please find the position of Ukrainian CSOs below.
It includes both appeal towards the signatory countries of the Paris
Agreement and towards Ukrainian government.
From
November 6 to 18, 2022, the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Egypt.
It is not only a key international platform for combating the climate crisis,
but also an important lever of influence on the national policy of countries.
All 196 member states of the Paris Agreement, including Ukraine, participate in
the COP to synchronize their climate policies and find solutions to limit the
increase in average temperature at the level of 1.5C from the pre-industrial
period.
Appeal to the signatory
countries of the Paris Agreement
Russia’s
attack on Ukraine has put the world in front of serious threats on a global
scale, related to the possibility of a world war, the onset of a nuclear
disaster, and the growing negative consequences of global climate change. The
energy crisis in the world affects the international climate negotiations, and
it is already clear today that without ending the war, it is impossible to
effectively implement the policy of prevention and adaptation to climate change.
The war started by Russia affected other regions of the world: Africa, South
America, Asia. In order to replace Russian fossil fuels, gas and coal mining has begun in other parts of the world.
States are reopening coal-fired power plants and mines to replace
Russian gas. The actions of the aggressor directly affected the food
supply of the countries of the world.
This
war is financed by fossil fuels. 60% of Russia’s state budget comes from selling
oil and gas. Along with the war, the consequences of climate change in the form
of various cataclysms are growing. The ongoing negative economic effects of
Covid-19 have created huge obstacles to decarbonisation and international
climate cooperation. Taking into account all the negative effects of Russia’s
war in Ukraine on the environment, including climate change, we call on
the global level that:
- The
emissions that Russia has caused since February 24, 2022 through direct
military actions must be assigned to the balance sheet of the aggressor
country.
- The
inclusion of emissions from the temporarily occupied territories of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea of Ukraine and the territory of Donbass, not
related to military operations, to the emission inventory of the Russian
Federation is unacceptable.
- Countries
should accelerate the energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy
sources. Thus, to achieve the approved goals of the Paris Agreement and
prevent future wars and conflicts.
- It
is important to support developing countries in dealing with losses and
damages caused by climate change. It is also important to support
international climate cooperation.
Appeal to the Government of
Ukraine and representatives of the official delegation
The
government of Ukraine approved the goal of carbon neutrality in 2060, supported
the EU Green Deal and ratified the Paris Agreement. In 2021, Ukraine updated the
Nationally Determined Contribution and set a goal of real reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Ukraine adopted the Strategy for Environmental
Security and Adaptation to Climate Change. The war certainly pushed climate
action back down the list of state priorities, but the Ukrainian Climate Network
emphasizes that Ukraine must remain true to its climate commitments. It is
important to continue the implementation of commitments already made:
- abandon
the use of coal in the production of electricity by 2035, in accordance with
the commitments in the Powering Past Coal
Alliance;
- develop
and implement a strategy to reduce methane emissions in Ukraine by 30% by
2030.
During the
post-war recovery period, it is important to maintain the following
priorities:
- Abandon
new projects in the field of nuclear energy. Taking into account Russia’s
occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and at the beginning of the year also the
Chornobyl zone, being under the constant risk of missiles hitting the
facilities of other nuclear plants in the country, and the inability of the
international community to guarantee the safety of the relevant facilities and
the impotence in the face of the terrorist actions of the Russian state, we we
believe that Ukraine should abandon the construction of new nuclear power
plants.
- Update
the energy strategy taking into account the new reality – the prospect of
Ukraine’s membership in the EU, the large-scale destruction of existing
capacities and infrastructure, and the increased demands of society for its
own energy security. By 2050, the energy industry of Ukraine must meet the
EU’s goal of climate neutrality, which involves the predominant role of
renewable energy, decentralization of energy systems, fully open energy
markets and their integration into international ones.
- Recovery
must take into account climate change, so adaptation to climate change must be
part of the developed Recovery Plans during the rebuilding.
- Due
to Russian aggression, about 20% of nature conservation areas of Ukraine, and
about a third of the land in general, were affected. Restoration of damaged
ecosystems and agricultural lands will require significant funds and
expertise. During the restoration, it is important to set the goal of
increasing the territories of nature protection status to at least 30% of the
land of Ukraine.
- Cities
and communities will play a key role in implementing the approved recovery
plans. It is important that local authorities are involved in the process of
developing national plans, and that coordination of work takes place at all
levels.
- Work
on the planning and implementation of the approved recovery plans should take
place with the involvement of the expert environment and the public.
We
welcome the openness of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural
Resources of Ukraine and its willingness to join the civil society in
preparation for COP27. As this year’s experience has shown, it is in the
coordinated cooperation of various stakeholders that the stability of the
country is created.