehabilitation of fossil fuel power plants, 6GW of additional nuclear power plants, switching to 5 500 MW combined cycle / heat and power plants; renewable power generation; increasing electricity production from hydropower by 5 TWh; renovation of the gas network; improving industrial efficiency; improving household efficiency.	Framed by the Long Term Mitigation Scenarios, a national effort to identify opportunities to reduce South Africa’s GHGs. More than 70 % of emissions come from the energy sector because of its reliance on coal, and its economy is highly energy intensive. The scenarios identify energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and modal shifts towards public transport as key opportunities to reduce emissions. The plan is placed in the context of its renewable energy policy and newly adopted renewable energy feed in tariffs, 12% energy efficiency improvement target, and initial experiments with carbon taxes.	Framed by second national UNFCCC communication. GHGs increased 35% between 2000 and 2006, particularly in the electricity (increased coal), and transport sectors. Reducing energy demand could reduce by 6.17 MtC02e per year. Energy supply measures including renewable energy, nuclear power, and increased natural gas could offer 17.6 MtC02e. National Plan of Priority Actions seeks to: diversify fuel supply; increase access to energy; promote renewable energy and energy efficiency; integration with European Markets. Targets by 2020 include: increase wind production by 600% to reach 20% of generation; low energy lighting to reduce energy demand by 800MW; tariff revisions to promote conservation; 15% reduction in energy use in buildings, industry and transport.
Priorities of Clean Technology Investment Plans	100 MW private sector renewable energy (wind farms) and funding through financial intermediaries for 80 MW of smaller projects eg. small hydro and biomass (RE) 450 MW Natural Gas Combined Cycle Combined Heat and Power plant (CCGT/CHP) Financing for Energy Efficiency (EE) Smartgrid development to support renewable energy scale up Upgrading 30% of compressors in Ukraine’s gas transit system to higher efficiency levels It is not clear that the CCGT/CHP and the Gas Transit System meet the investment criteria.	100 MW Eskom Uppington Concentrating Solar Thermal plant 100 MW Western Cape Province wind farm Support municipal governments to deploy solar water heaters Scale up energy efficiency financing to the commercial and industrial sectors	Renewable energy promotion, energy conservation, and public transport identified as key interventions for CTF financing support. Does not provide details on specific programs. Instead, proposes to work through the newly established Fond de Development de l’Energie (FDE), a government owned fund to enhance energy security that has attracted $1 billion in co-financing from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the King Hassan Fund. CTF would help “buy down the costs of low carbon growth” through this fund.
Financing	CTF: $350 million = $75m RE; $50m CCGT/CHP; $75m EE; $50m smartgrid; $100m gas system MDB Co-Financing: $2550m IBRD: $ 250m EE; $300m Smartgrid; IFC: $50m RE; $750m CCGT/CHP EBRD: $250m RE; $100m CCGT/CHP; $75m EE; $750m gas network	CTF: $500m MDB Co-Financing: $560m IBRD: $150m CSP; $110m Wind IFC: Energy Efficiency and Solar Water heating $200m AfDB: $50m CSP + $50m Wind	CTF: $150 million MDB Co-Financing: $400 – 600m IBRD: $100 – 200m IFC: $200m or more AfDB: $100 – 200m
Energy Planning	Little discussion of energy planning frameworks and processes. The Ministry of Fuel and Energy oversees the sector and that efforts are underway to introduce competition including through a wholesale electricity market and power pool. Multiple energy strategies and policies are discussed.	Mentions Eskom new build program, noting that there are few near term alternatives to coal to meet energy needs. The lack of effective and transparent planning processes, the responsibility for which has recently been returned to Eskom as system operator is not mentioned.	Notes that the Ministry of Energy Plan sets ambitious goals for increasing supply including by scaling up renewable energy and energy efficiency conservation.
Energy Efficiency (EE) Policy Regs.	A new government energy efficiency law is referenced. The National Agency for the Appropriate Use of Energy (NAER) has developed and implemented several energy efficiency policies, and can participate in the design for tariff policies. Focus of the plan is on making financing for energy efficiency available to commercial banks in the Ukraine.	2009 National Energy Efficiency strategy sets 12% energy efficiency improvement targets. A new standard offer model to incentivize energy efficiency is discussed.	An energy efficiency law is under development. The plan emphasizes the targets to reduce energy consumption by 15% in key sectors. It also mentions programs to incentivize household efficiency by offering a 20% discount to households that reduce consumption by 20% below targets; a demand side management program administered by the National Office for Electricity (ONE); and other provisions to enhance efficiency.
Renewable Energy Policy + Regulations	The Law on Alternative energy Sources of 2003 provides a framework for alternative energy, but has lacked financial support until the adoption of the green tariff (see below). Ukraine is in the process of developing procedures and standards for RE development.	Discussion of the implications of the new renewable energy feed in tariff for creating a market for renewable energy, but does not address current uncertainties around their implementation.	Laws to promote independent power production provide the basic framework for promoting renewable energy development in Morocco. A lack of supportive tariff and regulatory frameworks for wind energy scale up noted. Energipro program allows industrial customers to produce their own renewable energy through reduced wheeling and access to transmission infrastructure.
Pricing	A green tariff has recently been introduced to support renewable energy which presents a coefficient for the retail price for various renewable energy sources.	REFIT incentives for renewable energy noted. Low prices for energy highlighted as a disincentive for efficiency, while noting upcoming price increases. Some reflection on the cost structure of Solar Water systems.	Pricing incentives for energy efficiency in place at ONE are discussed in some detail.
Subsidies	Notes that energy prices (and gas prices in particular) have historically been low. Does not address underlying subsidies for conventional energy that are reflected in pricing and energy systems.	The close relationship between Eskom and the mining industry is mentioned, but no discussion of the underlying cost structure of the coal industry.	The plan notes the increase in public subsidies for oil, but does not discuss the possibility or viability of measures to address subsidies for conventional energy.
Executive Capacity	The National Agency for the Appropriate Use of Energy seeks to promote energy efficiency. A state inspection for energy efficiency unit has been established. Ministries for Regional Development and Housing are also active on efficiency. A Renewable Energy Agency is mentioned, but there is no discussion of its capacity or relationship with other sector actors.	Limited consideration of the various and overlapping roles of the Department of Energy, Department of Public Enterprises, and Department of Environment which all play a role in governing the sector.	The roles of various ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Energy, ONE, and the Center for Development of Renewable Energies (CDER) are described; there is limited of their respective capacities and opportunities for institutional capacity enhancement, though it is clear that these institutions have important programs to promote renewable energy and efficiency underway.
Regulatory Capacity	Limited discussion the role of regulatory agencies; notes that the EBRD has been supporting the National Electricity Regulatory Commission to implement the renewable energy policy.	NERSA’s role in introducing critical regulations to enable sustainable energy is noted, but there is limited attention to its capacity and authority to oversee the sector.	There is no independent electricity regulator in Morocco: ONE reports to the Ministry of Energy.
Transparency	Some discussion of the need for better information on renewable energy options. Corruption is recognized as a major risk for the sector, but there is little discussion of how transparency provisions can help mitigate these risks.	Recognizes the importance of raising consumer awareness of energy efficiency options, including Solar Water Heating. In general there is little attention to important issues of transparency in program implementation.	Risk assessment notes that the transparency of the operations of the FDE and its compliance with accepted standards of good governance to ensure that funds are spent in accordance with agreed priorities. There is no further elaboration of how these critical objectives will be met. A brief reference is made to a pre-preparation grant from the CTF to support this objective.
Public & Consumers	Not Discussed.	The engagement of consumers in the energy efficiency program is noted, but there is no other consideration of stakeholder engagement in the program.	Little discussion of how to engage the public or consumers in development or implementation of programs.
Utility Capacity	The need to support renewable energy companies to participate in the market is discussed, but there is little discussion of the role of the dominant energy companies in Ukraine.	Eskom’s capacity to implement CSP and wind energy programs will be enhanced through the program.	ONE capacity to implement renewable energy and efficiency programs is mentioned; a law to allow ONE to build its own renewable energy facilities is under development.
Local Technology Partners	No discussion of the role of local technology centers in the project implementation.	Supports technology development capacity within Eskom. Notes the potential to support the newly established South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI)	The role of the Center for Development of Renewable Energies which is now being reorganized into the Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in implementing programs is noted.
GHG Management	Not discussed.	Notes that a GHG inventory process for the transport sector is underway to support public transport planning. Limited other attention to GHG management capacity within South Africa.	Not discussed.

Ukraine

South Africa

Morocco

Baseline and objectives

A business as usual (BAU) scenario is set against Ukraine’s Energy Strategy. Plan based on Ukraine’s targets under the Kyoto Protocol, and to reduce emissions by 20% and 50%below 1990 levels by 2020 and 2050 respectively. Energy and industry priority sectors for intervention as account for 91% of emissions. Based on “low carbon development” options to reduce emissions relative to the BAU including: rehabilitation of fossil fuel power plants, 6GW of additional nuclear power plants, switching to 5 500 MW combined cycle / heat and power plants; renewable power generation; increasing electricity production from hydropower by 5 TWh; renovation of the gas network; improving industrial efficiency; improving household efficiency.

Framed by the Long Term Mitigation Scenarios, a national effort to identify opportunities to reduce South Africa’s GHGs. More than 70 % of emissions come from the energy sector because of its reliance on coal, and its economy is highly energy intensive. The scenarios identify energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and modal shifts towards public transport as key opportunities to reduce emissions. The plan is placed in the context of its renewable energy policy and newly adopted renewable energy feed in tariffs, 12% energy efficiency improvement target, and initial experiments with carbon taxes.

Framed by second national UNFCCC communication. GHGs increased 35% between 2000 and 2006, particularly in the electricity (increased coal), and transport sectors. Reducing energy demand could reduce by 6.17 MtC02e per year. Energy supply measures including renewable energy, nuclear power, and increased natural gas could offer 17.6 MtC02e. National Plan of Priority Actions seeks to: diversify fuel supply; increase access to energy; promote renewable energy and energy efficiency; integration with European Markets. Targets by 2020 include: increase wind production by 600% to reach 20% of generation; low energy lighting to reduce energy demand by 800MW; tariff revisions to promote conservation; 15% reduction in energy use in buildings, industry and transport.

Priorities of Clean Technology Investment Plans

100 MW private sector renewable energy (wind farms) and funding through financial intermediaries for 80 MW of smaller projects eg. small hydro and biomass (RE)
450 MW Natural Gas Combined Cycle Combined Heat and Power plant (CCGT/CHP)
Financing for Energy Efficiency (EE) Smartgrid development to support renewable energy scale up
Upgrading 30% of compressors in Ukraine’s gas transit system to higher efficiency levels

It is not clear that the CCGT/CHP and the Gas Transit System meet the investment criteria.

100 MW Eskom Uppington Concentrating Solar Thermal plant 100 MW Western Cape Province wind farm
Support municipal governments to deploy solar water heaters
Scale up energy efficiency financing to the commercial and industrial sectors

Renewable energy promotion, energy conservation, and public transport identified as key interventions for CTF financing support. Does not provide details on specific programs.

Instead, proposes to work through the newly established Fond de Development de l’Energie (FDE), a government owned fund to enhance energy security that has attracted $1 billion in co-financing from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the King Hassan Fund. CTF would help “buy down the costs of low carbon growth” through this fund.

Financing

CTF: $350 million = $75m RE; $50m CCGT/CHP; $75m EE; $50m smartgrid; $100m gas system
MDB Co-Financing: $2550m
IBRD: $ 250m EE; $300m Smartgrid;
IFC: $50m RE; $750m CCGT/CHP
EBRD: $250m RE; $100m CCGT/CHP; $75m EE; $750m gas network

CTF: $500m
MDB Co-Financing: $560m
IBRD: $150m CSP; $110m Wind
IFC: Energy Efficiency and Solar Water heating $200m
AfDB: $50m CSP + $50m Wind

CTF: $150 million
MDB Co-Financing: $400 – 600m
IBRD: $100 – 200m
IFC: $200m or more
AfDB: $100 – 200m

Energy Planning

Little discussion of energy planning frameworks and processes. The Ministry of Fuel and Energy oversees the sector and that efforts are underway to introduce competition including through a wholesale electricity market and power pool. Multiple energy strategies and policies are discussed.

Mentions Eskom new build program, noting that there are few near term alternatives to coal to meet energy needs. The lack of effective and transparent planning processes, the responsibility for which has recently been returned to Eskom as system operator is not mentioned.

Notes that the Ministry of Energy Plan sets ambitious goals for increasing supply including by scaling up renewable energy and energy efficiency conservation.

Energy Efficiency (EE) Policy Regs.

A new government energy efficiency law is referenced. The National Agency for the Appropriate Use of Energy (NAER) has developed and implemented several energy efficiency policies, and can participate in the design for tariff policies. Focus of the plan is on making financing for energy efficiency available to commercial banks in the Ukraine.

2009 National Energy Efficiency strategy sets 12% energy efficiency improvement targets. A new standard offer model to incentivize energy efficiency is discussed.

An energy efficiency law is under development. The plan emphasizes the targets to reduce energy consumption by 15% in key sectors. It also mentions programs to incentivize household efficiency by offering a 20% discount to households that reduce consumption by 20% below targets; a demand side management program administered by the National Office for Electricity (ONE); and other provisions to enhance efficiency.

Renewable Energy Policy + Regulations

The Law on Alternative energy Sources of 2003 provides a framework for alternative energy, but has lacked financial support until the adoption of the green tariff (see below). Ukraine is in the process of developing procedures and standards for RE development.

Discussion of the implications of the new renewable energy feed in tariff for creating a market for renewable energy, but does not address current uncertainties around their implementation.

Laws to promote independent power production provide the basic framework for promoting renewable energy development in Morocco. A lack of supportive tariff and regulatory frameworks for wind energy scale up noted. Energipro program allows industrial customers to produce their own renewable energy through reduced wheeling and access to transmission infrastructure.

Pricing

A green tariff has recently been introduced to support renewable energy which presents a coefficient for the retail price for various renewable energy sources.

REFIT incentives for renewable energy noted. Low prices for energy highlighted as a disincentive for efficiency, while noting upcoming price increases. Some reflection on the cost structure of Solar Water systems.

Pricing incentives for energy efficiency in place at ONE are discussed in some detail.

Subsidies

Notes that energy prices (and gas prices in particular) have historically been low. Does not address underlying subsidies for conventional energy that are reflected in pricing and energy systems.

The close relationship between Eskom and the mining industry is mentioned, but no discussion of the underlying cost structure of the coal industry.

The plan notes the increase in public subsidies for oil, but does not discuss the possibility or viability of measures to address subsidies for conventional energy.

Executive Capacity

The National Agency for the Appropriate Use of Energy seeks to promote energy efficiency. A state inspection for energy efficiency unit has been established. Ministries for Regional Development and Housing are also active on efficiency. A Renewable Energy Agency is mentioned, but there is no discussion of its capacity or relationship with other sector actors.

Limited consideration of the various and overlapping roles of the Department of Energy, Department of Public Enterprises, and Department of Environment which all play a role in governing the sector.

The roles of various ministries and agencies including the Ministry of Energy, ONE, and the Center for Development of Renewable Energies (CDER) are described; there is limited of their respective capacities and opportunities for institutional capacity enhancement, though it is clear that these institutions have important programs to promote renewable energy and efficiency underway.

Regulatory Capacity

Limited discussion the role of regulatory agencies; notes that the EBRD has been supporting the National Electricity Regulatory Commission to implement the renewable energy policy.

NERSA’s role in introducing critical regulations to enable sustainable energy is noted, but there is limited attention to its capacity and authority to oversee the sector.

There is no independent electricity regulator in Morocco: ONE reports to the Ministry of Energy.

Transparency

Some discussion of the need for better information on renewable energy options. Corruption is recognized as a major risk for the sector, but there is little discussion of how transparency provisions can help mitigate these risks.

Recognizes the importance of raising consumer awareness of energy efficiency options, including Solar Water Heating. In general there is little attention to important issues of transparency in program implementation.

Risk assessment notes that the transparency of the operations of the FDE and its compliance with accepted standards of good governance to ensure that funds are spent in accordance with agreed priorities. There is no further elaboration of how these critical objectives will be met. A brief reference is made to a pre-preparation grant from the CTF to support this objective.

Public & Consumers

Not Discussed.

The engagement of consumers in the energy efficiency program is noted, but there is no other consideration of stakeholder engagement in the program.

Little discussion of how to engage the public or consumers in development or implementation of programs.

Utility Capacity

The need to support renewable energy companies to participate in the market is discussed, but there is little discussion of the role of the dominant energy companies in Ukraine.

Eskom’s capacity to implement CSP and wind energy programs will be enhanced through the program.

ONE capacity to implement renewable energy and efficiency programs is mentioned; a law to allow ONE to build its own renewable energy facilities is under development.

Local Technology Partners

No discussion of the role of local technology centers in the project implementation.

Supports technology development capacity within Eskom. Notes the potential to support the newly established South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI)

The role of the Center for Development of Renewable Energies which is now being reorganized into the Agency for the Development of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in implementing programs is noted.

GHG Management

Not discussed.

Notes that a GHG inventory process for the transport sector is underway to support public transport planning. Limited other attention to GHG management capacity within South Africa.

Not discussed.

Developed Country GHG Reduction Pledges Fall Short, New Analysis Reveals

Jessica Forres — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:02:59 -0400

Commitments made by developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, when added together, fall short of stabilizing global temperatures at a level that averts dangerous climate change.

Comparability of Annex I Emission Reduction Pledges, a new analysis by the World Resources Institute (WRI), examines the pledges made by the European Union, Japan, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Belarus, Ukraine and Canada as negotiations on a new global climate agreement near their climax in Copenhagen this December. Also included is the United States’s emission reductions based on the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed by the House of Representatives in June.

WRI’s analysis reveals that commitments by these industrialized country parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) would result in a 10 to 24 percent reduction of global emissions below 1990 levels by 2020.

This is less than the 25 to 40 percent range of emission reductions that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states would be necessary for stabilizing concentrations of carbon dioxide at 450ppm, a level associated with a 52 percent risk of overshooting a two degrees Celsius goal. Both the G8 and the Major Economies Forum - representing the world’s 17 leading economies - recently agreed to a goal of limiting average global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels.

“Our analysis provides a preliminary picture of where the world is headed in the run-up to Copenhagen,” said Jennifer Morgan, director of WRI’s climate and energy program. “While emission reduction commitments by these countries could have an important and potentially substantial impact, they will not be enough to meet recommendations of IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report. WRI therefore urges industrialized countries to bring forward more ambitious pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.”

The report, which covers pledges by countries responsible for 98% of all developed country emissions, uses three metrics to compare country commitments - per capita reductions, emission intensity reductions, and absolute reductions. The 10 to 24 percent reduction is based on the inclusion or omission of factors, such as changes in land use, forestry data and low vs. high pledges. Other key findings include:

The choice of metrics used by countries (such as whether to include offsets, land-use change or forestry emissions) can alter their emission reduction calculations significantly.

High regulatory standards and robust accounting rules will be critical to ensure that international emission reductions are real and additional.

Ukraine: Total BOP Spending by Income Segment

Tim Herzog — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:10:14 -0400

The composition of BOP markets differs markedly across countries. Some, like those in the Ukraine, are concentrated in the upper income segments of the BOP.

What Does Environmental Democracy Look Like?

Monika Kerdeman — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:45:44 -0400

Environmental democracy is about government being transparent, accountable, and involving people in decisions that affect their environment. 20 countries in The Access Initiative (TAI) network are expanding their work to promote environmental democracy. Here is a summary of what’s ahead in 2008 and beyond.<!–break–>

Local TAI partners work with their governments to reform transparency laws and train government officers to involve people in development planning. They also build the awareness among judges and in the media about the public’s ability to influence decisions that affect the environment. TAI Partners are already having crucial impacts in key countries:

In Chile, the National Commission of the Environment committed to creating a participatory process in the design of the country’s first Toxic Release Inventory. TAI partner groups helped influence the design of the system to guarantee full citizen participation.
In Uganda, the TAI coalition used the findings of a TAI assessment to convince representatives to draft a Freedom of Information Act establishing citizens’ right to government information.
TAI Ecuador partner ECOLEX and the Ministry of Environment drafted a regulation requiring public consultation in the process of decision-making on environmental matters. The president approved the regulation in October 2006.
In Indonesia, TAI assessments identified the need for and recommended the basic requirements of a Freedom of Information Act. TAI partners worfked with the Government and other civil society groups to draft such an act which was adopted in 2008.
In Mexico, a TAI assessment revealed gaps in public access to information. Together they published a series of citizen action guides which led to a measurable increase in the number of citizens requesting information and more efficient delivery of information on the part of the government.

Here is a quick summary of the work that is already underway—or planned for 2008—in Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cameroon, Chile, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Hungary, Latvia, Nepal, India, Macedonia, Malawi, Mexico, Paraguay, The Philippines, Tanzania, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Zambia.

BANGLADESH: BANGLADESH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
Prioritize reforms by conducting national TAI assessment.
More about BELA

BOLIVIA: PRODENA, BOLIVIAN WILDLIFE SOCIETY
Advocacy activities that engage public officials and parliament representatives to include access rights in the environmental and natural resource legislation.
More about PRODENA

CHILE: CORPORACIÓN PARTICIPA
This organization will work with local CSOs to analyze access rights and public participation mechanisms in current Chilean environmental legislation and develop proposals to strengthen the legal norms that impact local poor communities. In addition, they will evaluate tools available in the System of Evaluation of Environmental Impacts in Chile (SEIA) with a special focus on the impact on local poor communities.
More about Participa

CAMEROON: BIORESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION PROGRAMME AND FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
Training and assistance to TAI DRC teams for a national TAI assessment. Raise awareness on access to participation; develop information materials on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) legal process; initiate teams to work with government officials on EIAs; develop a simplified version of EIA guidelines. Create a link between government and local communities to enable communities to benefit though poverty alleviation strategies. Conduct TAI pilot poverty assessment.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: CONSEIL POUR LA DEFENSE ENVIRONNEMENTALE PAR LA LEGALITE ET LA TRACABILITE (CODELT)
Prioritize reforms by conducting national TAI assessment.

ECUADOR: COALICIÓN ACCESO
Investigate 30 petitions for access to information; file and follow-up on 6 litigation cases where access to information has been denied. Conduct 3 training workshops for 30 public officials and 20 NGO leaders on implementing Ecuador’s Transparency and Access to Information Law.
More about Coalicion Acceso

ECUADOR: ECOLEX
Work with government officials to implement regulations related to civil participation in environmental management and build capacities for the social controllership in environmental issues through training.
More about Ecolex

HUNGARY: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND LAW ASSOCIATION
Training and assistance to TAI-Macedonia team for national TAI assessment. Provide assistance to TAI-Ukraine to implement activities in the Ukraine.
More about EMLA

INDIA: ENVIRONICS TRUST
Prioritize reforms by conducting regional TAI assessment.
More about Environics

LATVIA: REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER – LATVIA
Conduct access to justice seminar for 35 judges who will be trained on practical implementation of access to justice principles in Latvian law and how it relates to obligations under the Aarhus Convention.
More about REC - Latvia

MACEDONIA: FLOROZON-ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Prioritize reforms by conducting national TAI assessment.

MALAWI: CENTRE FOR POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Activities aimed to use the media as a tool to reach out to new stakeholders. CEPA will also develop a series of training workshops that will include government officials and civil society members to raise the profile of—and generate public demand for—access in Malawi.
More about CEPA

MEXICO: CENTRO MEXICANO DE DERECHO AMBIENTAL
On behalf of The Access Initiative-Mexico. Training and assistance to TAI-Panama*. Work with members of the Government to implement recommendations from two TAI state assessments. Develop and begin to implement an Action Plan for the Federal District in Mexico. Translation of Code Green program into indigenous languages.
More about CEMDA

NEPAL: PRO PUBLIC
Prioritize reforms by conducting national TAI assessment.
More about Pro Public.

PARAGUAY: INSTITUTO DE DERECHO Y ECONOMÍA AMBIENTAL
Conduct TAI pilot poverty assessment.
More about IDEA

THE PHILIPPINES: ATENEO DE MANILA
Conduct TAI pilot poverty assessment.
More about Ateneo

SRI LANKA: PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FOUNDATION
Establish agenda for joint activities with government through PP10 commitments. Draft recommendations to National Environmental Act to include access to information and access to public participation. Conduct TAI pilot poverty assessment.
More about PILF

TANZANIA: TANZANIA LAWYERS ENVIRONMENT ACTION TEAM (TANZANIA) Implementation of TAI report recommendations including conducing community training on access rights; establishing a media campaign on access rights.
More about LEAT

THAILAND: THAILAND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE
Conduct regional workshop that will include training on poverty guidelines. Produce 2000 copies of the Asia regional report. Investigate options for developing a rapid assessment toolkit that could be used by local communities, with a focus on the poor and/or disadvantaged groups, to address access issues at the local level.
More about TEI

UKRAINE: ECOPRAVO
Form a national coalition of CSOs and other stakeholders active in environmental rights and access issues and develop a national advocacy strategy for decision makers. Present international complaint mechanisms to Ukraine government officials and establish a program to monitor the implementation of joint activities stemming from the national TAI report.
More about EcoPravo

ZAMBIA: INSTITUTE OF HUMAN RIGHTS, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT TRUST (HURID)
Prioritize reforms by conducting national TAI assessment.

Support

This expansion of TAI is made possible through a generous grant from the Development Grants Facility of the World Bank.

Brief History of TAI

Since TAI began in 1999, more than 150 civil society organizations around the world have become TAI Partners. Assessments and advocacy have engaged governments in 45 countries to improve access to information, public participation and access to justice in decisions affecting the environment.

TAI bases its advocacy on original and independent research at the national level using an internationally recognized assessment tool.

TAI Partners use national assessments to examine the ability of the public to access information about government decisions, participate in those decisions, and seek justice when their rights are violated.

TAI Partners use assessment results to raise public awareness, set priorities for improvements in policy and practice, and work with governments to create change.

Freedom of Information Victory in Ukraine

Lalanath de Silva — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:26:45 -0500

An international NGO has set an important precedent for freedom of information in Ukraine by convincing a court that a Parliamentary advisory body should be subject to national freedom of information law.<!–break–>

The NGO Environment-People-Law (EPL) brought the case against the Accounting Chamber – a state body that executes control over the spending of funds from the State Budget on behalf of Ukraine’s Parliament. The Chamber had refused to disclose details about what it found when auditing a construction project partly funded by the government to build the Danube-Black Sea Canal through internationally recognized wetlands.

The Chamber had released some information about their audit, but not the level of detail sought by EPL. The Chamber had argued that the freedom of information law did not apply to them, and that they were only accountable to Parliament. EPL convinced the court that the Accounting Chamber in effect had not only a consulting function for the Parliament of Ukraine, but authority over members of the public as the Chamber owns the information that might be of public interest. The court ordered the Chamber to provide the information requested by EPL.

The ruling has two major implications, though they may not be articulated in the court decision itself. First, the function of investigating State expenditure (including possible corruption) was ruled to be a matter of public interest and public importance. Second, the court’s decision implied that because the Chamber performed a public function, it was subject to the national freedom of information act, even though the advisory group was not a part of the executive branch.

The case is a victory for advocates everywhere of freedom of information in environmental decision-making. A growing body of national laws and courts recognize that the public is entitled to know how tax revenues and aid funds are being spent and whether that expenditure meets accounting standards.

For more information on the case, visit the EPL website.

For background on this struggle, read about Olya Melen, the young EPL lawyer who won the prestigious Goldman Prize.

The Access Initiative (TAI) seeks to ensure that people have a voice in the decisions that affect their environment and their communities. TAI partners promote transparent, participatory, and accountable governance as an essential foundation for sustainable development. To achieve this goal, partners form national coalitions, assess government progress using a common methodology, raise public awareness, and set priorities for improvements in policy and practice. TAI partners in Ukraine have completed two assessments, and the World Bank has recently provided funds that will allow TAI Ukraine to implement Ukraine’s access rights commitments (made to the Partnership for Principle 10) and Aarhus Convention compliance mechanisms.

TAI congratulates EPL on their victory, and looks forward to working with its Ukrainian partners to further improve access rights.