Local Authorities from Moldova, Ukraine and Azerbaijan commit to meet and exceed the EU’s 20% CO2 reduction target by 2020

Geneva, 13 November 2012 Balti, Moldova; Vinnytsya, Ukraine and Icheri Sheher, Azerbaijan have committed to an ambitious action aimed at meeting energy needs sustainably while curbing climate change impacts and depending less on fossil fuels. The move comes under the European Commission’s “Covenant of Mayors (COMO) Going East” programme for Eastern European, Caucasus, and Central Asian countries; the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) is coordinating the initiative for the three cities.

Through the development of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs), the cities expect to reap social and economic benefits and, in some cases, enhance job creation. Benefits could include energy savings, local energy production, less traffic congestion leading to better air quality and improved health through pollution reduction. Participation in the COMO initiative is also expected to increase cities’ visibility and their access to EU funds.

As a first step in the development of SEAPs, the cities of Balti, Vinnytsya and Icheri Sheher are developing their baseline emissions inventories (BEI) that quantify the CO₂ related to energy consumption. To be conducted every two years, the inventory covers direct emissions by fuel combustion from infrastructure and transport as well as indirect emissions from the production of electricity, heating and air conditioning.

As coordinator, UNEP will assist the three cities in their development and partial implementation of the SEAPs through concrete activities such as improving energy efficiency in schools by changing insulation over the period 2013-2014. The cities are also mounting a wide public awareness effort to generate understanding and support for their actions. Information on climate change and energy issues will be disseminated through campaigns, events and other communication activities. Regional and global networks will be established for sharing of lessons and best practice, and the cities plan to actively push information about their projects and COMO through municipal websites, their BEI and SEAP documents.

For more information, please contact Isabelle Valentiny on +41 79 251 82 36 or via e-mail: isabelle.valentiny@unep.org