Republic of Moldova

With a population of around 3.15 million (2019), Moldova contributes as little as 0.026% to the total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and is among the lower range of the per capita footprint with 2.13mt CO2e. The key emitter sectors are:
In its updated Second National Determined Contribution (NDC), the Republic of Moldova intends to achieve more ambitious targets than in its First NDC. The country’s new economy-wide unconditional target is to reduce its GHG emissions by 70% below its 1990 level in 2030, instead of 64-67% as committed in the First NDC, which could be further decreased to 88%, if international low cost financial resources, technology transfer, and technical cooperation are ensured.
Moldova is highly vulnerable to climate change and variability, and the socio-economic costs of climate change related to hazards such as droughts (1), floods (2), late spring frost (3), hail (4) are significant.
Increasingly erratic weather patterns have resulted in loss of life and income through rising food and energy prices. The most vulnerable sectors are agriculture, human health, water resources, forestry, transport and energy.

Climate change is streamlined into the main strategic planning document of the country – the National Development Strategy “Moldova 2030 (2019). Moldova was amongst the first countries in the world to start developing a Low Emissions Development Strategy to the Year 2020.The Energy Strategy of the Republic of Moldova outlines the climate change mitigation in the sector until 2030. In 2014 the Government approved the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, the first national strategic framework, which aims to advance the resilience of the country’s social and economic development processes. It serves as an umbrella strategy which creates the enabling environment for specific sectors to ‘mainstream’ climate change adaptation and risk management into existing and future sectoral adaptation plans. The National Designated Authority in the Climate Change Area is the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, which houses the Climate Change Office.

Climate policy development and advancing cooperation with the EU in Moldova

The EU-Moldova Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA), fully entered into force on 1 July 2016 after being applied provisionally since September 2014. The Agreement significantly strengthens political association and economic integration between Moldova and the EU. With extensive support from the EU, Moldova is making gradual progress on the approximation of the EU environmental and energy legislation to ensure energy security and diversify supply sources, including through renewable energy. The EU has supported climate change related actions in the transport sector as well, amongst others, by improving public transport in the big cities, restructuring and modernising the Moldovan rail sector, and rehabilitating country roads. Moldova is moving forward on its low-carbon and climate resilient development pathway, with strong support from the EU and international financing institutions.

2014
- Association Agreement with the EU
- 3rd National Communication
- National Adaptation Strategy until 2020
2015
- INDC 2016-2030
- COP21 Paris Agreement
- Pledge to Sustainable Developent
  Agenda 2030
2016
- Biennial Update Report 1 (BUR)
- LEDS (2016-2030)
- Revised National Renewable Energy
  Action Plan (NREAP) (2018-2020)
2017
- LEDS 2030 entered into force
- Ratification of Paris Agreement
- Third GHG Inventory submitted
2018
- Environment Agency set up
- 4rd National Communication
- 3rd National Energy Efficiency
  Action Plan (NEEAP) (2019-2021)
2019
- EU4Climate launched
- BUR2
- National Measurement, Reporting and
  Verification (MRV) System set up
- National Development Strategy
  “Moldova 2030” (2020-2030)
2020
- Updated NDC (2021-2030)
- National Energy and Climate Plan
  (NECP) (2021-2030)

EU4Climate key policy interventions and expected impact

Moldova is working towards establishing a strong foundation for low emission and climate resilient growth, being one of the first countries in the world to develop a Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS) and the fourth country to submit to UNFCCC a tougher Second NDC. The Government of Moldova increasingly recognises the importance of adapting to new climatic conditions and has a strong commitment to increasing capacity to respond to disasters and climate risks. However, being a developing country, with limited capacity, Moldova needs additional support to the national efforts through international financial, technological and capacity building support.

EU4Climate Action, funded by the European Union, aims to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries. In Moldova, the first priority of the project was to support the development of an updated and enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution. A robust domestic emissions monitoring, reporting and verification system will be established to inform the government and the international community of the progress of its NDC implementation.

EU4Climate result areas and timeframe in Moldova

RESULT AREAS

2019

2020

2021

2022

NDC

Long-term LEDS

MRV System

EU Climate Acquis

Climate mainstreaming

Climate investment

Adaptation planning

The EU4Climate project’s substantial activities started in Moldova in the second half of 2019, and laid the footing for a systematic implementation of the requirements of the Paris Agreement and the commitments of Moldova under it. Throughout the project, EU and best international practices will be applied, including some alignment with the EU Acquis included in bilateral agreements and the Energy Community Treaty on Climate Action.

Full country profile can be downloaded here.