Distinguished guests, Excellencies,

Dear Mr. Achim Steiner,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, I would like to thank you for this invitation and opportunity to express my views and thoughts on the sustainable human development of Moldova. But before that, I would like to congratulate UNDP globally for this very relevant focus and timely narrative of the Global Human Development Report.

Our choices in doing development affect directly and indirectly the environment around us, the nature and the people, including future generations.

The recent impact of the COVID-19 and natural disasters such as drought on a small country like Moldova affected health and education sectors, as well as has profound negative effects on the economy. The same challenges are faced by the entire region. It also reminds us about how vulnerable we became when it comes to natural disasters, changing climate conditions and climate change in general.  

Our Human Development Index steadily increased and we are now in the group of countries with high Human Development Index. Yet, the circumstances are such that require more accelerated efforts on almost all Sustainable Development Goals, but also greater ambition to sustain the achievements and increase resilience to the new surfacing risks.

I am proud to note that Moldova has become the fourth country in the World that submitted its 2020 Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, joining the Marshall Islands, Norway and Suriname. The country enhanced its Nationally Determined Contribution to 70% (unconditional) and up to 88% (conditional) reductions in Greenhouse Gases emissions in 2030 compared to 1990.

As we read the UNDP’s 2020 Global Human Development Report, we are delighted to see that Moldova is mentioned as an example of a nation that is making socio-economic progress and, at same time, its carbon and material footprint is relatively and comparatively limited, underlining that lighter pressure on the planet is possible. Yet, there are many areas for improvement. Consumption behavior is just one important aspect – modelling such behavior by reducing inefficiencies is relevant.

With UNDP Moldova support we have recently concluded one of the largest in the region behavioral experiment to reduce electricity use at the level of households that proved how social norms trigger more responsible consumption. To mention that we are almost fully dependent as a nation on the import of electricity from our neighbors and such energy is still produced from fossil fuels.  Going forward we believe we would like to focus on several key aspects:

• Recover from the deep crisis induced by the COVID-19 and equally make sure that the emerging opportunities for a more sustainable human development are captured by the country and the people; we do require a wider consensus, from the development partners to ordinary citizens to mobilize ourselves for a ‘greener’ recovery;

• Find new ways to sustain progress – an important part of this process is related to connecting citizens and private sector, build trust in institutions, modernize public services, support digital transformation of the country and so on and so forth;

• Accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals – and expand human development in balance with the planet by tackling complex development problems in more systemic manner through long-term thinking and acting locally.

Finally, we would like to sincerely thank United National Development Programme for its consistent and continuous support to the Government and people of this country in achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Our longstanding partnership is even more relevant as we a reaching the ‘new frontier’ and entering the ‘age of humans’.

Thank you!