CIS municipalities are adopting long-term, pro-growth strategies
By Eva Pawlowski
It is the primary contention of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (published in 2006) that pro-growth economic strategies are not at odds with strategies to avert climate change. The review argues, in fact, that tackling climate change is a longer-term, pro-growth strategy, and that this applies to both rich and poor countries. Energy efficiency is one proven way of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions without crippling economic growth, and is therefore one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to improve air quality.
Despite enormous potential for cost-effective energy savings, investment in energy efficiency has been slow to find its way to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), mostly because of policy barriers, lack of awareness, weak economic incentives and damaged business reputations. However, CIS local governments taking on more statutory obligations and gaining fiscal autonomy are becoming more accountable for the provision of utility services; and there is growing demand for information on replicable methods for improving municipal services within limited budgets. To address this need, the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington D.C.-based NGO, conducted Financing Municipal Energy Efficiency in the Commonwealth of Independent States, an international forum in Moscow, with funding from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP).
Participants included organisations and companies from 11 countries, such as Russia-based Center-Invest Bank, EnEffect Consult from Bulgaria, the International Finance Corporation, Nordic Finance Corporation (NEFCO), United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and USAID, as well as local and national governments from Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine.
