EU4Climate: Moldova has one of the highest greenhouse gas intensities in Europe, reported to GDP

Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Moldova increased by 53% to 10 million tone CO2-EQ per year between 2000 and 2020 but are still lower than in the 1990 reference year, when they collapsed because of the economic crisis caused by the Soviet Union breakup.

At the same time, the country’s energy intensity dropped in 20 years by 40.6% to 18.32 GJ/$1,000 in 2015, and GHG emissions intensity – by 29.3%, up to 1180 kg CO2//$1,000 in 2015. However, the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions remains in Moldova one of the highest in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

These are some of the conclusions of the study on the integration of climate change in energy policies, developed by EU4Climate project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP.

A set of multi-level recommendations by EU4climate experts were developed, aimed at improving the legislation, the integration of climate indicators into the strategic planning of the energy sector, strengthening of institutional capacities, policy planning capacities among local public authorities and the role international organisations and financial institutions for climate change integration in energy policies, technology transfer and green market development.

At the same time, a Guide for the consolidation of climate planning and energy planning processes was developed by EU4Climate experts. It proposes, among others, the definition, implementation and communication of a long-term strategic vision to support policy coherence in climate and energy areas that will survive planning cycles, ensuring policy coordination and support for climate change priorities.
With a total budget of 8.8 million Euros, the EU4Climate Project takes place in the period 2019-2022 and has the following components: updating the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement developing National Low-emission Development Strategies by 2050; the introduction and strengthening of the framework for the monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions; alignment with the acquis communautaire in the field of climate; integrating the climate dimension into sectoral policy documents, raising awareness and developing sectoral guidelines for the implementation of the Paris Agreement; attracting investment in climate change; better planning for adaptation to climate change.