President Volodymyr Zelensky Announces Ukraine’s Climate Ambitions

By 2030, Ukraine plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 42% compared to 1990, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated at the international Climate Ambition Summit, the press service of the President’s Office reports.

According to Zelensky, Ukraine seeks to harmonise its climate policy and legislation with the European Green Deal and intensify energy efficiency cooperation with the EU.

“Ukraine’s long-term goal is to reach carbon neutrality. We will make efforts to achieve this goal within the shortest possible period of time,” the press service quoted the Head of State as saying.

In his video address, Zelensky said that this year Ukrainians felt the negative effects of climate change as prolonged drought destroyed crops in a number of regions, large-scale forest fires occurred in the east and devastating floods hit the west.

According to the President, Ukraine has consistently adhered to its commitments to effectively implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and international climate agreements. Ukraine is also working to improve the state financial support mechanisms for climate policy, the Head of State added.

As Zelensky noted, the Energy Strategy of Ukraine, which provides for the development of renewable energy and the gradual replacement of fossil fuels, including coal, is currently being revised.

The international Climate Ambition Summit 2020 is dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement 2015 and preparations for the next UN Climate Change (COP26), to be held in Glasgow, the United Kingdom, in November 2021.

The summit is chaired by Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson, President of France Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte, President of Chile Sebastián Piñera, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The day before, UN Secretary-General Guterres called on all leaders worldwide to declare a “state of climate emergency” in their countries until carbon neutrality is reached and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to zero.

Bohdan Marusyak