Moldova Mayors Tackle Climate and Green Energy Solutions

Over 70 active signatories of the Covenant of Mayors for Energy and Climate gathered in Chișinău for the fourth annual meeting of the Local Sustainable Development Platform. The event highlighted the achievements of local leaders, their efforts in reducing CO₂ emissions, and strengthening climate resilience at the local level, as well as their plans for a sustainable future tailored to climate and energy challenges, in the context of Moldova’s accession to the European Union. At the end of the meeting, an updated Roadmap was adopted, reflecting the local support needs and expectations of local public authorities from central institutions, as part of joint efforts for the transition to sustainable energy and climate action. Additionally, 18 new signatories received their accession certificates to the Covenant.

The event was also attended by representatives of the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Moldova, as well as officials from the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment.

“With over 100 signatories of the Covenant of Mayors, Moldova is becoming a regional leader in climate and sustainable energy action. These achievements are even more remarkable given the difficult geopolitical context and major energy challenges. The country has committed to an ambitious goal of becoming climate neutral by 2030, according to the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). At the regional level, the Covenant of Mayors set a 60% CO₂ emission reduction target by 2030 last year, and Moldova aims for even more,” said Darya Mustafayeva, Program Manager at DG ENER of the European Commission.

Solomon Ioannou, representative of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, highlighted the efficiency of local public authorities in attracting and implementing grants at the local level for the modernization of public lighting, energy efficiency in buildings, and climate change adaptation.

“We are working with the EBRD and the French Development Agency (AFD) to facilitate the renovation of buildings through co-financing mechanisms—grants and loans—that enable the launch of concrete projects in communities. Twenty million euros from the ‘European Village’ program are directly allocated to projects for town halls, targeting local buildings, public lighting, fire stations, and similar initiatives. These EU funds are managed by the Government but are intended for local communities, which will benefit directly from these amounts,” emphasized Solomon Ioannou.

Irina Plis, a national expert within the Eastern Partnership Covenant of Mayors project, highlighted that following three consecutive energy crises since 2022, the Covenant of Mayors has proven to be an essential platform for local public authorities (LPAs), offering concrete support in addressing energy challenges and planning for energy and climate.

“Through the support office and capacity building events, we help LPAs develop action plans and access European funds. Recently, a regional online platform was created within the Covenant for project ideas seeking funding. From Moldova, 36 applications have been submitted, demonstrating the strong need for support in attracting resources for local climate and energy projects. Through close partnerships with national and international actors, we continually align with national and European policies and provide technical advice tailored to local needs,” said Irina Plis.

As a platform for dialogue and planning between authorities, experts, and development partners, the event included discussions on key current topics: local financing mechanisms, legislative reforms, and strengthening implementation capacities in the field.

“This is teamwork. Without the active involvement of local administrations, without clear policies and concrete support, we could not achieve our ambitious energy and climate goals. Moldova is showing it’s ready to take the step toward a true energy transition,” stated Valentina Casian, Chair of the Local Sustainable Development Platform.

The National Roadmap 2025–2027, adopted at the end of the event, shows that local authorities need support in capacity building; easier access to funding – dedicated funds for LPAs, flexible co-financing, and simplified guidelines; support for green projects and local infrastructure – energy efficiency, renewable energy, green spaces, and public lighting; and adjustments to the regulatory framework – integrating the action plans developed under the Covenant into national policies and promoting green procurement, among others.

The Covenant of Mayors is the largest global initiative for local climate action. Through the active involvement of local authorities and the support of European partners, the Republic of Moldova demonstrates that it is ready to play a leadership role in the region.