Capacities for Climate Action, a dynamic initiative jointly supported by the European Union and the German Government, is thrilled to declare the official opening of the Ukrainian Climate Office. Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries, the German Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection, Steffi Lemke, the Ambassador of the EU to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová, along with the Ukrainian Minister for Environment Protection and Natural Resources, have united their efforts to advance the shared objective of safeguarding the green and just transformation of Ukraine. With substantial funding amounting to 3.5 million euros from the European Union and the German Government, and execution by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, this initiative is poised to catalyze a transformative shift in Ukraine’s climate landscape, mainstreaming green agenda and climate action in all national and sectoral policies, and in particular in Ukraine’s reconstruction process.

Commissioner Sinkevičius stated:
 

While retaining all our attention, the horrible war that Ukraine is suffering does not stop climate change and its additional disruptions.  If we use our action on climate intelligently, we can use it to drive regeneration in Ukraine. We expect that the Ukrainian Climate Office will not only help Ukraine to fulfil its international climate obligations,  build back fairer and greener, leaving the destruction of the war behind, but also to become an example, an international frontrunner in green transition.

“As a centre of excellence, it can act independently and bring together different actors in the complex process of recovery. In this way, it can contribute to bringing the transformation process to the broader society. This is an important political signal”, as Federal Minister Lemke said.

The Climate Office is the last element that will complete the development of climate governance in Ukraine. The Climate Office will support the Government of Ukraine in implementing climate policy and help regions and businesses in decarbonisation and adaptation projects. The institution will become a mechanism for attracting green finance (climate finance) for Ukraine’s post-war recovery and will contribute to the development of an emissions trading system in Ukraine,
noted Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

While still in its project-based phase, the Ukrainian Climate Office aspires to become a prominent focal point for education, policy advocacy, innovation and sustainable recovery within Ukraine. According to Ambassador Mathernová,

Today marks an important step for designing a sustainable European future for Ukraine. Green reconstruction shall be a win for Ukraine and for Europe. The Ukrainian climate office is yet another tangible piece of EU presence in Ukraine.

Kurt Vanderberghe, Director General of EU Directorate General for Climate Action, send the following address on the occasion od UCO opening:
 

We all see the connections between European integration, green reconstruction and climate ambition. Our sincere hope is that the Ukrainian Climate Office will be instrumental in accelerating Ukraine’s European integration by supporting and mobilising the whole Ukrainian economy to come up with innovative solutions and raise awareness about climate opportunities.

Source Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine