CoM East raises awareness of local climate action opportunities in Azerbaijan

The Covenant of Mayors – Eastern Partnership (CoM East), an EU-funded initiative, organised an awareness-raising events in Azerbaijan to present opportunities for municipalities considering joining one of the largest frameworks for local climate and energy action.

The first event took place on 10 February in Baku, bringing together around 100 representatives of municipalities and national institutions. The meeting gathered cities seeking to strengthen local energy efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainable development, as part of broader EU efforts to support informed local climate and energy commitments.

The meeting focused on helping potential signatories understand what joining the Covenant of Mayors means in practice. The CoM – East team presented the initiative’s framework and concrete support available to cities, including guidance on developing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans, tools for monitoring progress, access to the project helpdesk, capacity-building activities, and tailored technical assistance for the implementation of climate projects.

Sayyara Musayeva, Deputy Mayor of Sheki municipality, Anar Ismayilov, Mayor of Mingachevir Municipality, and Anatolii Topal, Mayor of Ceadir Lunga in Moldova, shared their experience of joining the Covenant of Mayors.

In Azerbaijan, participation in the Covenant of Mayors has already led to concrete results. Mingachevir was the first city in the country to receive support from the Covenant of Mayors – East for the development of a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), providing a structured basis for local climate and energy planning. For both Mingachevir and Sheki, the initiative supported energy audits of municipal facilities and is currently assisting the cities in finding financing. In Sheki, this support also helped secure funding under the Mounting Adapt programme for a concrete project. Additionally, CoM East supported the organisation of Energy Days, helping to engage local stakeholders and raise public awareness.

Opening the event, Marijana Kunjundzic, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan, highlighted the role of cities in delivering tangible climate and energy results and invited them to join the initiative.

“I am excited to invite more municipalities of Azerbaijan to join the largest movement of local governments in Europe acting on climate change to secure a better future for their citizens. Already around 12,000 local authorities voluntarily committed to act on energy and climate in line with the EU’s vision for a climate-neutral, resilient and fair future for all.  I am also proud that the EU is there to support signatory municipalities of Azerbaijan with training and methodological support, tailored technical assistance and best practices as well as exchange of experience, networking and awareness raising”, Ambassador Marijana Kunjundzic said.

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Emphasising that energy efficiency is one of the main directions of Azerbaijan’s sustainable development agenda and that steps taken at the local level play an important role in turning this policy into real results, Jahid Mikayilov, Head of the Energy Efficiency Department of the Ministry of Energy, stated:

“The Covenant of Mayors initiative is an important platform that provides municipalities with implementation mechanisms in the field of energy efficiency. The Ministry of Energy will continue to support local self-government bodies in making effective use of these opportunities.”

Christophe Frering, Team Leader of the Covenant of Mayors – East, said the events aimed to equip cities with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision.

“We see an increasing interest from Azerbaijan. Our role is to provide clear information, practical tools, and real examples so municipalities can decide whether and how to join the initiative,” Mr. Frering said.