The EU is at the forefront of international efforts to fight climate change. The European Green Deal sets out a clear path towards realizing the EU's ambitious target of a 55% reduction in carbon emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030, and to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050.

As the EU raises its own climate ambition and less stringent environmental and climate policies prevail in non-EU countries, there is a strong risk of so-called “carbon leakage” – i.e. companies based in the EU could move carbon-intensive production abroad to take advantage of lax standards, or EU products could be replaced by more carbon-intensive imports. Such carbon leakage can shift emissions outside of Europe and therefore seriously undermine EU and global climate efforts.

GD 1277/2018 has been recently reviewed based on the Enhanced Transparency Framework. The respective amendments to the GD 1277/2018 have been aproved by the Government.

Moldova has been a Contract Party to the Energy Community since 2010. Under the EnC Treaty and the Chapter 14 “Energy Cooperation” of the Association Agreement RM-EU, Moldova has been developing its energy related legislation.

Moldova, as an economy in transition, has demonstrated progress in transposing the energy-related EU Directives and meeting the Association Agreements & Energy Community commitments. With support of various development partners and being closely guided by the Energy Community Secretariat, Moldova continues to develop policies and regulatory measures to improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy use and improve electricity market.

Moldova is slowly but steadily advancing in development of its National Energy and Climate Action Plan (NECP) and support for timely finalization of this paper, aimed to become the main national policy document in energy security, energy efficiency, decarbonization, internal energy market, as well as research, innovation and competitiveness areas. In addition, after its completion the NECP will be used in drafting of the National Energy Strategy by 2030 (in line with the EU Directives and climate targets). 

Moldova has fully transposed the third Energy Package acquis into the primary legislation. At the same time, the National Agency for Energy Regulation of the Republic of Moldova has approved the secondary legislation drafted in line with the provisions of the energy package regarding the functioning of the electricity and natural gas market.

During the 2021 Energy Community Ministerial Council, Moldova has committed to transpose by 31 December 2022 a series of directives and regulations of the Clean Energy for all Europeans package, which addresses the energy performance of buildings, renewable energy, energy efficiency, governance and electricity market design.

The introduction of CBAM by the EU will have a high impact on operation of the national  industry and energy sector of the Republic of Moldova. As a result, a comprehensive analysis of threats and opportunities of CBAM regulation for the economy of the Republic of Moldova is required.

The objective of the assignment is to provide support to the Government of the Republic of Moldova in analysis of vulnerability of its industry and energy sector to CBAM regulation of the EU, namely:

• to analyze the legal framework of CBAM regulation;
• to assess interrelation of CBAM and EU ETS mechanisms;
• to develop recommendations for mitigation of impact of CBAM regulation on the economy of the Republic of Moldova;
• to arrange public consultations with stakeholders on impact of CBAM regulation on the economy of the Republic of Moldova and identify key actions needed to mitigate it.   

Being supervised by the EU4Climate National Coordinator, and in close cooperation with national consultant and the staff of the relevant ministries and authorities of the Republic of Moldova, the international consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables:

1. To provide an overview of the legal framework of CBAM regulation (scope of industrial products included into CBAM; description of key provisions and recommendations for improvement of the current version of CBAM regulations; description of discussed draft policy papers, legal documents and recommendations concerning CBAM introduction and implementation by non-EU member states, including countries signed Association Agreements with the EU).
2. Assessment of interrelation of CBAM and EU ETS mechanisms (in terms of scope of sectoral regulations, approaches for GHG emission sectoral benchmark values, key milestones and timeframes of regulations adopted or drafted, analysis of proposed institutional framework of carbon regulation relevant for non-EU member states, including countries signed Association Agreements with the EU).
3. With support of the hired national consultant on analysis of export of goods subject to CBAM regulation from the Republic of Moldova to the EU to develop a roadmap with recommendations for mitigation of impact of CBAM regulation on the economy of the Republic of Moldova;
4. To conduct public consultations with stakeholders (representatives of ministries, authorities, international organizations, international financial institutions, business, research institutions, non-governmental organizations) on impact of CBAM regulation on the economy of the Republic of Moldova (including legal, organizational, institutional, capacity building and technical assistance measures required) and identify key actions needed to mitigate it.

https://sc.undp.md/jobs/2536/

• Strong knowledge of the EU low carbon development policies and regulations;
• Strong knowledge of the sectoral decarbonization approaches and options relevant to the Republic of Moldova or other developing countries in CEE region;
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills demonstrated by previous assignments;
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, ability to work in a team, demonstrated by previous assignments;
• Ability to work with Government representatives; • Excellent knowledge of English.
• Working knowledge of Romanian is an asset.

https://sc.undp.md/jobs/2536/

I.Education:

• Master degree in economics, or international law, or engineering, or environmental management, or business administration, or other related fields;

II.Experience:

• At least 5 years of proven professional experience in EU environmental policy research, sectoral decarbonization or sustainable development policy analysis, EU ETS mechanisms, GHG monitoring, reporting and verification regulations;

• At least 5 years of proven professional experience in writing analytical reports, articles or implementation of consultancy projects focused on EU environmental policy research, sectoral decarbonization or sustainable development policy analysis, EU ETS mechanisms, GHG monitoring, reporting and verification regulations.

• Excellent knowledge of EU CBAM regulations and EU ETS.

• Experience in providing consultancy services to UNDP or other international organizations/international financial institutions is an asset.

https://sc.undp.md/jobs/2536/