Moscow projects won and became prize-winners in the "Green Eurasia" international competition
Environmental projects developed by the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development, the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection and the Department of Economic Policy and Development of the city won and became prize-winners of the international climate competition “Green Eurasia”. The awarding ceremony was held in Yerevan on October 1 as part of the III Eurasian Economic Forum - 2024. The contest received over 300 applications from different countries. The projects were considered in 15 nominations. Moscow solutions were highly appreciated by the expert group and the presidium of the competition. It should be noted that all of them have already been successfully applied in the Russian capital or directly affect the preservation of a favorable environment for life in the metropolis and environmental protection.
Launch of electric river vessels and development of electric passenger cars
Two Moscow transport projects were recognized as the best at the Green Eurasia competition. Thus, regular river electric transport took first place in the Green Transportation nomination. Since the launch of river electric vessels last year, this type of transportation has become very popular with Muscovites and tourists. On two routes, Kievsky - Fili Park and ZIL - Pechatniki, more than 1.3 mln trips have already been made. The total length of the two routes is now more than 20 kilometers. The launch of year-round electric boats has increased transportation accessibility for a total of 1.5 mln people. To serve passengers, 18 floating piers with a diameter of 10 meters and 16 meters and passenger capacity of up to 40 and 80 people respectively are placed on the Moskva River. Among the most favorite piers of Muscovites can already be distinguished Kievsky, Heart of the Capital, Park “Fili”, Pechatniki, City-Central and ZIL. It is planned to launch new berths as the infrastructure becomes ready. Until 2030, five more regular river routes will be opened. Almost the entire water area of the river will become navigable.
The city project for the development of light electric transport and charging infrastructure “Energy of Moscow” took second place in the Green Transportation nomination. Moscow actively stimulates the transition of citizens to personal electric transport through a system of benefits and infrastructure development. Within the framework of the Energy of Moscow project, more than 240 free electric charging stations have been installed in the capital. Owners of electric cars are exempt from paying transportation tax and can park for free throughout the city.
All charging stations are located in places where citizens most often spend their time. For example, near shopping and business centers, parks, residential buildings, cafes and stores. According to the plans, by 2030 there will be 30 thousand charging stations in the Russian capital, and the number of electric cars in Moscow will grow to 320 thousand and make up seven percent of the total number of cars. In addition, hubs will be installed for cabs and carsharing with the possibility of recharging 10-15 cars at a time.
Supporting urban vitality and efficiency of green technologies
This year, two developments of the capital's Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection won prizes at the Green Eurasia competition. A comprehensive plan to improve the vitality of the megacity in the context of climate change won in the category “Climate Resilient Cities”. It includes a science-based system of measures developed in three directions: to increase the resilience of urban infrastructure, to preserve the health of megacity residents and to preserve green spaces.
The plan takes into account forecasts of an increase in the frequency and severity of adverse weather conditions, so it promotes better preparation for their possible consequences. It also uses a scenario approach to help select the most effective and economically feasible adaptation measures. The project presents a detailed climate risk matrix for the city. For example, what specific impact severe heat waves, freezing rain, very strong winds, sharp temperature changes and other climatic factors have on the city's utility systems (heat, electricity, water and wastewater systems). Forecasts of dangerous weather phenomena are calculated for the period up to 2040, which allows making detailed economic calculations for each system of the urban economy. The project is already being implemented in Moscow; the main adaptation measures are included in the state programs of the city development.
The project “Energy and Environmental Audit of the Effectiveness of Green Technologies in Construction in the Moscow Region” was awarded second place in the "Green Construction" nomination at the "Green Eurasia" competition. This is monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies in construction. The purpose of the audit is to create a system to analyze the energy efficiency and environmental impact of buildings. A catalog of green solutions specially adapted for the climatic conditions of the Moscow region was created. It demonstrates real results of technology implementation based on actual data and evaluation of already implemented projects. Builders are offered a wide range of ready solutions with varying degrees of efficiency, as well as detailed calculations of payback periods for each technology. All these developments will be implemented in urban construction.
Comparison of the climate of the world's cities and care for energy comfort
Two projects of the Department of Economic Policy and Development of Moscow became winners of the “Green Eurasia” contest.
The analytical report “Climate Agenda of World Cities” took the third place in the nomination “State Strategies and Practices in the Climate Sphere”. It examines the main aspects of urban economy functioning in terms of its impact on climate (energy, transport, waste, green zones), as well as existing strategic program documents of cities in the climate sphere. The report was submitted to the “Green Eurasia” competition as an analytical tool to help executive authorities develop state climate policy at the city and regional levels.
The project “Big City Comfort: Heat Load Switching as a Basis for Moscow Energy Efficiency” (a joint application with Mosenergo) won in the category “Low Carbon Energy”.
This is a project to switch heat loads from boiler houses to CHP plants operating in the mode of combined heat and power generation (cogeneration). In this way, greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions are reduced and the efficiency of the city's heat and power system as a whole is improved.
The “Green Eurasia” International Climate Contest has been held since 2023 by the Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “Agency for Strategic Initiatives to Promote New Projects” jointly with the Eurasian Economic Commission. The aim of the competition is to search for effective climate practices focused on sustainable development and adaptation to climate change in the EAEU and other countries. The authors of the winning projects in each nomination will receive recommendations for replication of their developments.
In 2023, the projects of the Moscow departments were also recognized as the best. In the nomination “Green Finance” the project of Department of Economic Policy and Development of Moscow “Green Bonds of the Moscow City Government” (stock exchange issue in 2021) won. And in the nomination “Efficient Waste Management” won the project “Moscow System of Digital Control of Construction Waste Utilization” developed by the Moscow Department of Information Technologies. The system of digital control of construction waste utilization has been operating in Moscow since October 2020. It has become an important part of the unified digital platform of the Moscow Construction Complex. The project allows the city to track the movement of special vehicles with construction waste and control that soil and construction materials residues were taken exactly to specialized collection facilities.
Moscow City Transport Department's project “Moscow Electric Bus” won first place in the category “Low-carbon transportation” in 2023.
The Eurasian Economic Forum began its work five years ago. This year it was held in Yerevan from September 30 to October 1 under the chairmanship of Armenia. The main topics were the most relevant and demanded issues of the EAEU integration processes. The forum was attended by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Moldova, Uzbekistan and Cuba. The business program included about 30 events. They brought together heads of large, medium and small businesses, top officials of the EAEU member states, heads and representatives of government authorities of the EAEU countries, as well as heads and members of governments of third countries, representatives of international, scientific and educational organizations interested in developing cooperation within the Union.
