First meeting of the Climate Change Adaptation Working Group discusses priorities of Ukraine’s climate strategy

KYIV, Ukraine, 12 November – The first meeting of the Climate Change Adaptation Working Group has been held to discuss Ukraine’s climate adaptation strategy, the climate risks that most threaten Ukraine’s economy, and how the experience of other cities, and entire ecosystems, can be integrated into Ukraine’s adaptation planning.

Taking part in the online discussion were almost 100 participants from ministries, agencies, parliament, academia, business associations and financial insitutions.

Iryna Stavchuk, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine for European Integration, reported that the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the World Bank and several research institutes have launched a detailed study of the climate change consequences for Ukraine expected to occur this century, based on the scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

"The data obtained is the foundation for long-term and regional forecasts by industry, and will provide an opportunity to build up a response plan that will form the basis for developing a National Adaptation Strategy,” Stavchuk said.

“We’re carefully studying the experience of other countries, and, taking into account the specifics of our governance and economy, developing policies for adaptation planning that will be an effective tool for many years," Stavchuk added.

Meeting attendees agreed that the key tasks for the coming months are to conduct a vulnerability assessment and an analysis of the economic aspects of adaptation, to bring forward as soon as possible the implementation of strategic measures in the various sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

Andreas Biermann, the team leader of the Energy and Environment Portfolio at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, noted that the Paris Agreement on climate change was closely aligned with the goals and objectives related to climate change adaptation stipulated in the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“In particular, SDG 13 on climate action includes adaptation objectives related to strengthening resilience and adaptation capacity, the integration of adaptation to national planning, and improving institutional capacities and adaptation funding,” Biermann said.

"UNDP will continue to provide methodological assistance in developing measures to reduce emissions, support Ukraine’s adaptation to climate change, and developing a more sustainable economic future in Ukraine, which will reduce the risk of natural disasters,” Biermann added. “Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of hydrometeorological data, risk assessment of sectoral vulnerabilities, and introducing robust methodologies to quantify the effects and consequences of climate change.

The climate commitments in the Paris Agreement provide the basis for guiding national actions and policies for mitigating and adapting to climate change. This year, Ukraine began to develop its National Adaptation Strategy until 2030. The Ukrainian government will be supported in this process by the European Union project EU4Climate, which is being implemented by UNDP in Ukraine.

In the coming months the Ministry of Environmental Protection, together with EU4Climate Project experts and Working Group members, will actively work on the National Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan in preparation for presenting it to the public and the government for discussion. Throughout the process, the UNDP will back the process by training expert working groups and providing analytical support, applying the best international practice and taking into consideration the requirements of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The EU4Climate initiative, implemented by the United Nations Development Program, contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as the development of low-emission and climate-resilient economies under the Paris Agreement. This will help the Eastern Partnership Parties to integrate emission reduction and climate change resilience goals into policies and progression plans, and to improve and consolidate climate policy and regulation.