The capacity building and citizen involvement pillars of MKM’s activities are meant to help build a sustainable society and specifically to help prevent and solve environmental problems. Solving environmental problems is the third of our pillars. MKM connects the three pillars in the conviction that one cannot be done without the other. Creating a sustainable society requires involvement of citizens and capacities of skilled experts. Below are some of the recent examples when MKM helped solve environmental problems.
Building Capacities
Involving Citizens
Solving Enviromental Problems
Examples
NEW PUBLIC SERVICE IN MACEDONIA
In 2012, MKM started an initiative to stimulate citizens to be more proactive in solving environmental problems in three pilot communities. The Shoot & React project introduced a new citizen friendly service for reporting local environmental problems. The project combined a website, telephone hotline and smartphone app and enabled citizens to directly report local problems, shortened reporting procedure, and provided real-time feedback on the status of reported problems. It also shortened the time authorities need to act upon the problems, making these services more effective and efficient.
CLEANER DRINKING WATER IN MACEDONIA
This project was identified as an urgent action during the Green Agenda process in Pehcevo in 2013, when developing their municipal climate change strategy. In a participatory approach the members of the thematic working group on water agreed that this urgent action is of highest priority in this area. The installation of a new filter in the existing water treatment plant solved the problem of contamination of drinking water with sand which used to occur during heavy rainfalls that now happen more often due to climate change. The new filter also had positive economic impact on the population by reducing citizens’ costs for buying drinking water and for transportation of water in tanks from the nearby mountains.
MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN MACEDONIA
During the development of municipal climate change strategies in Tearce, Krivogashtani, Bogdanci, Pehcevo and Mavrovo Rostushe in 2013 and 2014, the following climate change mitigation measures were selected through the participatory Green Agenda process. • Replacement of old mercury lightbulbs with energy-efficient and installation of modern timers in the public lighting systems in tearce and pehcevo • Thermal insulation of a kindergarten roof in bogdanci • Thermal insulation of outside walls and new roofs on the town halls in Krivogashtani and pehcevo • Thermal insulation, new energy efficient heating systems 3 public buildings in Krivogashtani, Pehcevo and Mavrovo Rostushe. The following long term results were achieved: • 20% less energy for heating • 25% annual reduction of co2 emissions • 57% annual savings in energy costs
ELIMINATING ACUTE RISKS OF OBSOLETE PESTICIDES IN UKRAINE
A strong partner can make things move. In Ukraine the indigenous organization Mama 86 did the inventory, collection and destruction of obsolete pesticides in the region of Kiev. Since this was the first time obsolete pesticides were cleared through international standards in ukraine, many obstacles in the fields of law, politics, transport and collection had to be overcome. Thanks to the diplomatic skills, endurance and management of Mama 86 the project managed to destroy more than 100 tons of pesticides, raised national awareness on the issue through a short film shown on national television and other activities.
