KYIV,12 December 2024 – A national presentation of the key elements of Ukraine’s updated Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) until 2050 was held on 11 December during the “Ukraine at COP29: Achievements, Challenges, Prospects” forum, which was organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. 

The Institute for Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine engaged more than 20 national and international experts in preparing the updated strategy. Support for the work was provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as part of the global Climate Promise initiative.  

During the forum, Oleksandr Dyachuk and Roman Podolets, researchers from the Institute, presented the results of modelling pathways to decarbonisation and achieving climate neutrality in Ukraine, along with a comprehensive set of policies and measures. The modelling confirmed that Ukraine could achieve climate neutrality by 2050 in an economically viable and socially acceptable manner – even factoring in the impacts of the ongoing war. 

Viktoriia Kyreeva, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, emphasized the importance of the updated strategy for the country's green transition. 

“The revised LT-LEDS aligns fully with the EU’s climate goals and the Paris Agreement, reaffirming Ukraine's commitment to the global effort to combat climate change,” Kyreeva said. “We are grateful to our international partners, particularly UNDP, for their significant support in advancing key environmental reforms.” 

Roman Shakhmatenko, Team Leader of UNDP Ukraine’s Energy and Environment Portfolio, highlighted that updating the strategy marks a major milestone for Ukraine's sustainable future. 

“UNDP in Ukraine is proud to play a key role in facilitating these critical reforms and supporting Ukraine’s transition to a climate-resilient economy,” Shakhmatenko said. “We will continue to support Ukraine on this path and engage international development partners.” 

Earlier, on 18 November 2024, the main elements of the updated strategy were presented at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) during a high-level event organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine and UNDP. Kurt Vandenberghe, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA) of the European Commission, also participated in that event. 

The presentation initiated the consultation process with national and international experts. Following consultations and approval by the Government of Ukraine, the updated strategy will be submitted to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, fulfilling Ukraine’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. 

Media enquiries 

Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org