Chisinau will have charging stations for electric vehicles and palm trees generating green energy

September 21, 2018

The Project Board approved the Project Action Plan for the entire implementation period: 2018-2022.

Charging stations for electric vehicles installed on the main urban routes, solar palm trees generating electricity from renewables, PET collection stations, online platform for civic participation of citizens of Chisinau, these are the plans of the “Moldova Sustainable Green Cities” Project for 2018-2019. The initiative is implemented by the UNDP and financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

These activities will be carried out in partnership with UNDP Moldova’s Innovation Labs, development partners, entrepreneurs and national/local authorities.

“I welcome the launch of this project that meets the challenges associated with the inherent phenomenon of urbanization. This initiative shall benefit citizens of the city. The planned pilots will be designed and developed together with the people living in Chisinau and in partnership with the private sector and civil society,” mentioned Ruslan Codreanu, interim general mayor of the Chisinau municipality.

“The Green City Lab provides an opportunity to test the notion that cities themselves represent ideal laboratories for transformative urban changes, where local authorities act as engines in facilitating collaboration and partnerships with the private sector and citizens to test and experiment with new solutions to known challenges, which if successful, can be replicated and scaled up,” mentioned Stefan Liller, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Moldova.

Urbanization asks for rethinking of public services and urban infrastructure, so that they are centered on people’s comfort in the city and, finally, are environmentally friendly. UNDP will support innovative pilot projects which reduce greenhouse gas emissions through effective waste management measures, energy efficiency in residential buildings, use of renewable energy and smart urban planning. Furthermore, Chisinau municipality will be assisted in the urban mobility planning, involving the population and the private sector in extensive consultations and thematic debates.

“Moldova Sustainable Green Cities” Project has a total budget of 2.72 mln USD, out of which 2.64 mln USD are financed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and USD 80,000 – by UNDP Moldova.

Half of Moldova’s rural population will migrate to cities by 2030. The influx of new residents will be felt especially in Chisinau, which will host over 50% of the country's entire urban population by 2030, thus increasing the pressure on infrastructure and services, and creating considerable social and environmental challenges.