Ukraine
Last updated: May 2024
In terms of area, Ukraine is the largest country completely located within Europe. With a total of 44 million inhabitants, the country has high economic development potential. About two-thirds of the employed population works in the expanding service sector. The number of employees in industry (about a quarter) and agriculture (over 10 per cent) is declining, but is still considerably higher than in Germany.
Due to the fertile black earth soils and the high export rate of agricultural products, Ukraine contributes to ensuring global food security ("bread basket of the world"). The country has a large potential of highly qualified workers.
In the past, electrical and thermal energy in Ukraine was primarily produced from coal, gas and nuclear power. So far, the Russian war of aggression has also destroyed about 60 per cent of the power plant capacities, so that energy has now become very scarce and expensive. This also has an impact on the energy-intensive steel industry, which used to be one of the country's most important economic sectors. When reconstruction begins, the Ukrainian government is planning to focus strongly on renewable energies. However, it is important to improve energy efficiency in buildings, the central heat supply and industry at the same time. Due to the country's large agricultural sector, there is a lot of biomass available that can make a substantial contribution to sustainable energy supply.
The biodiversity in Ukraine is unique in Europe, which is attributable to the country's varied geography. The landscapes range from the Carpathian mountains, (primeval) forests, (forest) steppes, pastures, (salt) meadows and marshlands to the coasts of the Black Sea. The country, which only amounts to six per cent of Europe's surface area, harbours 35 per cent of the continent's biodiversity. This enormous abundance comprises over 70,0000 species, including brown bears, bison, buffaloes, wolves, elk and dolphins. Many of the species are rare or endangered. Some of the species are only native to Ukraine, or only found there now. The effects of the war not only have an impact on the people and infrastructure, but also particularly on the environment as well as on animals and vegetation.
Interface project
Most priority countries of the IKI also engage in so-called IKI interface projects, which have permanent project offices in the capital city of the respective country. Alongside their own, country-specific project commission, these interface projects are also tasked with maintaining close contact to environment and climate ministries as well as networking with other relevant ministries in the field of climate and biodiversity policy. Beyond this, the interface projects also work to network all of the IKI projects in the country and region together so as to promote synergies.
In Ukraine, the interface function is currently represented by the project Supporting the national energy efficiency fund and the climate-friendly reform agenda (S2I) in Ukraine.
Focal points of the project
- Supporting the Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF); the EEF awards grants to housing owners' associations for the co-funding of energy efficiency measures in multi-family housing and supports housing owners' associations in repairing war-related building damage.
- Function as an IKI interface project: coordination of the IKI portfolio in Ukraine, networking programmes and knowledge management for IKI projects in the country.
Project contact
In a nutshell
Region: Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe
Population: 38.0 million (World Bank, 2021)
CO2eq emissions (incl. LUCF): 224,4 million t (ClimateWatch, 2020)
CO2eq emissions per capita (incl. LUCF): 5.1 t (ClimateWatch, 2020)
Total energy supply (IRENA, 2020):
- 6 % RE (71 % Bioenergy - 10 % Hydro/marine - 6 % Wind - 13 % Solar)
- 17 % Oil
- 25 % Gas
- 24 % Nuclear
- 28 % Coal + others
IKI projects in the country (last updated: February 2024):
- bilateral: 10 ongoing, 12 completed
- regional: 5 ongoing, 5 completed
- global: 6 ongoing, 1 completed
IKI partner ministries:
- Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources
- Ministry of Energy
- Ministry of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development
- Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food
Links
The IKI Strategy
The IKI wants to maximise its impact on climate action and biodiversity conservation. To this end, it concentrates its funding activities on prioritised fields of action within the four funding areas. Another key element is the close cooperation with selected partner countries, especially with the IKI’s priority countries.
Insights into the project work
- Decentralized Renewable Energy Solutions for Social and Public Infrastructure in Ukraine
- Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (“RES Programme”)
- Reform of the District Heating Sector in Ukraine (ReWarm)
- Accelerating NDC and promoting sustainable bioenergy, agri and land-use practices in Ukraine
- Conservation of highly valuable primeval and old-growth forests in selected national parks in the Ukrainian Carpathians
- BAT for Ukraine - Improving the framework conditions for the implementation of the European Directive 2010/75/EC on…
- Supporting the national energy efficiency fund and the climate-friendly reform agenda (S2I) in Ukraine
- Low Carbon Ukraine (LCU): Advising Ukrainian decision makers on low emission policy paths
- Energy Efficiency Support Program for Ukraine – EE4U
- Supporting the implementation of an emissions trading scheme in Ukraine
IKI partner countries
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