Mediterranean Action Plan

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ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Recognizing the importance of Kyoto Protocol in GHG Reduction, Syria certified the protocol
in the mid of 2005.
The Sustainable Development Criteria for CDM projects in Syria include the following:
a. Conformity to political and legal dispositions
b. Contribution to:
i) Technology Autonomy.
ii) Sustainable use of Natural Resources
iii) Social Criteria (Improve Quality of Life and Equity, Alleviate Poverty).
iv) Economic criteria (Provide Financial returns to Local Entities, Transfer of New
Technology).
v) Environmental Criteria (Mitigation of Global Climate Change, Reduce GHG,
Conserve Local Resources).
The Syrian institutional and regulatory framework for the implementation of the CDM:
In accordance with Decision 17/CP.7, Para 29, Syria has designated General
Commission for Environmental Affairs (GCEA) as the national authority for the CDM-
Designated National Authority (DNA).
The DNA main tasks are to provide written approval to the project participants and in
case of a host party, confirm, through written approval, that the CDM project activity
assists it in achieving sustainable development.
Official establishment of the DNA at GCEA by the Minister of state for Environmental
Affairs on March 15, 2003.
GCEA through the National Climate Change Committee is the official focal point for
climate change activities in Syria, including CDM projects.
Promotion of Syrian CDM Projects among the International Investment Community is one of
the priorities of the Syrian CDM-DNA.
The process of Project Evaluation until delivering the Final Approval Letter to the project
promoter by the DNA in Syria is under development in all sectors:
Energy and Industrial Processes (Fuel Switching, Energy efficiency, Cogeneration,
Fertilizer factories, Cement factories ...).
Electricity (Wind Farms, Solar Energy…).
Transportation (Fuel Switching).
Wastes (Landfills, wastewater Treatment Stations).
Agriculture (A forestation, Methane recovery from agricultural wastes …etc).
Taking into account the complex legal, financial and technical issues related to the
implementation of CDM:
Developing countries with limited institutional capacity will face significant challenges.
Syria now is required to establish an operational and efficient setup through which the
national CDM process can function properly.