An awareness-raising event on local climate and energy action opportunities was held in Baku within the framework of the European Union-funded “Covenant of Mayors – East” (Merlər Razılaşması – Şərq Tərəfdaşlığı) initiative.
The meeting, organized on February 10, brought together approximately 100 participants — representatives of municipalities from various regions, employees of local executive authorities, and experts from national institutions. The event is part of the European Union’s broader efforts to support climate resilience, energy efficiency, and sustainable development at the local level in the Eastern Partnership countries.
The main objective of the event was to clearly explain to potentially interested municipalities the practical meaning of joining the “Covenant of Mayors,” the associated commitments, and the benefits it offers. The initiative’s team provided participants with detailed information on methodological support for preparing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAP), online tools for monitoring progress, technical assistance in project development and implementation, capacity-building trainings, and available funding opportunities.
During the event, Sayyara Musayeva, Deputy Head of the Sheki City Executive Authority; Anar Ismayilov, Chairman of the Mingachevir City Municipality; and Anatolii Topal, Mayor of Ceadîr-Lunga in Moldova, shared their experiences.
The initiative is already yielding concrete results in Azerbaijan. Mingachevir became the first city in the country to receive support for preparing a SECAP. Both Mingachevir and Sheki have benefited from support in conducting energy audits of municipal facilities, identifying potential projects, and finding funding sources. In Sheki, funding for a specific climate adaptation project was attracted through the “Mounting Adapt” program. In addition, the initiative contributes to organizing public awareness events such as “Energy Days.”
Experts from the Ministry of Energy accompanied the initiative’s representatives during a visit to Sheki, where they inspected facilities including a small hydropower plant, traditional water mills, and historical monuments. This visit facilitated practical discussions on the integration of climate, energy, and cultural heritage into sustainable development.
The event was opened by the EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Marijana Kunjundzic, who highlighted the crucial role of cities in combating climate change and called on more municipalities to join Europe’s largest local climate movement. The Ambassador noted that currently around 12,000 local authorities have taken on these voluntary commitments, and the EU continues to support Azerbaijani municipalities through training, technical assistance, experience exchange, and networking.
Cahid Mikayilov, Head of the Energy Efficiency Department at the Ministry of Energy, stated in his speech that the “Covenant of Mayors – Eastern Partnership” serves as a favorable platform for implementing energy efficiency policy at the local level, and the Ministry will continue its cooperation with municipalities to make maximum use of these opportunities.
Christophe Frering, Head of the initiative’s team, emphasized that interest from Azerbaijan is steadily growing, and their main task is to provide municipalities with all the necessary information, tools, and real-life examples to make an informed decision about joining.
The event is regarded as one of the important steps toward accelerating Azerbaijan’s processes of climate adaptation and energy transition at the local level.
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