Ukraine

With a population of around 42 million (2019) and CO2e emissions per capita of 5.02mt, Ukraine is one of the most energy-intensive economies in Europe.

The largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Ukraine are placed in the energy sector
As an Annex I Party to the UNFCCC and Annex B Party to the Kyoto Protocol, Ukraine has already a target until 2020 to reduce its GHG emissions levels by 20% below 1990 levels. Ukraine’s first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) sets a new GHG emission target not to exceed 60% of 1990 GHG emission levels in 2030.

Air temperatures rise in Ukraine is ahead of global trends, hence in Ukraine, there is a likelihood of potential shifts in agricultural zones leading to marked water deficiencies, which can compromise the country’s food security and economic growth.
Ukraine is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and has identified agriculture, water resources, energy, transportation, health, the urban environment and forests, and coastal zone management as the key adaptation priorities.

Ukraine’s climate change legislation and regulatory provisions are scattered amongst several laws, resolutions and governmental decrees. The Government of Ukraine adopted the Concept on State Climate Policy Implementation till 2030 in December 2016 and the Action Plan to Implement the Concept on State Climate Policy in December 2017. The Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) of Ukraine till 2050 was adopted and submitted to UNFCCC in accordance with Paris Agreement requirements in 2018.The Law (adopted in 2019) on the Main Principles (strategy) of the State Environmental Policy of Ukraine until 2030 envisages, among others, climate change adaptation policies. Ukraine adopted a 2020 National Renewable Energy Action Plan in 2014, which sets a target to increase Ukraine’s share of renewables to 11% of total final energy consumption by 2020. The Law “On the Principles of Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Greenhouse Gas Emissions” adopted in 2019 will enter into force on 1 January 2021. The National Focal Point under UNFCCC is the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

Climate policy development and advancing cooperation with the EU in Ukraine

The main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together is the Association Agreement (AA), including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) signed in 2014. One of the priority reforms in AA is energy efficiency. The EU contributes substantially to the Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Fund and supports raising awareness for energy efficiency investments. The EU continues providing assistance in gas and electricity sectors modernisation and market reform in Ukraine, also supporting the establishment of an independent energy regulatory authority and new gas and electricity laws to improve efficiency in the energy sector. The EU also helps Ukraine in its ambitious transport agenda, and the country has drafted a complex action plan, necessary to improve and decarbonise the transport sector.

2014
- Association Agreement with EU
- National Energy Efficiency Action Plan
  (NEEAP) (2015-2020)
2015
- INDC 2021-2030
- COP21 Paris Agreement
- Pledge to Sustainable Developent
  Agenda 2030
- National Renewable Energy Action Plan
  till 2020
2016
- Ratification of Paris Agreement
- The Concept on State Policy on Climate
  Change Plan till 2030
2017
- EU-Ukraine AA fully effective
- The Action Plan to Implement Climate
  Change till 2030
- Energy Strategy of Ukraine (2035)
2018
- LEDS submitted (2021-2050)
- National Energy and Climate Plans
  (NECPs) working group
2019
- EU4Climate launched
- Measurement, Reporting and Verification
  (MRV) of GHG emissions Law adopted
2020
- Second NDC to Paris Agreement
  (2021-2030)
- National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)
  (2021-2030)

EU4Climate key policy interventions and expected impact

By submitting to UNFCCC its long-term Low Emission Development Strategy, the Government of Ukraine demonstrated its commitment to combat global climate change and meet relevant non-mandatory requirements of the Paris Agreement in order to pursue the Climate Action SDG. The Strategy is overall in line with the EU climate Acquis. According to the Strategy, the indicative GHG emissions reduction target is 31-34% by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels). If implemented, the targets would be far more ambitious than the current commitment of the first NDC till 2030 under the Paris Agreement. Ukraine reporting under UNFCCC follows the stringent rules for developed countries.

However, as a country with an economy in transition, and possessing insufficient capacity to meet the challenges of the transition to low-emission and climate-resilient development, it is eligible for international climate change support.

EU4Climate Programme, funded by the European Union, aims to support the development and implementation of climate-related policies by the Eastern Partnership countries. In Ukraine specifically, the main components of the project are the development of a National Adaptation Strategy and further mainstreaming climate change into the energy and transport sectors.
Throughout the project, the best international and EU practices will be applied, including alignment with EU Acquis according to the bilateral agreements and the Energy Community Treaty on Climate Action.

EU4Climate result areas and timeframe in Ukraine

RESULT AREAS

2019

2020

2021

2022

NDC

Long-term LEDS

MRV System

EU Climate Acquis

Climate mainstreaming

Climate investment

Adaptation planning

The EU4Climate project’s substantial activities started in Ukraine in the second half of 2019, with some initial activities relating to the stocktaking and planning of a National Adaptation Strategy development and aligning of the national climate change legislation with the EU Acquis performed in 2019.

Full country profile can be downloaded here.