Mayors from eight countries, including Moldova, signed a declaration resolving to promote solar energy installations in their cities. Called the Solar Mayors Charter, the initiative was launched at an international forum that took place in Lisbon during March 18 and 19.

According to a press release from UNDP Moldova, the event is part of an initiative aimed to connect local governments, civic actors, private sector and citizens around clean energy production and financing.

“The achievement of SDG 7, affordable and clean energy is hardly achievable without consistent engagement with mayors, citizens and private sector. This is the reason why UNDP Moldova, in partnership with other countries, has launched the Solar Mayors Club, where mayors have signed a charter to commit to solar energy transition,” said Dumitru Vasilescu, UNDP Moldova Policy Analyst.

The event was attended by city mayors, civic actors, and representatives of energy crowdfunding platforms from Moldova, Serbia, Georgia, Tajikistan, Croatia, Somalia, Lebanon and Portugal.

Although Moldova is a country with high solar energy potential, it has experienced limited development of solar PV in recent years. Only 50-plus small projects, mostly rooftop solar, have been implemented during the last five years, mostly in Chisinau, with a cumulative capacity of almost 4MW. Solar PV could provide up to 4.5GW of capacity in Moldova.