Leading Emission Reduction Challenges: (a) Political and economic crisis; (b) Problems implementing existing climate change policy and legislation
Current Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels
Ukraine committed to a target of 40 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, and so far seems to be successful in the fulfillment of its Paris Agreement Pledge. The current level of GHG emissions is 385.93 MtCO2e which is about 55% less than the respective number for the year 1990. However, there are some issues that might intervene with Ukraine’s success in this area and most of them have to do with either financial problems or the countries excessive bureaucracy system.
Emission Reduction Challenges
Ukraine currently is in a state of a deep political and economic crisis, which makes it hard to attract international investors willing to invest in environmentally important projects. The war has led to the shutdown of many of the country’s environmental programs especially the ones that have to do with hydraulic power development, many of which were based in the Crimea. In addition to this, the high cost of green technologies currently makes environmental modernization impossible for a significant number of companies. One of the possible solutions to this issue suggested by the Ukraine’s Center for CSR Development, is to introduce financial and tax benefits for companies who are actively implementing the main elements of environmental modernization.
Another problem that stands in the way of Ukraine’s GHG emission reduction efforts is the country’s extremely rigid regulatory framework and the complexity of administrative procedures that have to do with ecological matters. At present, obtaining environmental licenses and permits entails numerous bureaucratic obstacles and often unnecessarily excessive paperwork. In order to combat this problem, some experts suggest creating a new national institution governed by The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine. This new Ministsry would be responsible for coordinating the work of various government structures that are involved in issuing green licenses and insuring that there are no inconsistencies in governmental policies and practices regarding greenhouse gas emissions. Many environment experts agree that the public license issuance system needs to become more accessible, which can only be made possible through a closer dialogue between the government and the companies who employ green practices and technologies.
–Submitted by Climate Scorecard Country Manager Diana Sentjurova
Useful Resources
http://ua-energy.org/post/60301
http://bellona.org/news/ukraine/2016-06-zhyttya-pislya-paryzha-chas-diyaty
http://csr-ukraine.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Analysis-Questionnaire-CSR.pdf
http://www.lse.ac.uk/GranthamInstitute/legislation/countries/ukraine/
http://smarteco.biz.ua/oleksandr-dyachuk-pro-zaluchennya-investytsij-v-zeleni-tehnologiyi/