PRESS RELEASE // Analysis Published: "Climate Change and Social Inequalities in the Republic of Moldova: A Climate Justice Perspective"

 

How does climate change affect social inequalities in the Republic of Moldova? An analysis from a climate justice perspective

27 July 2026, Chișinău – Climate change should be understood not only as a series of environmental phenomena but also through its impact on people and social equity. This is the perspective promoted by the concept of climate justice, which is at the heart of the analysis "Climate Change and Social Inequalities in the Republic of Moldova: A Climate Justice Perspective" (RO: „Schimbările climatice și inegalitățile sociale în Republica Moldova: o perspectivă de justiție climatică”), authored by journalist and public policy analyst Eleonora Lisnic with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Moldova.

The publication aims to facilitate the understanding and application of the climate justice concept in the Republic of Moldova and to contribute to integrating social equity into climate adaptation policies.

According to the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Moldova, "climate change is not only an environmental challenge but also a social one. The concept of climate justice highlights that the individuals and communities with the fewest resources to adapt are often those most exposed to the impacts of the climate crisis." Through this publication, the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Moldova seeks "to contribute to a better understanding of the social impacts of climate change and to encourage dialogue on developing climate policies that are more resilient, more inclusive, and better aligned with the social realities of the Republic of Moldova."

The analysis shows that the impacts of climate change are not experienced equally across the population. Those most affected are individuals and communities with the fewest resources to adapt. The vulnerable groups identified include low-income households, people affected by energy poverty, rural residents, farmers dependent on agriculture, older persons, rural women, children, persons with disabilities, personal social assistants, and communities with limited access to water, infrastructure, and public services.

Building on these realities, the publication examines how public policies can contribute to more equitable climate adaptation. It addresses areas such as public health, social protection, energy efficiency, energy poverty, access to water supply and sanitation, agriculture, local development, infrastructure, and public transport.

The analysis proposes a number of policy directions aimed at strengthening climate resilience and reducing social inequalities. These include developing cities that are better adapted to heatwaves, mitigating the urban heat island effect, improving conditions in public transport and for commuters during periods of extreme heat, modernising hospitals and other public institutions with smart ventilation and air-conditioning systems, and strengthening support mechanisms for vulnerable households, including the EcoVoucher programme.

The author of the analysis, Eleonora Lisnic, emphasises that the social dimension should become an integral part of climate policy:

"Climate change does not affect everyone in the same way. That is why, when we talk about climate adaptation, we must also talk about people—especially those who have the fewest resources to protect themselves and who often bear the greatest consequences. Strengthening climate policies in the Republic of Moldova requires an approach that brings together environmental, social, and economic objectives. Without social equity, climate action risks being less effective and more difficult for society to embrace. At the same time, recent developments in European and international case law show that protection against the impacts of climate change is increasingly being viewed through the lens of fundamental human rights. I hope this analysis will introduce the concept of climate justice into the public debate in the Republic of Moldova and encourage public policies that protect not only the environment but also the people who are most vulnerable."

The analysis provides a starting point for the further development and integration of the climate justice concept into public debate and the climate policymaking process in the Republic of Moldova. It also offers a framework for reflection for public authorities, civil society organisations, academia, the media, and everyone interested in building climate policies that are both fairer and more effective.

The full analysis is available at: https://collections.fes.de/publikationen/content/titleinfo/1989564

The analysis was written in Romanian.

Author: Eleonora Lisnic

How Does Climate Change Affect Social Inequalities in the Republic of Moldova?

Key Findings of the Analysis "Climate Change and Social Inequalities in the Republic of Moldova: A Climate Justice Perspective"

When we think about climate change, we usually think of droughts, heatwaves, storms, or floods. Far less often do we think about the people who bear the heaviest consequences of these phenomena. A day with temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) does not mean the same thing for everyone. For some, it is merely a temporary discomfort. For others, it may mean worsening health conditions, crop losses, the inability to cool their homes, or even a threat to their lives.

This human dimension lies at the heart of the concept of climate justice—an approach that views climate change not only as an environmental issue but also as a matter of social equity.

The analysis "Climate Change and Social Inequalities in the Republic of Moldova: A Climate Justice Perspective" (Schimbările climatice și inegalitățile sociale în Republica Moldova: o perspectivă de justiție climatică”), prepared by journalist and public policy analyst Eleonora Lisnic with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation Moldova (June 2026), explores the links between climate change, social vulnerabilities, and public policies through the lens of climate justice.

Climate Change Does Not Affect Everyone Equally

The central argument of the analysis is straightforward: climate change amplifies existing social inequalities. Individuals and communities with the fewest resources to adapt are generally the most exposed to extreme climate events. At the same time, they have the least capacity to protect their health, homes, or sources of income.

This perspective changes the way we think about climate adaptation. Building infrastructure or adopting strategies is not enough. It is equally important to ask who benefits from these measures, who is left behind, and whether public policies reduce—or, on the contrary, reinforce—social inequalities.

Climate justice is built on several fundamental principles: the fair distribution of costs and benefits, meaningful participation of affected communities in decision-making, protection of human rights, and the responsibility of public authorities and economic actors to prevent and reduce the impacts of climate change. In essence, climate policies should not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions or mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events but should also contribute to reducing social inequalities.

An Increasingly Important Concept in Europe

In recent years, climate justice has also become an important issue in international jurisprudence. A landmark development was the judgment delivered on 9 April 2024 by the European Court of Human Rights in the case Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland. More than 2,500 elderly women demonstrated that heatwaves were affecting their health and that the state's insufficient action to address climate change exposed them to real risks. The Court ruled in their favour, finding that inadequate climate action can interfere with fundamental human rights.

This landmark judgment confirms that climate change is no longer viewed solely as an environmental issue. It is increasingly recognised as a matter of public health, quality of life, and the protection of fundamental human rights.

Who Is Most Vulnerable in the Republic of Moldova?

The analysis shows that the Republic of Moldova is already experiencing the impacts of climate change: more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves, extreme precipitation, and other weather events affecting agriculture, public health, infrastructure, and the economy. However, these impacts are not distributed evenly.

Among the most vulnerable groups are low-income households, people experiencing energy poverty, rural residents, farmers who depend on agriculture, older persons, rural women, children, persons with disabilities, and communities with limited access to public services, safe drinking water, or basic infrastructure. Their ability to adapt to climate change is constrained by a lack of financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient public services.

The analysis pays particular attention to the challenges faced in everyday life by rural women, children, older people—especially those living in depopulated villages—persons with disabilities, and informal caregivers (personal social assistants).

From this perspective, climate change does not merely create new problems; it exacerbates existing ones. Poverty, unequal access to public services, underdeveloped infrastructure, and the isolation of certain communities all increase vulnerability to extreme weather events. For this reason, the analysis argues that climate policies and social policies cannot be designed separately—they must complement one another.

What Does Equitable Climate Adaptation Mean?

The analysis emphasises that adapting to climate change is about much more than building flood defences, planting trees, or upgrading infrastructure. Effective adaptation must also reduce social vulnerabilities so that all segments of the population benefit from protective measures and have genuine opportunities to cope with the impacts of climate change.

In the Republic of Moldova, climate change is already affecting many aspects of everyday life. The analysis examines access to water supply and sanitation, public health, agriculture, residential energy efficiency, transport, local development, and social protection, demonstrating that all these sectors must be considered together when designing climate adaptation policies.

For example, heatwaves are becoming an increasingly serious challenge for cities. The analysis highlights the need to reduce the urban heat island effect, which is intensified by extensive concrete, asphalt, and glass surfaces. Buildings with highly reflective façades can increase thermal discomfort in public spaces. Urban development should therefore take these effects into account by expanding green spaces, providing shade in pedestrian areas, and promoting architectural solutions suited to a warmer climate.

Public transport is another sector where climate change will require new solutions. During periods of extreme heat, travelling becomes increasingly difficult both for passengers and for people who commute daily between towns and villages. The analysis underlines the need to develop public transport systems that are more comfortable and more resilient to extreme temperatures, recognising that access to mobility is also a matter of social equity.

The publication also pays particular attention to energy poverty, which affects a significant number of households. In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has made important progress through energy efficiency programmes and the introduction of the EcoVoucher Programme. However, the analysis suggests that these instruments could become even more effective if social vulnerability were assessed more accurately according to people's real-life circumstances and if support measures were prioritised for those with the greatest needs.

Given the growing frequency of heatwaves, the analysis proposes expanding the EcoVoucher Programme to include the purchase of energy-efficient air conditioners and air purifiers. For many vulnerable people, such equipment is no longer merely a matter of comfort but an essential measure for protecting health and, in certain situations, even preventing life-threatening risks.

Another area examined is public health. Hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other public institutions with large numbers of visitors must be better prepared for periods of extreme heat. The analysis recommends modernising these facilities by installing smart ventilation and air-conditioning systems capable of ensuring appropriate conditions for patients, healthcare professionals, and the public.

A New Perspective on Public Policy

One of the analysis's main contributions is its proposal for a shift in perspective. Rather than viewing climate change exclusively as an environmental issue, it examines its effects on people's lives. The key question is no longer only how to reduce the impacts of climate-related hazards, but also who is affected the most, who has the fewest opportunities to adapt, and how public policies can reduce these disparities.

Such an approach calls for complementing existing climate policies with a strong social dimension. Climate adaptation thus becomes not only an investment in infrastructure and technology but also an investment in people and in reducing social inequalities.

Through this analysis, the concept of climate justice is applied and explained directly in the context of the Republic of Moldova. The publication provides a valuable framework for reflection for public authorities, civil society organisations, the academic community, journalists, and everyone interested in developing climate policies that are both fairer and more effective.

Its central message is clear: climate change does not affect everyone equally, and adaptation will only be truly effective if it also addresses the social dimension of these transformations.

The analysis was written in Romanian. 

Full analysis: https://collections.fes.de/publikationen/content/titleinfo/1989564