SPARE is implemented in Belarus since 2003, and is now picked up by the Ministry of Education. In a multi stakeholder project involving two ministries, leading educational institutions and NGOs the project will be adapted to national conditions with intentions for nationwide distribution.
In Belarus SPARE has existed since 2003, implemented by an environmental NGO. The project has not had official registration, but has been very well received by schools, teachers and pupils that has participated.
As it happened, we were able to give thorough information about SPARE to both the Minister of Ecology and a vice Minister of Education at the EfE conference in Belgrade autumn 2007. Both expressed great interest, and we were able to follow up this interest during a visit in Minsk in November 2007, when intentional agreements on cooperation were signed. Since then the project has been further developed in cooperation with all the project partners. It is no doubt that the interest energy saving in general and in SPARE in particular is based on the current energy situation in Belarus, which has the potential of developing into a crisis for the country. Dependence on Russian energy can make the region unstable.
The Presidential Directive No 3 was issued at June 14th, 2007, and gives the basis for national activity within energy saving. For example are all governmental leaders obliged to take special care about energy consumption of their unities. the decree also contains specific goals on reduction of energy intensity (to be reduced by 31% by 2010, by 50% by 2015 and by 60% by 2020), and
has the goal of substitution of 25% of national electricity production by local sources as waste and renewables by 2012. The energy consumption per GDP is 1.5-2 times higher than in the
developed countries with similar climatic conditions and economy’s structure.
Material consumption in the domestic manufacturing sector is also high. Secondary resources and production wastes are used insufficiently. Squandering and mismanagement are still
persisting. Action will have to be taken in all sectors, and educations is regarded as an important factor to rise awareness about this throughout the society.
The project partners are now planning for 3 years of common activity within the project. The basis will be laid in 2008, when it is planned to use SPARE materials as basis for adaptation and approbation of a national textbook on sustainable energy. There will also be developed a small work book and a system for trainings for teachers. Target groups for the project is teachers, pupils aged 10-15 as well as their families and local society.
The Ministry of Education will participate actively with their experts in the process of adaptation, development of trainings for teachers etc. During second half pilot versions of textbook and trainings will be tested at 30 schools in Minsk and Gomel region. Education on practical energy saving measures is an important part of the project, and this activity will which mainly be lead by NGOs. An information basis in form of CDs, web site etc will also be developed.
A component with information to population is regarded as essential. It will therefore be a project activity on dissemination of information on energy measures through libraries.
After secured financing the project will have to go through an official registration, and after that an official launch of the project can be held. We hope that can happen during spring 2008.
For the year 2009-2010 we foresee further distribution of the project to national level, and with the active participation from the Ministry we believe it will be possible to arrange good systems for this dissemination.
UNDP will take part in the project with administrative support for distribution of money between the participants. We hope they will contribute with financial means, and also in further project development for common activities with Tekna and Reinertsen.
Gomel is chosen in addition to Minsk as a pilot region for the first phase of the project. In this region our aim is to repeat our successful cooperation with the Norwegian organisations TEKNA and Reinertsen. All three organisations have different approaches to energy efficiency - Naturvernforbundet with education, Tekna with training of experts within the Cleaner Production programme, and Reinertsen with expertise in energy efficiency in existing and new buildings.
The three organisations made a common trip to Minsk and Gomel in the end of January 08, with very positive feedback from all that we met. We see great potential results if we will be able to coordinate and cooperate on activities in Belarus and Gomel.
