On May 16, 2024, the Framework Climate Action Law was published, establishing a regulatory basis for the Republic of Moldova to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The law aims to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement in reducing global temperatures and adapting to climate change, applying a financial mechanism for carbon emission pricing and the “polluter pays” principle.
Objectives of the Law:
- Development and Implementation of Programmatic Documents: The law mandates the development and implementation of documents aimed at achieving national climate and energy goals, aligned with the Paris Agreement and the Energy Community Treaty.
- Financial Planning: Ensuring the planning of financial resource allocation for low-carbon development and enhancing climate resilience.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Ensuring comprehensive, up-to-date, and transparent monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and reporting on the progress achieved.
- Access to Information: Ensuring public access to information on planning and implementing measures to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
To achieve intermediate climate goals by 2030 in accordance with the updated NDC, the law establishes the following principles:
- Climate neutrality by 2050.
- Fair and sustainable emission reductions.
- Prevention of environmental pollution.
- Precautionary principle.
- “Polluter pays” principle.
- Just and equitable transition.
- Joint commitments for planning, reporting, and monitoring.
- Transparency and accessibility of information. The law details the powers of government authorities and agencies, including the National Climate Change Commission.
According to Article 26 of the Climate Action Law in Moldova, operators conducting activities covered by this law are required to perform several important tasks to ensure the control and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Here are the main duties of operators:
- Obtaining a Comprehensive Environmental Permit: Operators must conduct industrial and economic activities based on a comprehensive environmental permit, which grants the right to emit GHG by the entire stationary installation or part thereof. This permit must meet the requirements of the greenhouse gas emission monitoring plan assessment.
- Ensuring Data Accuracy: Operators must ensure the correctness and completeness of all data and information submitted to the Environmental Agency throughout the validity period of the comprehensive environmental permit.
- Providing Data for Verification: Operators must provide data and information necessary to facilitate GHG emission verification in accordance with the Accreditation Regulation and the requirements for GHG emission verifiers approved by the Government.
- Developing and Agreeing on a Monitoring Plan: Operators must develop a greenhouse gas emission monitoring plan and agree on it with the Environmental Agency. This plan should include measures for monitoring and reporting GHG emissions, monitoring methodology, and other necessary measures.
- Quarterly Reporting: Operators are required to quarterly provide data on emissions and pollutant transfers related to the activities specified in Appendix 1 through the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR).
- Verification of Data by Verifier: Operators must ensure that the data submitted for approval or verification by the Environmental Agency is verified by a verifier.
- Annual Notification: Operators must annually, by December 1, notify the Environmental Agency of any changes or lack thereof in the information included in the comprehensive environmental permit, the monitoring plan, and other accompanying documents.
Appendix 1 of the Law lists three categories subject to carbon emission pricing. The first category includes stationary installations for fuel combustion, including municipal waste, metal production, and the chemical industry. The second category covers aviation, specifically flights of aircraft registered in the Republic of Moldova between airports located in two different countries, as well as from airports located in Moldova. The third category relates to maritime transport
