ZAGREB, November 4, 2019 The association called “The Renewable Energy Sources of Croatia”, whose acronym in Croatian is OIEH, said on Monday, on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of the Paris climate change agreement, that the application of renewables in Croatia could also provide opportunities for economic growth and not only challenges.
The Paris treaty, which was seen as a watershed in the struggle against climate change, was signed in 2016 as an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), dealing with greenhouse-gas-emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
The agreement stated that it would enter into force only if 55 countries that produce at least 55% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions ratify, accept, approve or accede to the agreement.
Croatia has undertaken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and therefore it is necessary to carry out the transition to low-carbon production and renewables.
Croatia is expected to adopt two documents by the end of this year: a strategy for energy development in the period until 2030 with an outlook for the period until 2050, which envisages a much higher share of energy from renewable sources, greater energy efficiency and a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and a national 2012-2030 national energy and climate plan.
Last Thursday, the government forwarded the draft strategy to the parliament.
The funds required to implement the strategy range between 378 and 461 billion kuna or between 12.5 and 15 billion kuna annually. Investments will be more intensive in the period until 2030 (14-17 billion kuna), and in the period from 2031 to 2050 they will amount to between 12 and 15 billion kuna, the government said.
At the end of 2018, the share of renewables in total energy consumption in Croatia was 28%, which is more than regulated by the EU.
In 2017, the share of renewables in total domestic energy consumption was 27.3%.
According to the findings of a survey conducted by Eurobarometer, 41% of Croatians believe that it is necessary to increase financial support for efforts aimed at transitioning to clean energy, and every second Croat wants their country to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
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