Department of Sustainable Development and Investments

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.  Sustainable development is development that is socially responsible and fair, acceptable to the environment and that relies on the basic postulates of civil society. It assumes the incorporation of criteria for the protection of natural, social and cultural capital in every policy. It implies balancing economic, social and environmental goals and integrating them whenever  possible, through the creation of mutually supportive policies and practices and by finding compromises  when integration of goals is not possible.

Ultimately, it means systematic thinking   and a strategic approach to planning. It  means  and behavior in which the fundamental criteria of sustainable development are incorporated, which will ensure sustainable results in all human activities.

• Coordinating the economy with human needs  and the limitations set by the environment. (Sustainable development is sensitive to human needs depending on social status, education, culture, gender. In that sense, economic and social development and environmental protection are interdependent and represent components of sustainable development. Democracy, respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms that include the right to development, the transparent and responsible management of all sectors of society, as well as the effective participation of citizens in public life, are also an essential part of the necessary foundations for the realization of social and human-centered development).< /li>
• Taking responsibility for the quality of  own development
• A long-term vision and model for a just and prosperous world (Because sustainable development is not a matter of choice. It is imperative. We must do everything in our power, even if it means certain sacrifices in the period of change and transition. We must leave a world worth living in, a world with a clean and healthy society. This is our duty to fulfill. Romano Prodi )
   

Investments

Compliance with European legislation on the environment in the Republic of Macedonia, which is also a candidate country for membership in the European Union, is very intensive, taking place through the process of completing national laws, by-laws and procedures. The focus of these activities is placed in The Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, through the active participation of the relevant national decision-makers. The local self-government is also involved through delegated responsibilities in the field of planning and management of the environment at the local level.

In this process, the gradual building of institutions is particularly important, by providing   human and financial resources and other measures that are necessary for the transposition of the legislation and the fulfillment of the obligations arising from it. Support for the implementation of measures to inspect and sanction inappropriate behavior, which is contrary to the adopted approximated laws, ranks very high. Despite that, the volume of investments in infrastructure, that is, in the so-called "hard" measures, has been relatively modest in the past period.

The reason for this is the amount of necessary investments, in conditions where the revenues obtained from the collection of service users are in most cases insufficient even to cover the current costs of maintaining the infrastructure, which ensures low environmental standards. A problem also arises during the implementation of  investments in the environment due to the insufficient capacity of the state authorities and local self-government to properly support the critical stages of the investment cycle: Planning and setting priorities, Preparation of projects and project documentation, Provision of financial resources and /or co-financing; Construction of facilities/infrastructure and management of facilities/infrastructure.

Macedonia is faced with a serious challenge in terms of the proper use of available financial resources while complying with the relevant requirements from the environmental domain. In doing so, institutional, social and cultural barriers will have to be recognized and overcome, especially for sectors that require regional level interventions involving intensive capital and operational costs.

Climate change

The Republic of Macedonia, along with Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, belongs to the group of countries that do not invest in Annex I of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (a so-called developing country), and on the other hand, it is a country with the status of a candidate country for full membership in the EU (where all member states are in the group of so-called developed states). This means that the Republic of Macedonia shares the general goals and principles of the Convention: contribution to ensuring the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent negative anthropogenic impacts on the climate system, as well as the principles of equality and shared but differentiated responsibility, acceptance to the requirements and conditions of developing countries, the principle of precaution, as well as the principle of promotion of sustainable development.

The obligation of the state is regular reporting on activities at the national level to reduce and mitigate climate change, through the preparation and submission of the so-called National Reports on Climate Change. The reports are prepared according to the adopted guidelines of the Convention for Developing States and contain certain mandatory chapters: greenhouse gas inventory, climate scenarios, measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change, provisions for the transfer of technologies favorable to the environment, research, education, training and strengthening public awareness of climate change.

So far, three National Reports on Climate Change (2003, 2008, 2013) have been produced, with the financial support of the Global Environment Facility, implemented through the UN Development Program (UNDP). The production of National Reports is also a legal  obligation according to the Law on the Environment.

As a candidate country for full membership in the EU, the country undertakes a series of preparatory activities for the future easier implementation of the European legislation in the area of ​​climate, which is very complex and covers several sectors.

Functions of the sector

The Department for Sustainable Development and Investments has three primary functions, the first of which is the creation of a national policy for the environment and sustainable development through quality analysis of problems and opportunities, determining priorities and drafting relevant programs and strategies in accordance with the recommendations and priorities established at the international level . The sector also cooperates with the other organs of the state administration and other partners in the process of integrating the various policies in the direction of sustainable development and implementing a strategic assessment of the impact on the environment. The sector provides support to other units of the Ministry with analytical and policy planning services. He also takes the initiative in terms of adopting new policy instruments/mechanisms in the area. In order to ensure investments in the environment that are related to the recommendations of the strategic documents, the sector performs economic analyzes and other methodological analyzes when defining the projects, as well as the programming process itself. .
The sector also establishes a function for national cooperation in order to fulfill the high priority tasks for cooperation with the local self-government and other ministries and government institutions. This sector is also able to recognize the specific needs of local government units and other institutions and help adapt the Ministry's services to them.
The sector coordinates activities for the preparation of strategic documents, programs and project proposals in the area of ​​the environment. It also continuously gives recommendations and actively participates in their implementation, and directs the work of the project offices for the implementation of obligations from ratified global international agreements, as well as international agreements at the EU level.

The second primary function of the sector is determined on the basis of the need to implement investments in the field of the environment, especially for wastewater treatment and waste management, as well as rehabilitation of industrial hotspots. In that direction, the sector is actively involved in the preparation of investment programs, with particular emphasis on the preparation and implementation of the Environmental Investment Program in accordance with the Environmental Law. Also, the sector takes care of developing the project files/technical documentation of the investment projects during the whole life cycle of the project, especially the implementation and monitoring of the same. Special emphasis in the work of the sector is given to the realization of the preparation and realization of the projects that are financially supported by the  donor community and the pre-accession aid of the European Union.

The third primary function of the sector is research and analysis of policies, documents and programs at the local, national and international level in the area of ​​climate change, as well as preparation of planning documents in the area of ​​climate change. Implementation of activities for planning and preparation of operational programs  - programming in the area of ​​climate change, as well as implementation of projects in this area are activities that are regularly implemented.

The work of the Department for Sustainable Development and Investments is carried out through four departments:

• Department of Sustainable Development
• Department for preparation of projects
• Department of investments 
• Department of Climate Change