DUSHANBE, February 28, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The European Commission, in cooperation with and under support of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia, is hosting the First National meeting aimed at introducing the European Initiative “Covenant of Mayors – East” in Tajikistan, Ms. Malika Babbajanova, the chairperson of the office of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia in Tajikistan, said.

According to her, the meeting participants include city mayors from Tajikistan, leading experts in the sphere of energy saving and energy efficiency, and representatives of international institutions: the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Tajikistan, UNDP CO in the Republic of Tajikistan, EBRD, INOGATE Program, USAID, ICF International, GIZ and the DACO Project.

“Covenant of Mayors – East” not only shares rich international and European experience of its more than 4400 signatories in contributing to green economic growth and improving quality of life, it also provides the municipalities in new independent states with access to latest energy efficient technologies and best practices.  Hence, it facilitates raising additional funds for project implementation in accordance with national priorities and specificities.

Covenant of Mayors is the flagship initiative of the European Union, which brings together local, regional and national authorities to fulfill voluntary commitments to reduce emissions of CO2 by at least 20% by 2020 through using energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.