Jan 28
AmCham Business Forum on Climate Changes
The American Chamber of Commerce in Macedonia opened a discussion on Climate Change on 28 January with its Business Forum - Making the Environment Work for Macedonian Business. Speakers Ms. Linda Klare Repnik, Ms. Zoe Dawson and Ms Joanna Key presented their vision on measures the Macedonian business should undertake to enable the sustainable environmental protection and vv. how we can positively use our environment and still prevent its degradation, especially from a climate change point of view.
At the Business Forum, possible climate change scenarios and their impacts were discussed. The speakers identified current energy security issues Macedonia faces, which in the future can only be intensified:
- Over 60% of the energy supply is based on domestic fossil fuel and hydropower; - 40% of energy demand comes from imports of liquid fuel and coal
– high costs >€560M/year;
- over 70% of electricity generation comes from domestically-mined lignite, which supplies are declining;
- High level of energy intensity
- gross energy demand and consumption is approximately 50% higher compared to neighboring EU countries and x3 higher than some EU countries. One of the origins for this is usage of electricity for domestic heating.
- Very low use of the renewable, implementation of energy efficiency measures and fuel-switch to less carbon intensive fuels.
Based on the above identified problems, steps towards tackling these issues are urgently necessary. Coordinated measures and actions between the State and Local Government and corresponding governmental and non-governmental agencies are necessary. Simultaneously, the public, the environmental NGOs and the involved and concerned stakeholders are to take active role and act accordingly. The American Chamber of Commerce announced an award for the best environmental project in 2010. The winner will be announced as part of AmCham’s 10th year anniversary towards the end of the year. More information on the competition will be published on our website shortly. | 
Mitropolit T. Gologanov 42, Floor III, 1000 Skopje
