Chișinău hosted the Final Conference of the European project BE READY – Urban Heat Islands: Strategy for Resilience, Preparedness and Mitigation, financed by the European Union through the Interreg Danube Region Programme 2021–2027 and implemented locally by the General Directorate for Architecture, Urban Planning and Land Relations, TRIBUNA reports.

The event took place on Wednesday, 22 April 2026, bringing together representatives of local and central public authorities, European institutions, international organisations, academia, project partners from the Danube Region, as well as representatives of the General Directorate for Architecture, Urban Planning and Land Relations.

Launched in January 2024 and set to conclude in June 2026, the BE READY project aims to strengthen the city’s capacity to prevent, manage and reduce the effects of the urban heat island phenomenon through integrated, data‑driven solutions and transnational cooperation. The initiative brings together 19 partners from 12 countries and includes pilot actions in 10 European cities, including Chișinău.

The conference was attended by the General Mayor of Chișinău, Ion Ceban, Deputy Mayor Ilie Ceban, representatives of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Moldova, the Ministry of Environment, partner city administrations, research institutions, sector organisations and international experts.

In his remarks, General Mayor Ion Ceban noted that rising urban temperatures pose a real challenge for modern cities, and Chișinău’s participation in the BE READY project has enabled the municipality to assess vulnerabilities, collaborate with international experts and identify concrete solutions to mitigate the effects of urban heat. He highlighted that the municipality already has a local action plan and pilot projects demonstrating the applicability and effectiveness of these solutions, stressing the importance of European partnerships and knowledge exchange in implementing sustainable development initiatives.

During the conference, participants presented the project’s results, the tools developed for analysing and managing the urban heat island phenomenon, as well as good practices from participating cities. Discussions focused on how cities can identify, measure and reduce the impact of high temperatures, integrate these policies into urban strategies, and strengthen cooperation between authorities, experts and communities.

In Chișinău, the project involved analysing heat‑vulnerable areas and the causes of the phenomenon, organising workshops with specialists and community representatives to identify solutions, developing a Local Action Plan for 2026–2028, conducting public information campaigns, and facilitating exchanges with other cities in the Danube Region.

One of the project’s outcomes is the construction of an educational pavilion at a municipal kindergarten, built with sustainable materials and showcasing practical solutions for adapting to high temperatures and creating green spaces.

The BE READY project has provided Chișinău with tools, data and practical examples for analysing and managing the urban heat island phenomenon.