Gov’t approves goals of Ukraine’s climate policy until 2030

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC2) to the Paris Climate Agreement.

The relevant decision was passed with technical and legal amendments on July 30, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. reported.

"The document aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 35% by 2030 compared to 1990," the report says.

To achieve the said goal, a set of measures is set to be implemented within the next 10 years, including

• Modernization of energy and industrial enterprises;
• Development of renewable energy sources;
• Energy efficiency measures in all sectors of the economy from production, transportation to consumption;
• Thermal modernization of buildings;
• Increasing the share of organic agriculture and resource-saving agricultural practices;
• Electrification and upgrade of transport;
• Introduction of a waste management hierarchy; and
• Increasing forest cover and implementation of the forest management reform.

In addition, the officials note that the strategic goals of decarbonization and a consistent approach to achieving them are a logical continuation of Ukraine's European integration course.

The implementation of the document will have a positive impact on natural resources, in particular, through reducing pollution of air, water bodies, and land.

"Climate change has become one of the world's most pressing problems. In the last few years alone, the number of abnormal weather emergencies in Ukraine and around the world has increased, bringing deaths and significant economic losses. In such a situation, the scenario of doing nothing is the most dangerous one. Inaction today can have catastrophic implications tomorrow. Including in the form of insane economic losses, which will be hundreds of times greater than the amount needed to gradually reduce emissions. Therefore, Ukraine will not stay away from transformation. So defining the real goals of climate policy and achieving them is the only right way out," Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Roman Abramovsky said, commenting on the Cabinet's move

According to researchers, in the next 10 years, all countries should lay the foundations for the transformation of various economy sectors toward curbing emissions. Ukraine, as part of the international community, is also taking an active part in the fight against the global challenge.

The Paris Climate Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, at the United Nations Climate Conference. The document was signed by delegates of 196 countries. The agreement replaced the Kyoto Protocol, which expired in 2020. The previous document obliged only developed economies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The new commitments on climate protection were made by all states, regardless of the level of economic development. The goal of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement is to curb the negative effects of global warming. To this end, the signatory state must reduce greenhouse gas emissions.