In recent weeks, the President of Ukraine in his speeches and at press conferences has repeatedly voiced ideas for rebuilding the country ranging from the patronage of Ukrainian cities by European countries to facilitating business and digitalization. Also recently, on April 21, By decree of the President, the National Council for the Restoration of Ukraine from the Consequences of War was established. Although a full-fledged restoration of the country’s economy and infrastructure can begin only after the end of large-scale hostilities and liberation of occupied territories, discussions are already underway and plans are being developed.
After studying the relevant statements of the President, representatives of the Government and the Verkhovna Rada, as well as the positions of international partners, civil society organizations have developed principles on which to base the restoration of Ukraine. The key requirement is that Ukraine’s reconstruction is not a return to the pre-war state but full-fledged development and integration into the European Community on the basis of sustainable development principles and taking into account the European Green Deal, which is also a guarantee of meeting the Copenhagen criteria for the EU accession.
The mission of the new “green” policy is to balance the interests of the public, business and the environment. We are talking not only about reconstruction, but also about creating a sustainable future for future generations. We emphasize the importance of the environmental dimension of the planned reconstruction and development activities so that the new Ukraine is a comfortable, safe, healthy and prosperous home for all Ukrainian men and women.
We realize that actions to support people’s livelihoods, such as the restoration of critical infrastructure, must be swift and rapid. But for long-term planning and new capital construction, we need to think not only about the cost of projects as of today, but also about their long-term effectiveness and full cost with a vision for the future.
General principles: green restoration is the basis of the future strategy of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine
1. Integration of environmental and climate policy into all sectors. Consideration of the provisions of environmental and climate policy, their conditions and limitations is necessary in all documents of strategic and programmatic nature in all spheres of public life and at all levels. The priorities of the European Green Deal (EGD), including modernization and decarbonisation of the economy, clean industrial production, biodiversity conservation and transition to sustainable agricultural practices, should be key tasks in Ukraine’s post-war restoration.
2. Restoration should serve the needs of Ukrainians and promote the sustainable development of Ukraine. Investment policy and the attraction of financing for economic recovery should be consistent with the goals of sustainable development and should be aimed primarily at the development of high added-value production chains, rather than at resource-export economy.
3. Development of the green economy.The green economy must be low-carbon and energy-efficient, nature-oriented, have efficient and clean production, balanced consumption and be based on the following principles: shared responsibility, innovation, cooperation, solidarity, flexibility and interdependence. Development should focus on empowerment of and better choices for the national economy, using targeted and appropriate fiscal policies. To be sustainable and green, economic development must be guided by climate goals, environmental and social protection policies. It should be guided and supported by professional and independent regulatory bodies designed to safeguard the legal framework, including the environmental and social components.
4. Environmental standards at all levels.Environmental standards for monitoring and quality, in contrast to the standardization of the permissible impact on environmental components, should define monitoring methods and relevant requirements for the quality of soil, air, water and the environment as a whole. The ultimate goal is to ensure a safe and desirable state of the environment. Restoration of infrastructure and enterprises should be based on the use of the best available technologies and management methods.
5. Adherence to European environmental planning tools for Ukraine’s restoration. The basis of the restoration is compliance with environmental legislation, in particular on strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of plans and programs and environmental impact assessment (EIA) of planned activities to take into account environmental priorities when planning development and restoration of Ukraine. Weakening or even temporary repeal of environmental legislation in wartime or in conditions of post-war reconstruction is unacceptable.
6. The role of local self-government, transparency, involvement of the public and communities into decision-making. Important documents, such as strategies or plans for post-war reconstruction, should be developed with the active participation and involvement of all stakeholders, including local governments and civil society organizations. Decisions, strategies and action plans must be adopted on a subsidiary basis(“Bottom up”), contributing to the further development of successful decentralization reform. Local governments need to be leaders in their communities and have a sense of ownership of community recovery processes. The achievements of the public, initiatives and analytics should be considered and taken into account in decision-making.
7. Effective functioning and use of targeted/donor funds for post-war restoration and green economy development. Given the multiplicity of intentions to provide financial and technical assistance to Ukraine for reconstruction, such funds should work in coordination and on the basis of effective and transparent administration of their functioning based on world best practices, and combine their work with efforts to increase the capacity of all stakeholders for “green” restoration. and development at the national and local levels. The use of donor funds should be open and public with the broad involvement of all stakeholders.
Subscriber organizations:
“Center for Environmental Initiatives Ecoaction” NGO
ICO “Environment-People-Law”
“Ecoclub” NGO
“Unique Planet” NGO
“Danube-Carpathian Program” NGO
National Ecological Center of Ukraine” NGO “
Coalition of NGOs “It is enough to poison Kryvyi Rih”,ICO “ Information Center Green Dossier ”
Resource and Analysis Center “Society and Environment”
DiXi Group NGO
PU “International Business Association”
NGO “Union of responsible citizens”
NGO “All-Ukrainian Association of Territorial Communities” PUBLIC SECURITY “
PU “Stop poisoning Kryvyi Rih”
NGO “OSNOVY SVIDOMOSTI”
Charity Foundation “Shelter Plus”
NGO “DNIPROPETROVSK REGIONAL ORGANIZATION” CIVIL NETWORK “OPORA”
NGO “National Coordinating Committee for Anti-Corruption”
NGO “RED HUB”
NGO “The Survival and Special Training Center “SEAL”
NGO “Greenenergy”
NGO “Climbers KR”
PU “Common Goal”
NGO “Pravo E!”
NGO “Center of social and legal initiatives”
Federation of extreme type sport of Ukraine
A separate subdivision of the All-Ukrainian Union of ATO Soldiers of the Kryvyi Rih District
NGO “Movement without limits”
“Professional Union of Honest Toilers”It is enough to poison Kryvyi Rih”,
Project Kesher in Ukraine
