Supporting Climate Action in Ukraine

On the opening day of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Ukrainian pavilion hosted a presentation showcasing the IKI-supported PROGRESS initiative. 

The initiative aims to prepare Ukraine and other Eastern Partnership countries for the European Green Deal.
 
“The goal of PROGRESS is to contribute to long-term mitigation and sustainable development, aligning with the EU Green Deal targets and the 1.5-degrees objectives of the Paris Agreement in the Eastern Partnership countries. The project focuses on the agricultural sector and selected value chains”, said Ilka Starrost, Project Director, GIZ. Through this focus, among other things PROGRESS encourages the adoption of environmentally friendly practices that will help foster a more sustainable, climate-resilient future for the region.
 
During the event, participants shared valuable insights into the challenges posed by climate change in the agricultural sector and explored opportunities for adaptation. Despite the unjustified Russian aggression against Ukraine, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine is actively promoting Green Deal initiatives to farmers and facilitating communication between the EU and Ukrainian farmers. 

“The situation in Ukraine is already very difficult, but adaptation to climate change is also vital for Ukrainian farmers. This is our main mission – to help farmers understand the significance of the European Green Deal," said Oleksiy Pinchuk, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration, Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.
 
“Taking into account the devastating consequences and challenges of the unprovoked war in Ukraine, the issue of climate change is of paramount importance for Ukraine, and our country is working tirelessly on climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. In the PROGRESS project, the Institute is focusing on improving national legislation, regulation, governance and green finance in horticulture and fruits and berries growing in order to improve  business activity in these sectors”, stated Oleksandr Diachuk, from the Institute for Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
 
The event also highlighted the strong international support for Ukraine's climate goals. Ukraine was invited to become a prospective member of the OECD, which emphasises the importance of cooperation. 

“Since then, we have intensified our support to Ukraine, including helping assess environmental damage caused by Russian aggression and developing the long-term recovery and reconstruction plans, such as reforming public finance and mobilizing green investment”, noted Krzysztof Michalak, Senior Program Manager, OECD.
 
The participants concluded that the PROGRESS project provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce international support and help Ukraine’s agriculture to adapt to climate challenges. They underlined the need to strengthen the policy framework, showcase the climate adaptation benefits, strengthen public financing and reinforce the dialogue with the private sector.