27.04.2026.
One of the key strategic documents in the field of climate policy was presented - the Plan for the use of proceeds from the auctioning of emission allowances in the Republic of Croatia for the period 2026 - 2030. The document defines the way of distributing the proceeds raised through the emissions trading system and directing investments into the green transition.Minister of environmental protection and Green Transition Marija Vučković pointed out that for the first time, Croatia is systematically planning to use revenues from the sale of emission allowances, whereby the funds collected through the EU ETS system in the amount of EUR 650 million are directed to projects that contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions.
"CO₂ emissions trading is one of the most effective mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the European Union level, at the same time providing significant revenues that we will fully direct to the green transition and sustainable development. We will invest the EUR 650 million in further decarbonisation and in introducing low-carbon technologies and innovations in industry, agriculture and other economic sectors, as well as in measures to reduce energy poverty and reduce costs for citizens and entrepreneurs," said minister Vučković. She emphasised that a special focus was on the development of a green economy without losing jobs, with the most significant investments being directed to public transport with the aim of reducing traffic congestion and emissions of noxious gases. "Through energy renovation measures, including the installation of heat pumps and solar panels in households and public institutions, we will further reduce energy poverty and increase the efficiency of the public sector," Vučković added, pointing out that investments in waste management and the procurement of electric vehicles would contribute to cleaner air, greater energy independence, and a more competitive economy. It was also pointed out that a significant part of the funds was intended for sectors outside the EU ETS system, including buildings, agriculture, waste management and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as climate change adaptation measures and ecosystem conservation.
The plan is aligned with existing initiatives such as the use of allowances from the Modernisation and Innovation Fund, as well as with the national Social Climate Plan, the draft of which has already been submitted to the European Commission.
"Today we are talking about one of the key instruments of the green transition - proceeds from emission allowances, which are one of the most important sources of financing for our Fund," said the director of the Fund, Luka Balen, underlining that the amount of EUR 650 million would be directed to priorities such as energy renovation of buildings, the development of PV power plants, encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, the development of e-mobility, decarbonisation of industry, and climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. He added that through its programmes, the Fund had renovated about 38 thousand family houses and co-financed more than 15 thousand RES systems, mostly PV power plants. "We will soon start with a new public call worth 38 million euros, which aims to further strengthen the resilience of citizens to the energy crisis and accelerate the green transition," said Balen.
The Director of the Directorate for Climate Transition, Mario Stipetić, presented the Fourth National Plan for the Implementation of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Republic of Croatia. He pointed out that since 2007 Croatia, as a party to the Convention, had been continuously implementing measures to reduce the impact of these substances that pose a risk to human health and the environment due to their longevity and toxicity.
The presented documents that will be sent to the e-consultation confirm Croatia's commitment to further strengthening climate and environmental policies and the protection of health, the environment and sustainable development.
