Environmental policies for benefit of citizens discussed at Moldova's parliament

The transformation of environmental policies into benefits for people and the economy today was discussed at an event on summing up the work of the Parliamentary Committee on Climate, Environment, and Green Transition for the period 2021-2025. The discussions held at the parliament were attended by the Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, MPs, representatives of the government, diplomatic missions, international partners, local authorities, civil society, and the business community.

In the opening of the meeting, Igor Grosu reiterated the parliament's commitment to environmental subjects, noting that they had consistently been on the parliament's agenda.

'I believe we have succeeded in adopting policies, laws, ratifying agreements, and advancing to their implementation stage. I am also pleased to note that the National Afforestation Programme has gained particular interest across the country, a statement I make based on personal observations, participation in planting activities and discussions with mayors from various localities who have expressed their willingness and facilitated afforestation efforts,’’ said Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu.

The speaker also said that one of the major dimensions addressed in parliament was also the waste management issue. 'We are witnessing unprecedented climate changes, some of them irreversible. We must acknowledge, even if with delay, that we need to recover what has not been done in time. Everyone understands that we need a coherent and responsible approach in this sector,’’ the speaker stressed.

For his part, Minister of Environment Sergiu Lazarencu emphasized that, in recent years, environmental protection had become a real priority for the government. A concrete proof in this regard is the establishment of the Ministry of Environment as a separate institution.

‘’During the period when the Ministry of Environment was merged with the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development, important initiatives were lost, and many reforms were put on hold. The institutional reorganization in 2021 thus came as a necessary response, marking a new beginning,’’ the minister said.

Minister Lazarencu highlighted the most important projects carried out in recent years, including the National Program for the Extension and Rehabilitation of Forests 2023–2032 – one of the most visible and concrete commitments of the Ministry of Environment. Launched at an initiative by President Maia Sandu, the programme aims to plant 145,000 hectares of forest over ten years. Already this year, over 16,000 hectares have been afforested and by the end of the year, it is estimated that 22,000 hectares will be reached.

'This is an unprecedented programme since the declaration of Independence in the last decades – both in scope and impact. 145,000 hectares by 2032 may seem like a technical figure, but it means oxygen, shade, biodiversity, more precipitation, and a healthier life for all of us. It's not just an environmental initiative, but a national effort, a lesson in cooperation and long-term vision,’’ Sergiu Lazarencu said.

The minister also referred to the strengthening of the legal framework. The new Forestry Code, recently approved, provides clear tools for efficient and transparent forest management, setting stricter protection rules and incentives for sustainable management, including in the case of communal forests.

In her speech, Mariana Cusnir, Vice President of the Environment, Climate, and Green Transition Commission, touched upon the fact that, in the past four years, the committee had promoted public policies and regulations aimed at protecting soil, conserving natural resources and preparing Moldova for climate change adaptation. The lawmaker also emphasized that the exercise of summing up of the Committee's activity was not just a moment of conclusions, but also an opportunity for reflection on future directions of action.

'Today, we are not only taking stock, but also launching a collective call for continuity and collaboration. Because only together can we build a green, sustainable Moldova, prepared for a European future,’’ MP Mariana Cusnir stressed in her message. 

The event on the summing up of the work of the Climate, Environment, and Green Transition Commission also included an exhibition entitled, Focus on Nature: Protected Areas Through the Objective. The exhibition presents a collection of photographs taken over a year in three of the most representative natural areas in the country – Orhei National Park, Lower Dniester National Park and Codrii (Forests) Natural Reserve – and brings to the forefront the beauty and fragility of these ecosystems.





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