Belarus
Belarus drops one place in this year’s CCPI, to 47th, and remains among the overall low performers.
It receives a very low in the Renewable Energy and Climate Policy categories and a medium in GHG Emissions and Energy Use.
Low diversification of energy sources
The CCPI country experts note that Belarus gradually succeeded in reducing the national economy’s energy and carbon intensity. However, a great deal remains to be done because of Belarus’ energy dependence on Russia. The experts are concerned about the low diversification of suppliers and imported energy resources, of which fossil fuels constitute about 82%. They evaluate imports of Russian natural gas (over half of Belarus’ primary energy supply) as critical and worsening in the last two years. Belarus’ rank in Energy Use reflects the experts’ concerns, showing a 12-rank drop in this category due to the country’s lack of efforts in emissions reduction and its unambitious 2030 targets.
The experts also criticise Belarus’ focus on biomass instead of solar or wind. Belarus provides well-developed fuel biomass reserves, which were increased because of increasing demand in the heating sector. The experts observe considerable growth in wood pellet export in the last five years and claim President Lukashenko’s regime wants to export biomass at a large scale. However, EU sanctions imposed in 2022 restrict the possibilities for biomass fuel export for Belarus.
Belarus also lags far behind in expansion of renewable energy, only ranking 57th in this respective category. In 2021, renewables accounted for only 5.17% of the country’s primary energy consumption. The experts note a lack of investments and political will for phasing out natural gas and oil.
Climate action is delayed
Since the previous year, sanctions have limited the Lukashenko administration. A coalition of the EU, US, UK, and other Western partners implemented restrictive obligations, affecting several of Belarus’ economic sectors as a result of the country’s regime actively supporting the Russian war in Ukraine. International investors also stopped projects and investments in Belarus. Financial bottlenecks then resulted in postponing crucial climate action; namely, decarbonisation, waste disposal, and water pollution control.
Overall, the CCPI experts request strengthening of the national legal system, installing a carbon market, creating market incentives favouring low-emission technologies and resources, and freeing Belarus’ national energy policy from Russia’s economic interests.
Key Outcomes
|
CCPI experts
The following national experts agreed to be mentioned as contributors for this year’s CCPI:
- Ivan Filiutsich (UNDP)