NGO Working Group on climate change is a network of 16 non-governmental and non-profitable environmental organizations all over Ukraine. Our aim is advocating for transparent use of Kyoto Protocol mechanisms, advocating for introduction of policies directed to emissions reductions, raising public awareness on climate change and mobilizing civil society for actions.

The majority of our ongoing activities and information are not translated into English. Therefore we would kindly ask you to contact us to find out more about our ongoing activities. Below you can find documents and press-releases available in English.

For general questions please contact:

Irina Stavchuk
executive director
Center for Environmental Initiatives “Ecoaction”

tel: +38 044 353 78 42
fax: +38 044 238 62 59
mob: +38 095 273 26 73
is{at}ecoact.org.ua

News

October 20, 2017
The road of ukrainian elephants: how a border village in the Odesa region is saved from flooding
According to recent studies, by 2050 the Black Sea water level will have risen by 50 cm. This could mean that some apartments on the coastal areas will be underwater and others will be swept away or destroyed by waves.
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October 18, 2017
Water is Coming: how the lives and future of people of South Odesa in Ukraine are being affected by climate change
According to recent studies, by 2050 the Black Sea water level will have risen by 50 cm. This could mean that some apartments on the coastal areas will be underwater and others will be swept away or destroyed by waves.
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Press-releases

December 10, 2018
Statement of Ukrainian Climate Network on national climate policy in regards to COP24
Ukrainian Climate Network released statement on national climate policy in regards to COP24. Main messages are following: the government must make an official statement about review of contribution to Paris agreement, Ukraine has to make a just transition transfer to a 100% renewable energy until 2050.
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July 15, 2016
Ukraine ratifies the Paris Agreement and stands in solidarity with the world in tackling climate change
Ukraine ratifies the Paris Agreement. This decision of the Ukrainian Parliament can help Ukraine to increase energy efficiency and develop renewable energy sources while providing access to international aid.
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February 2, 2016
Ukraine has to refund Japan money, received through international emissions trading under Kyoto Protocol
ukraine-japanUkraine has refunded back to Japan $5 mln, which it received in 2009-2010 for selling GHG allowances under the Kyoto Protocol mechanism. Ukrainian governors are seeking an agreement with Japan to use the rest of available funds on energy saving measures and renovation of city-trains in Kyiv.

Experts of the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU) believe that the reason, why Japan has imposed sanctions on Ukraine and has required money to be paid back, is failure to fulfil obligation in implementation of projects on GHG emission reductions in an effective and timely manner. The contracts with Japan on project implementation have been postponed for three times since 2012 and by the end of 2015 Ukraine still has money left on the State accounts.
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January 27, 2014
180 million euro from international CO2 trading recently disappeared from the Ukrainian budget
Hundreds of hospitals and schools in Ukraine will remain uninsulated and thus barely habitable at cold seasons, as the respective line in the newly approved Ukraine’s state budget for 2014 was extremely reduced.

As of early October 2013 there was remainder of EUR 180 million of EUR 470 million on the account of the State Treasury Service of Ukraine from operations under international emission trading of Kyoto Protocol. But State budget of Ukraine for 2014 provides only UAH 5 million to finance thermal insulation of social purpose estate. Moreover, this also expects to cover costs for “the development of international cooperation on climate change”.
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June 10, 2009
NGO’s wrote benchmark Copenhagen climate Treaty
Bonn, Germany: Climate change experts from leading non-governmental organisations today unveiled their blueprint for a legally binding Copenhagen agreement. This will serve as the benchmark for governments negotiating a new climate deal this year and shows how major differences between rich and poor nations can be overcome.
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July 31, 2008
Court obliged the Ministry of environmental protection of Ukraine to take measures aimed at green-house gas reduction
Commercial court of Lviv region decided illegal the inaction of the Ministry of environmental protection regarding execution of the obligations of Ukraine to reduce green-house gas emissions. Thus, the court satisfied the claim of International NGO “Environment-People-Law”, that aims at bringing Ministry to fulfill obligations in climate change sphere.
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May 22, 2008
35 ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS URGE TO INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS INTO PLANNING FOR EURO 2012 EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ukrainian environmental organizations appealed to Ukrainian Government and Euro 2012 National Agency of Ukraine to incorporate environmental standards into planning for the 2012 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) European Football Championship.
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December 3, 2007
Environmental NGOs are criticizing statement of Ukraine at international climate negotiations
Regardless global call for actions for the post-2012 period Ukrainian government plans to increase its GHG emissions by at least 50% by 2020. At the same time Ukraine calls all other countries to take emission reduction targets.
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September 17, 2007
Note about Climate change tour Ukraine

April 25, 2007
Ukraine announces its ambition to become a first player on AAU trade market
Over the last few months a lot of developments are happening on the mechanism of international emission trading in Ukraine. A new state Agency on Green Investments was created, number regulatory and institutional arrangements has been planned and with help of World Bank, Point Carbon and Regional Environmental Center few seminars and high level round tables were conducted. Here is a report on the inside discussions on AAU trade and GIS development in Ukraine
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September 26, 2006
Hot air could become hotter in Ukraine
When international states signed up to the first commitment period of the Kyoto protocol including a range of obligations to reduce green house gas emissions for the 2008-2012 period, not all of them took on obligations at a level which would actually stimulate them to reduce emissions. Thus, due to economic decline after 1990 and expected economic growth, Ukraine, like almost every country with an economy in transition, took on a target allowing it to emit more than it does or to sell the surplus.
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Documents

August, 2017
Empowering Communities to Adapt to Climate Change. Case studies
Empowering Communities to Adapt to Climate Change. Case studies
This brochure contains cases of implementation of climate change adaptation activities in Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Lviv and Zakarpattya regions. We believe that the experience gained will be an example and a motivation for other communities in Ukraine and abroad who want to start the process of adaptation to new climatic conditions.
 
 

December, 2015
Climate Action Today Determines Our Future: Public View of Climate Policy in the Countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia

The presented report consists of the following two parts: (1) Scientifi basis for climate change actions, and (2) Climate policy review for EECCA countries. The fist part presents scientifi background information of the urgency to reduce emissions, risks associated with the global temperature increase above 2 °С, as well as global budget allocation options for emissions between developed and developing countries to reach a long-term objective. The second part provides information on the trends in greenhouse gas emissions, development of renewable energy sources and incentive legislation, fossil fuel subsidies, trends in the forestry sector, institutional organization of work on the topic of climate change, examples of negative solutions in climate policies, and an overview of positive regional initiatives.

December, 2013
Assessment of implementation of the green investment scheme projects in Ukraine
National Ecological Centre of Ukraine monitors state activities of implementation economical mechanism in climate protection since 2005 and offers analysis of green investment scheme projects at public buildings under international emission trading scheme of the Kyoto Protocol. Prepared report shows the results and the progress with implementation thermal rehabilitation projects in public buildings. Conclusions about the practice of introducing green investment scheme in Ukraine is largely related to other state tools for stimulation energy saving. Therefore, the decision-making bodies of the executive and the legislature should consider the listed mistakes and take into account proposed recommendations.

November, 2012
Critical Reflections on Joint Implementation Projects in Ukraine
The National Ecological Centre of Ukraine presents study “The Integrity of Joint Implementation Projects in Ukraine”. The aim of analysis the joint implementation projects in Ukraine is to point out to the flaws in the current mechanism. Ukraine is a leading JI host country and the biggest supplier of Emission Reduction Units. According to available experience with Joint Implementation Projects in Ukraine proposed possible solutions how the system could be reformed in order to stimulate the implementation of efficient GHG emission reduction measures that would not take place in the absence of JI.

Download “Critical Reflections on Joint Implementation Projects in Ukraine”

September, 2012
Review of funds expenditure obtained under the international emissions trading in Ukraine
The National Ecological Center of Ukraine, as member of the Working Group of Ukrainian NGOs on Climate Change introduces Review of funds expenditure obtained under the international emissions trading in Ukraine. In this paper compares declared quantities of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and financial cost of project implementation, also featureres of green investment scheme in Ukraine here described.

November, 2011
Position of the Working Group of NGOs on climate change in Ukraine on international negotiations on climate change in Durban (South Africa), 2011
Working Group of NGOs on Climate Change сalls for the government of Ukraine to introduce an ambitious position for international negotiations on climate change, aimed at solving global environmental problems.

March, 2011
Сomments from NGO WG for meeting with UNFCCC experts

The Review of Studies on GHG Reduction Potential for Ukraine
In the last few years, several studies have emerged on the emissions reduction potential for Ukraine. Some of them have been prepared by the government bodies (e.g., National Communications and government-funded research projects) and others by international organisations (WB and IIASA). The studies generated different results depending on the initial assumptions adopted and methodologies applied.

The studies have serious political implications and the government is constantly referring to some of them to provide the rational for the official emissions reduction target for Ukraine. Current GHG emissions of the country are lower by 54% than the baseline 1990. Therefore, the official emissions reduction target of -20% by 2020 (from 1990) aims to secure the room for further increase of GHG emissions. National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU) decided to prepare a review of studies on GHG emissions reduction potential aiming to provide a comparative analysis of the available estimates.

You can download the review and summary to the review.

December, 2010
Problems of Ukraine’s coal sector and greenhouse gas emissions from coal mining and consumption
The objective of this report is to analyze negative social, economic and environmental impacts of coal mining and combustion. Special attention is given to the problem of greenhouse gas emissions and emissions reduction policies and technologies.

The report also contains recommendations for improvement of energy policy and strategic development of the coal industry. Hopefully, relevant government authorities will take our suggestions into consideration. This report might also be useful for public organizations.
Download

June, 2010
Ukraine’s AAU black-hole
For the last 2 months Ukraine has actively searched for 320 million Euros it received from selling hot air AAUs to Japan and Spain for GHG emission reduction projects. The investigation is still going on, but Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich has already announced that, ”the money were stolen by the previous Government.” Whatever the truth, the current Government has confirmed to Ukrainian NGOs that, so far, no single project was financed from these funds
Ukraine’s AAU black-hole

June, 2010
A letter to international financial institutions about climate policy in Ukraine
NGO Working group on climate change express view of the negotiations Ukraine is holding with international financial institutions for ecological projects and its implementation. The letter was sent to European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European commission (EC), European Investment Bank (EIB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank (WB).
A letter to international financial institutions about climate policy in Ukraine

March, 2010
Critical overview of the position of Ukraine on climate change mitigation for post-2012 negotiations
NGO Working group on climate change presents a short critical overview of the position of Ukraine on climate change mitigation for post-2012 negotiations. In the documents are represented main issues about official position of Ukraine and what does it mean in reality.
Download

November, 2009
Statement of non-governmental organisations from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine for the upcoming UN climate conference in December 2009 in Copenhagen
Participants of the International Conference “Strengthening the role of NGOs in policy-making in the field of climate change and energy” held in St.Petersburg on 12-13 November 2009, representatives of public organisations from Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, are concerned about the slowdown in the process of international negotiations on climate change. We see a great danger of substituting a legally binding international agreement by a non-binding political declaration.
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November, 2008
Information and data on mitigation potentials and ranges of emissions reductions of Annex I parties, Climate Action Network

April, 2008
Iryna Stavchuk Ukraine: A double change in climate. Reducing greenhouse gasses, increasing knowledge
Ukraine is among the top 20 largest producers of greenhouse gasses. The national economy is inefficient, the amount of energy wasted enormous. Scientific expertise for addressing the consequences is hardly available; awareness among political class and the general public is poorly developed. This offers non-government organisations solid starting points for their work. At the state and grass-roots level, the climate is changing: There is growing sensitivity to the fact that Ukraine must also make a contribution to reducing greenhouse gasses in order to fight climate change.
Download english version
Download german version

February 11, 2008
On violating UNFCCC provisions on registry

June 20, 2008
Position on International Emission Trading

March 5, 2008
Report on information campaign “Climate is Changing. Time to Act!” (2007)

Green investment scheme and climate mitigation policy
Presentation by Iryna Stavchuk, April 2007.