Ms Elena Rakova, Project Coordinator of the European Union to Belarus and Ms Yulia Chagarina, Head of the Ideology, Culture and Youth Department of Braslaŭ District Executive Committee, delivered their welcome speeches to the attending representatives of nongovernmental organizations, local authorities and journalists. In particular, Ms Rakova emphasized that EU projects have a long history on the Braslaŭ land; a project of high importance, Braslaŭ District – the First Climate Neutral Municipality Belarus, a detailed account of which is provided on one of the exhibition stands, is being implemented there now. Ms Elena Giron, the project coordinator, mentioned that, as a result, the district energy consumption will reduce by 2%, while CO2 emissions will also be cut substantially.
Ms. Anastasia Yanchevskaya, the a participant of the project on Urban Cycling Movement Development for Public Benefit in Belarus also made a speech during the photo exhibition opening ceremony. The project aims to develop a sustainable urban development plan and improve cycling infrastructure in Belarus. Its tangible outcomes include the first public survey in the Belarusian capital city, which shows that the majority of Minsk resident support cycling movement development.
After the exhibition opening, the journalists paid a visit to Kindergarten No. 1, where a solar collector system is being installed under the Braslaŭ District – the First Climate Neutral Municipality Belarus project to provide for heating of up to 1,000 litres of water a day.
