As Novac writes on the 26th of April, 2020, one of the lessons during this pandemic that Croatia needs to learn is certainly that it needs to rely more on indigenous resources and reduce its dependence on imports, and this includes the production of energy from renewable energy sources, which is constantly and strongly growing, the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) has stated.
The coronavirus pandemic, on the one hand, has shown what the planet can look like with reduced pollution, and on the other, it has shed light on all of the vulnerabilities of the system and the need to change our behaviour.
“Most EU member states support the initiative to put the European Green Plan at the very heart of the post-pandemic economic recovery, because the world can only make economic, environmental and social progress if we clearly and firmly commit to clean and renewable energy. We need to strategically make sure that we’re developing the resources we already have, thus enhancing the competitiveness of the economy,” said Ivo Covic, President of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce’s Renewable Energy Community, which has been advocating for the development of this energy sector for fifteen years now, with its main focus on establishing a regulatory framework for renewable energy.
April the 26th marked World Renewable Energy Day, it commemorated the tragic Chernobyl nuclear catastrophe and the necessity to continue research and apply renewable energy as much as possible.
Croatian legislation is awaiting significant changes this year in regard to the energy sector. In addition to the European Green Plan, which brings with it major changes and the implementation of new technological and systematic solutions throughout the entire European Union, a law on amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act is expected in Croatia by the end of the year, which will further strengthen efforts to reduce dependence on energy imports.
The Law on the electricity market is planned for the end of this year, and the Croatian Government is planning to submit a new law in September to Parliament on renewable energy sources and high efficiency cogeneration.
“With regard to the new energy development strategy, as well as the objectives of the European Green Plan, Croatia has a great challenge ahead of it to achieve the set goals by the end of 2030, so the adoption of regulations and laws is of enormous importance. Now is an opportunity to prepare the local economy, but also citizens, to be involved as much as possible in the preparation and construction of new projects,” said the Croatian Chamber of Commerce’s Energy and Environmental Sector Director, Marija Šćulac Domac, noting that by increasing the use of renewable energy sources, not only will Croatia contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment, but it will also help the local economy and job creation within the sector.
The International Renewable Energy Agency predicts that the number of jobs in the renewable energy sector will increase to 42 million over the next thirty years.
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