With a population of around 9.5 million (2019), Belarus represents a relatively small portion, 0.18%, of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In 2018, CO2e emissions per capita for Belarus were 6.8 mt, and though the indicator fluctuated substantially in recent years, it tended to increase. The carbon intensity of the economy in the period 1995-2012 decreased almost 4 times, making it the fastest rate of progress toward low-carbon development in Europe.

In Belarus, energy and agriculture are the two sectors with the largest GHG emission shares,

and this is where the majority of the mitigation potential lies. As an Annex I country, in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Belarus made an unconditional quantified emission reduction target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 28% until 2030, compared to 1990.

The country faces significant climate change-related threats.

Temperatures (1), floods (2), droughts (3), precipitation (4) have begun to diverge from historical patterns, which will impact multiple sectors.

Water, while abundant within Belarus, may deteriorate in quality due to increased flooding, extreme rain events, and changes in runoff patterns. Furthermore, changing rainfall patterns and flooding may alter the distribution of dangerous radionuclides, particularly in food and water resources, found in southern Belarus as a result of the 1986 Chernobyl accident. In a country with almost 43% forested land, rising temperatures are likely to change ecosystem function, forest composition, and certain species of trees, such as spruce, will suffer. Drought and increased temperatures could make forests more vulnerable to climate-related threats, such as disease outbreaks and forest fires. The most vulnerable sectors are agriculture, human health, forestry, water resources, and energy.

The Government of the Republic of Belarus pays considerable attention to the problems of climate change and has in place some strategic policies and measures aimed at sustainable and green development. Together with sustainable energy and energy efficiency, the importance of measures to improve the quality of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases is emphasised, as forests occupy a vast part of its territory. Belarus reporting under the UNFCCC follows the stringent rules for the developed countries. However, as a country with an economy in transition, and possessing insufficient capacity to meet the challenges of the transition to low-emission and climate-resilient development, it is eligible for international climate change support.

EU4Climate Programme, funded by the European Union, aims to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries. Specifically, this project seeks to support Belarus in meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement, through providing support to decision-makers and planners in preparing and adopting an enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution in 2020, and the required a low carbon and climate-resilient development strategic documents for its implementation. Throughout the project, the best international and EU practices will be applied, including some alignment with the EU Acquis.