The year of 2024 became for International charitable organization “Environment-People-Law” a special period filled with new challenges and important achievements.
The full-scale invasion and the ongoing war are prompting Ukrainian civil society to take an active stance both at the national and international levels. It is important that the voice of the environmentally conscious public working to preserve the mechanisms of the rule of law, justice, implementation of human rights, environmental protection, to support Ukraine’s European integration aspirations and search for ways of getting compensation for the damage caused to the environment, should be heard and taken into account.
EPL team members have participated in about 30 national and international events with the purpose to draw attention to environmental issues, initiate systemic changes, and support Ukraine in the fight for environmental justice on the international stage.
These events include both international events and meetings at the national level, which can be divided into the following directions:
Bringing the aggressor to justice for the damage caused to the environment (issues of ecocide, war crimes against the environment, compensation for damage)
It is worth mentioning the International working meeting to discuss further actions to activate the prosecutors of the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes that destroy the environment of Ukraine (http://surl.li/zlcwsw), a meeting of the working group consisting of environmental NGOs and the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (http://surl.li/iztkmv), a discussion with lawyers and ELAW scientists of ecocide criteria (http://surl.li/tlladi), the conference at the US Embassy in Ukraine on issues of war crimes against Ukraine (http://surl.li/liajkx), a meeting with Brazilian academic circles on ecocide in Ukraine (http://surl.li/fnhoyr), the visit of Ukrainian human rights defenders to South America for the purpose of establishing bilateral contacts and advocating support for bringing Russia to justice for damage to Ukraine (http://surl.li/nvcnza,http://surl.li/tvgqpp,http://surl.li/tqaifz,http://surl.li/wagruj,http://surl.li/cukiyn,http://surl.li/jrovhv), a press briefing organized by EPL and the Ministry of Environment at COP29 “Russia’s aggression against Ukraine: ecocide for the environment and climate as a consequence of the war” (http://surl.li/huiztt), a side event organized by EPL and “Green Wave” NGO within the framework of COP29 (http://surl.li/rpkque), an advocacy trip to the global justice center in The Hague (http://surl.li/nlzdfg).
Environmental impacts of the war and standards of green recovery of Ukraine
One of the events dedicated to this issue was EPL’s press conference “Anniversary of the Kakhovka HPP disaster: experimental government solutions, changes in ecosystems and new development scenarios” (http://surl.li/bqjigi), international forum “United for Nature. Agenda for Ukraine” (http://surl.li/hpxkpy), Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin (URC 2024) “United for defence. United for recovery. Stronger together” (http://surl.li/ecunyn), the public discussion entitled “Basics of considering environmental issues in recovery programs and plans” (http://surl.li/badtxo).
Environmental reforms and European integration of Ukraine
In the context of advocating environmental reforms and European integration processes of Ukraine, it is worth mentioning the advocacy trip to Brussels with the aim of activating the Ukrainian issue on political and expert discussion platforms (http://surl.li/navexy), the off-site hearings of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Environmental Policy and Nature Management, which took place on the eve of the explanatory session under Chapter 27 “Environment and Climate Change” of the acquis within the negotiation process on Ukraine’s EU membership and were devoted to discussion of the strategic plan for reforming Ukraine’s environmental and climate legislation within the negotiation framework for our country’s EU membership (http://surl.li/vxzwfi) and The environment and film festival (http://surl.li/boeoap).
Building partnerships and strengthening experience exchange for promotion of the Ukrainian issue
Within this direction the following events should be mentioned: the annual meeting of the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (http://surl.li/aenlio), the European Environmental Bureau 50th anniversary (http://surl.li/jisief), advocacy visit to Stockholm (http://surl.li/dioqyu,http://surl.li/ywhxou) and a study trip to the Czech Republic for representatives of local self-government bodies and civil society organizations (http://surl.li/bfnhzh).
Working with the youth
Within this direction, a number of meetings were held with students, both from Ukraine and abroad including from the following institutions: the Institute of Law, Psychology and Innovative Education of Lviv Polytechnic University (http://surl.li/wrmolq), with students from the University of Chile (Universidad de Chile) and the University of Hamburg, who are participants of the Climate Law in International Context (CLIC) program (http://surl.li/cslrch) and representatives of the Educational and Research Legal Institute of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (http://surl.li/togvle).
Thus, we can firmly state that in 2024 EPL team conducted a large-scale advocacy campaign that covered key areas of environmental policy. The organization actively worked on the issue of bringing the aggressor to justice for ecocide and war crimes against the environment. Thanks to numerous activities, such as meetings with international prosecutors, advocacy tours and discussions within academic circles, we managed to integrate environmental crimes into discussion agenda at the international level.
An important layer of work was engagement into development of standards for green recovery of Ukraine, taking into account the impact of the war on ecosystems. Participation in events such as Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin and discussions around integration of environmental dimensions into recovery plans, contributes to formation of an effective nature conservation strategy in the conditions of war and post-war period.
We continued to promote the reforms in the field of environmental protection in the context of European integration, established partnerships through participation in international forums, conferences and events for young people who will become active participants in environmental changes.
We are convinced that systemic work aimed at environmental justice can influence global politics and shape the path of Ukraine’s sustainable development.
