IEA (2020), Belarus Energy Profile, IEA, Paris www.iea.org/reports/belarus-energy-profile With 7.7 Mt of manure per year, about 3.m 5 billion³ (2.3 Mtoe) of biogas could be produced. Preliminary government studies on the potential energy of wastewater treatment plants show that about 9.2 MW of heat is possible from sites across the country, and the energy potential of municipal solid waste is estimated at 0.3 Mtoe/year. According to the National Energy Saving Program 2016-2020 (Decision No. 248), the energy intensity of Belarusian GDP decreased by 8.3% in 2011-14 (GDP increased by 9.8%, but energy consumption remained virtually unchanged). Although 8.3% represents a significant decrease, it is more than three times lower than the target set for 2011. The potential for biogas is also considerable due to the many professionally operated livestock farms (cattle, pigs and poultry) as well as the considerable waste from households, crops and wastewater treatment plants as well as municipal waste and the food industry. Following the signing of the Paris Agreement, Belarus committed to reducing its emissions by 28% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. While this is a far from ambitious commitment, we hope the new plans will help the country move in the right direction with regard to countries` goals of climate neutrality by 2050. With a population of around 9.5 million (2019), Belarus accounts for a relatively small share of total global greenhouse gas emissions at 0.18%. In 2018, CO2e emissions per capita for Belarus were 6.8 t, and although the indicator has fluctuated a lot in recent years, it has tended to increase.

The carbon intensity of the economy over the period 1995-2012 has increased almost 4-fold, making it the fastest progress towards low-carbon development in Europe. The Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP) is a document developed by municipal authorities and monitored by all municipal authorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. SECAP is implemented in close partnership between local authorities, economic units and local communities. In Belarus, the focus is on increasing the use of wood fuels, as this requires less capital investment than other types of renewable energy. Woody biomass fuel (i.raw. wood, pellets, chips and briquettes) is produced on site using modern harvesting and wood chip factories. Belarus submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to COP21 in 2015, with a commitment to reduce emissions by at least 28% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. In September 2016, the Paris Agreement was formally adopted. The new framework conditions should prove relevant to addressing the challenges facing the country. In 2016, the energy intensity of GDP increased by 1.2%, although the target is a decrease of 0.4%, while in 2017 it increased by 0.5% and missed the targeted decrease by 0.5%, and in 2018 it increased by 1.5%, again exceeding the target of +1%. The increasing consumption of fuels and energy resources that are not regulated by the state standard (i.e.

Gasoline and diesel fuel of the general population, in addition to other fuels and raw materials), have led to an increase in the gross consumption of fuels and energy resources, thus preventing the achievement of the objectives of reducing the energy intensity of GDP. Belarus has set the next Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Taking into account the economic situation and capacity of Belarus, the new unconditional target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35 per cent compared to 1990 emissions by 2030, taking into account the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector. As international technical standards and norms are essential to improve energy efficiency, 250 technical regulations (more than 90% harmonised with international and European requirements) and 138 in the period 2016-2020 were developed from 2016 to 2015 as part of the programme for the development of the system of technical regulations, standardisation and attestation of conformity in the field of energy saving. The Energy Efficiency Division of the State Standards Committee has seven regional offices and is responsible for implementing and monitoring energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. It develops proposals to improve energy efficiency as well as technical regulations and standardization of energy installations, ensures State oversight of the efficient use of energy and develops legal and financial measures to promote energy efficiency. Belarus has not been spared the effects of climate change, but the country has been reluctant to act on this issue. Until now. Spurred on by the global urgency of climate change, the Eastern European nation is tackling the issue with greater rigour. MINSK, February 10 (BelTA) – Belarusian cities are using the methodological guide developed within the framework of Green Cities, a project of the GEF, UNDP and the Belarusian Ministry of Environment, as part of the preparation of the Action Plan for Sustainable Energy Development and Climate. The implementation of such plans by cities is an important part of the Paris Agreement`s efforts, Ruslan Khilkevich, UNDP`s project coordinator for communication, told BelTA. Tariffs for electricity produced from renewable sources by individual traders and legal entities not owned by Belenergo were set as part of the resolution on tariffs for electricity from renewable energy sources (2018).

Temperatures (1), floods (2), droughts (3), rainfall (4) have begun to deviate from historical trends, which will affect several sectors. GHG emissions in Belarus in 2012 amounted to 89.2 MtCO2 equivalent, 35.8% less than in 1990 (excluding land use, land-use change and forestry [LULUCF]). Due to the large forest area, emissions, including LULUCF, amounted to 63.7 MtCO2-eq in 2012. Greenhouse gas emissions in Belarus have increased since the mid-1990s with economic growth and increasing energy demand, but even if emissions continue to rise, it can still meet its Kyoto target for 2013-2020. The main policies and measures are part of the Government`s programme of measures to mitigate the effects of climate change for the period 2013-2020: it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2020 compared to 1990 levels (about 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent [MtCO2-eq]). Measures to achieve this include improving energy efficiency, expanding forest areas, restoring peatlands and improving the regulatory and legal framework related to climate change, at an estimated cost of €8.3 million. Policy decisions on climate change have been prepared in close cooperation with international bodies. Nevertheless, the current share of renewables in total electricity generation is only 2%, according to government reports.

The country is currently involved in several international cooperations, for example with IRENA and the EBRD, which aim to further develop renewable energies. The country also recently joined the EU4Climate project, which was supposed to help it achieve its Paris goals. In terms of total renewable energy capacity, Belarus had in December 2018: The production potential of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel) is high due to the large area and agricultural activity of the country, most of the opportunities coming from sugar production, starch and the cellulose industry. In close cooperation with partners – the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Environment Facility, the Global Support Programme, the GEF Small Grants Programme and other strategic partners – a team of NDC experts developed and presented possible scenarios to set a more ambitious target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Republic of Belarus by 2030. Belarus does not conduct significant research and development (R&D) in the field of renewable technologies, but mainly focuses on energy saving and efficiency. Under the recent Scientific and Technical Programme for Energy Technology and Energy Efficiency for the period 2016-2020, R&D priorities in the field of renewable energy include resource assessment and the use of industrial biogas and municipal waste, although without significant funding. Another area of development is the production of competitive equipment and instruments that increase the energy efficiency and reliability of the system. Abundant water in Belarus can deteriorate due to increased flooding, extreme rainfall and changes in runoff patterns. In a country with nearly 40.1% of forested area, rising temperatures are likely to alter ecosystem function, forest composition and some tree species such as spruce will suffer. Drought and high temperatures could make forests more vulnerable to climate-related threats such as epidemics and wildfires. The most vulnerable sectors are agriculture, human health, forestry, water resources and energy. In Belarus, energy and agriculture are the two sectors that account for the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions, and this is where most of the mitigation potential lies.

However, as reported by the Ministry of Energy Efficiency, national and regional budgets provided only $1,439 million, 40% less than originally planned, and the program`s energy efficiency targets for 2011-2015 were not met. .