Blog entry

From coal to clean energy: A Romanian initiative for sustainable employment

The focus must be on creating decent, sustainable jobs as the foundation of an economic system that serves both people and the environment.

Challenges of the just transition

It’s projected that the green transition will create approximately 1 million new jobs across the EU by 2030. This transformation will require supporting workers in updating their skills and shifting the focus of the education system towards life-long learning. With the EU committed to decarbonise its economy by 2050, fossil fuel industries will either be phased out or undergo radical technological transformations.

Recognising the vulnerability of mono-industrial regions dependent on polluting industries, such as EU’s coal-mining regions, the Just Transition Fund supports the workforce in transitioning to a low-carbon economy as one of its main objectives. In Romania, which has committed to phasing out coal by 2032, almost EUR 300 million from the Just Transition Fund has been allocated to this end for the country’s six beneficiary counties.

Whether it involves updating existing competencies or learning a completely new set of skills, workers in declining industries must be supported with complex, integrated interventions. These may include financial, logistical, psychological, or family-oriented measures to facilitate the transition between sectors and ensure the sustainability of new occupations.

Reskilling for a green future

An inspiring example of a programme that supports professional retraining in emerging green domains is RenewAcad, a network of counselling and professional training centres for renewable energy in Romania and the largest of its kind in southeastern Europe. These centres are dedicated to individuals in areas dependent on coal-based energy production, but not exclusively.

The academy takes advantage of the easily transferable technical skills of mining sector technicians, providing them with both practical and theoretical knowledge to become technicians and specialists in the solar, wind, or energy distribution renewable sectors. At the end of this programme, participants can access well-paid jobs in the installation, operation, and maintenance of renewable projects and electrical networks through recognised certifications.

Easier and cleaner working conditions and competitive salaries in the fast-growing renewable energy sector can be an additional motivation for the workforce to transition from the mining industry to renewables-focused sectors.

Already present in several cities in Romania, RenewAcad recently launched a new counselling and professional retraining centre in Rovinari, Gorj, implemented with the support of the Equal Opportunities Foundation, the Renewable Energy School of Skills (RESS), and funding from OMV Petrom.

Gorj remains the most affected region undergoing decarbonisation in Romania, with around 8,000 employees of Oltenia Energy Complex (OEC) still active in the coal mining industry. This means there’s an acute need for alternative, decent, and sustainable jobs. Organised in partnership with OEC, the course will initially prepare current OEC employees to take part in the construction of new photovoltaic parks, which are part of OEC’s restructuring plan.

Partnerships for success

Creating the opportunities and infrastructure for reskilling and upskilling requires broad and integrated partnerships between public institutions, the private sector, educational institutions, and civil society, aimed at accompanying workers throughout the process. Grassroots and personalised support measures, although time- and resource-intensive, are the only way to ensure the workforce undergoes a smooth transition.

These initiatives must be complemented by policies and programmes that encourage the development of high value-added, emerging green sectors that reintegrate workers into the labour market. After all, a just green transition can only be achieved if workers are able to recognise and seize the opportunity to secure decent, clean jobs and a better life.

Estonia’s young heroes leading the just transition charge

The assembly has provided 40 young people from Ida-Virumaa with a unique opportunity to influence one of the biggest societal changes in Estonia in recent decades. This has allowed youth representatives to evaluate the region’s Territorial Just Transition Plan and propose changes to ensure youth gets a fair deal.

Out of that assembly emerged PWP Liit , a non-profit youth organisation determined to bridge the development gap between their region and Estonia’s more advanced counties. Thanks to contacts built up through their participation in the assembly, PWP Liit seized a golden opportunity to take action – the EUTeens4Green project, a one-of-a-kind regranting initiative launched by the European Commission aimed at supporting youth-led projects in the regions. Although slightly daunted by the prospect of receiving the seemingly large sum of EUR 10 000 if selected, they took the plunge and decided to apply.

Environmental initiative in action

Even though things were slow to get going as they weren’t exactly sure initially what they wanted to focus on, PWP Liit started brainstorming. After toying with some great ideas, like creating an educational board game and establishing a language cafe with a twist, which would see them sharing knowledge and experiences with a focus on climate, they finally settled on developing an online course to educate their peers and the next generation of students. And so began the ‘Environment Hero Course’.

They set about developing a course curriculum that would blend information about climate change and the green transition to encourage youth engagement in sustainable solutions. To get an idea of what secondary school and university students might expect from the course, they conducted a survey along with an associated campaign. Researchers from the University of Tartu and other local experts not only helped them review the feedback they received, but also to prepare the course for launch on the Moodle learning platform.

With the help of their partners, members of PWP Liit have managed to establish a community, learning how to leverage their individual strengths, leaning into their unique talents, and working as a team – assets that will stand them in good stead on their project journey.

Arguably their biggest challenge has been to set up a curriculum from scratch, a task made all the more arduous given their complete lack of experience in the field. They have to navigate an abundance of information, determine what’s true and false, select the right amount of information to include in the course, and source contacts to help them on their way. Quite a handful for a group of young people trying to juggle school at the same time! They’ve also had the added inconvenience of trying to schedule project coordinator meetings during classes, a reality that’s not often considered when working with students.

Complicating matters further, the group now has to contend with the Estonian government’s new directive requiring all state schools to switch to teaching exclusively in Estonian. This represents a logistical headache for the numerous Russian-speaking schools in the region. In stark contrast with the rest of Estonia, Ida-Virumaa exhibits the lowest concentration of Estonian speakers at just 14.5 per cent. The course was originally intended to be carried out in both languages, but the final version had to be restricted to Estonian.

Today, the EUTeens4Green project has ended and PWP Liit’s course is undergoing beta testing. Looking to the future, the organisation is currently developing a comparable course tailored for older teachers, with the average 65-year-old typically out of touch with advancements in science and the green revolution. After all, how can teachers teach students if they don’t have access to current information? With materials for the teachers’ course more or less ready, their next step is to attract further financial and capacity support.

Support from the Just Transition Fund

Building on the financial support from the European Commission initiative, the Just Transition Fund is also giving young people a chance to participate in the transition process. For instance, one Just Transition Fund measure in particular is being implemented to support local communities through citizens’ initiatives. Activities are aimed at promoting environmental awareness and supporting local youth-led initiatives to develop their skills.

The number of projects that have already received funding demonstrates the willingness and active participation of civil society in Ida-Virumaa. So far, 30 small projects have been funded, including public events, workshops, lectures, excursions and youth camps, all with the goal of raising awareness about the just transition and opening the floor to discussions around local identity.

These projects are important for improving cohesion and a sense of community within a region going through a drastic transition. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that funding opportunities like these aren’t just a flash in the pan. Ida-Virumaa is one of a kind in Estonia, with the region facing unique challenges compared to the rest of the country. The region’s longstanding heavy reliance on the oil shale industry, language duality, and an ageing population make it a particularly hard environment for young people to realise their ambitions in life. Thankfully, however, there are signs of welcome change.

Fresh attitudes bring hope

A 2021 survey conducted by Rohetiiger, a cross-sectoral collaboration platform, revealed that the just transition concept was still largely unfamiliar to their young respondents. Generally, these topics weren’t discussed at home or in school. While some of them agreed that change is necessary and they had seen some developments here and there, the concept of the process remained vague and confusing. Interestingly, the young people interviewed didn’t see the just transition in the context of an environmental or climate-related perspective, but rather a social one, worrying primarily about the livelihoods of local people and themselves.

However, according to a more recent commissioned by the Ministry of Finance in early 2024, 72 per cent of young people aged 18 to 24 living in Ida-Virumaa see the current changes related to the just transition as positive. They also view the impact of the just transition on the region and the economy as very or rather positive. In contrast, only 26 per cent of people in the 35-44 age group perceive the impact as positive. These numbers reflect the changing mindset of young people in the region and the rise of a more optimistic and proactive movement. And with it, the belief that the future of Ida-Virumaa is in good hands.

The last trolleybus of Bishkek: mayor’s decision defies logic and undermines foreign investments in green transport

Bishkek’s residents are at a loss as the city clumsily revamps its transport and mobility system. The mayor’s office has begun implementing a controversial plan to transfer the city’s existing trolleybus system to the country’s regional centres and replace them with regular buses – resulting in public outcry. Travelling and commuting around the city have become increasingly difficult as both the city trolleybuses and marshrutkas (privately run minibus services) are phased out, electric as well as compressed natural gas buses are phased in, routes are changed, and road infrastructure is renovated.

The city originally justified the decision to remove the trolleybuses, purchased under an EBRD loan, with a plan to procure electric buses with the help of the USD 50 million, financed through the ADB’s Urban Transport Electrification project. Yet both banks have been tangled up in a situation where poor decision making, lack of consultations and complete miscoordination between the players is undermining the benefits of their investments.

Mysterious ways of decision-making

Bishkek desperately needs to upgrade its transport system and significantly extend its public transport fleet to accommodate the needs of the rising population while combatting devastating air pollution levels. However, 120 electric buses purchased with funding from the ADB’s project are not enough to replace the existing electric trolleybus infrastructure. The city claims to have further plans to extend the bus fleet, including adding compressed natural gas buses – hardly a justifiable strategy to tackle Bishkek’s grave air pollution.

This plan, which the city announced in spring 2024, is particularly controversial because the existing electric trolleybuses in Bishkek not only represent the most environmentally friendly transportation mode but were also purchased recently with financial support provided by the EBRD. The EBRD’s project, consisting of a USD 8.5 million grant and a USD 15 million loan, upgraded the city’s trolleybus fleet and infrastructure by 2018. This upgrade supported the development of 11 trolleybus routes along Bishkek streets carrying up to 20 million residents a year.

Six years later, no clear and transparent information about the removal of trolleybuses was provided to Bishkek residents. Local activists have therefore raised the alarm, bringing the issue to the attention of both the ADB and the EBRD. They also started a massive public campaign under the banner ‘The Last Trolleybus’ to raise city residents’ awareness about the city’s controversial and costly decision to transfer the trolleybuses to other cities. This has included a petition, public marches and various public actions to prevent the city’s plan. Ignoring civil society’s role in decision-making, the local authorities have already started dismantling trolleybus cables in parts of Bishkek, even though public consultations are still ongoing.

Did the banks’ response fall on deaf ears?

Nonetheless, the public advocacy efforts have caught the attention of the development banks. In communication with the local activists, the ADB refuted any knowledge of the city’s plans to dismantle and transfer the trolleybus infrastructure system to other cities, claiming the Bank’s transport project served to substitute only a few outdated vehicles and not replace the whole trolleybus system. The EBRD, on the other hand, has made a formal request to city hall, expressing its concerns about the decision, reminding the mayor’s office that any plans to transfer the trolleybuses purchased through the Bank’s loan agreement would be in breach of the city’s contractual obligations. The Bank’s letter cites that the trolleybuses originally procured under the EBRD’s loan were intended for the city of Bishkek only and were not subject to resale or transfer to other cities without the Bank’s approval.

Last week during public hearings on the matter, the city council halted a decision to transfer 100 Bishkek trolleybuses to the country’s regional centre Osh. Yet, Bishkek Mayor Aibek Dzhunushaliev is adamant about ‘cleaning the city of trolleybus cable lines and running modern mobile buses’ instead. At the same time, he provided no further details on whether the new bus fleet will be able to cover the city’s needs. There are further issues: buses running on compressed natural gas will increase costs, as imported gas is far more expensive than Kyrgyz electricity from hydropower, so they do not present an adequate environmental replacement to existing electric trolleybuses. Even the electric buses procured under the ADB project will not reach the streets until 2025 at the earliest. The mayor’s office has made no public comment in reply to the EBRD’s letter regarding the city’s contractual obligations.

Bankwatch recently published a research study produced in collaboration with our Kyrgyz partners Peshcom that examines the state of Bishkek’s urban transport as well as its development objectives (both on a local policy level and in terms of development financing). It reveals specific problems the city is facing due to lack of transparency and consistency in its approach to the ongoing and planned transport development initiatives. As an example, the current Concept of public transport development of Bishkek for the years 2023-2026 does not mention any plans to remove trolleybuses from the city. Authorities have provided no clear and comprehensive information to justify the proposal or rationalise what sounds like enormous costs for the removal and transfer of trolleybuses and electric substations to another city. Consistent with Peshсom’s study, this seems to be yet another impulsive decision made with no proper planning, preparation or prior consultations with experts or city residents.

Sweeping the mess under the rug or better coordination and planning?

Unfortunately, Bishkek, which is heavily reliant on international investments, seems to approach urban transport development in a very inconsistent, uncoordinated and, as recent events show, possibly even irresponsible way. Considering the EBRD’s declared commitments to development of the city’s transport strategy as part of its original investment project and the ADB’s plans to upgrade city’s trolleybus depots, it would be good to hear from the banks about the results of such work.

Both banks should conduct impact assessments of their role and coordinate their efforts with local authorities, experts and the public to avoid harm and deliver beneficial and meaningful changes to the city.

The ADB and the EBRD should ensure that cities receiving funding comply with their commitments to produce urban development action plans including comprehensive transport development strategies prior to or as part of their investment programmes. Multilateral development banks should also improve communication and collaboration during the project planning stages to avoid mishandling of investment resources by their clients.

Hooked on gas: CEE governments’ climate plans prescribe fossil gas addiction

National energy and climate plans (NECPs) are a key part of the EU’s strategy for meeting its 2030 climate goals. EU Member States are in the process of updating these plans to reflect the increased ambition of EU climate targets. Yet according to a Bankwatch report released late last month, despite the urgent need for climate action that requires a rapid decline in the use of fossil fuels, the freshly updated draft NECPs reveal that Member States are still betting on gas in central and eastern Europe (CEE). In their current form, these NECPs effectively undermine the EU’s climate and energy goals and perpetuate dependence on a mainly imported, volatile and destructive fossil fuel.

These plans, initially submitted by EU Member States in 2019 and currently under revision, are meant to lay out each country’s pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 55 per cent by 2030, with the ultimate goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. However, even the European Commission’s own assessment revealed that the draft updated NECPs submitted in 2023 fall short of the EU’s green transition targets. The Commission identified the existing gap in ambitions versus actions, including the lack of action by countries on ending fossil fuels subsidies. But the Commission’s assessment failed to point out that these plans are missing a key component – a commitment to phase out fossil gas, irrespective of its source.

Europe’s continued reliance on fossil fuels, mainly via imports, has the EU’s climate and energy security ambitions in a chokehold. In the context of the European Commission’s REPowerEU plan, sparked by Russia’s weaponisation of its fossil fuels exports, the EU managed to cut its share of Russian gas from over 40 per cent in 2021 to about 15 per cent in 2023. Among other reasons, this is the result of the EU’s success in reducing gas consumption across the bloc by 18 per cent on average. However, a full implementation of the measures in the REPowerEU plan has the potential not only to stop Russian imports but to reduce overall gas consumption 52 per cent by 2030 – a path not reflected in the NECPs, which are full of contradictory gas investments.

Betting on gas

Bankwatch’s analysis of the NECPs of eight central and eastern European countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland – shows that none of them is considering ending fossil fuels subsidies or phasing out fossil gas. On the contrary, their plans include massive investments in gas infrastructure: expanding gas transmission and distribution systems and building new gas power plants and liquified gas (LNG) terminals. Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania are even planning to invest in new gas extraction.

Many of these investments could be financed by public money, which governments could instead use to fund badly needed investments in the energy transition such as electricity grid development or building renovation programmes. It also perpetuates the region dependency on fossil fuels.

Plan versus reality

A few governments’ climate plans include proposals that blatantly call into question the credibility of their predicted emissions reduction scenarios. For example, Hungary’s most ambitious scenario foresees fossil gas use decreasing by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. At the same time, the Hungarian government’s planned investments in gas power plants, pipelines and shale gas extraction would indicate a definite increase in carbon emissions.

The situation is similar for Romania, where the government’s most ambitious emissions reduction scenario suggests a similar level of gas consumption by 2030 compared to current levels, although the country is investing in new gas extraction, gas power plants, combined heat and power plants, pipelines and an LNG terminal. Romania’s government has allocated at least EUR 1.7 billion of EU money to fund these gas investments and is moving forward with the controversial Neptun Deep gas extraction project in the Black Sea.

Time to plan for fossil gas phase-out

These controversies and the long lists of gas investments highlight a critical oversight: the NECPs lack clear, actionable plans to stop fossil fuels subsidies and reduce fossil gas consumption, as well as an overall aim to phase out fossil gas irrespective of its source. Without such plans, the EU’s climate goals will stay out of reach while the EU’s energy security will continue to depend on global power shifts and on authoritarian regimes.

EU governments must scrap the outdated but easier short-term solutions – such as plans to build new gas power plants, LNG terminals and any other infrastructure that continues fossil fuel reliance – and focus exclusively on what is demanding but crucial in the long term, such as designing flexible, clean power and energy systems and ramping up energy efficiency. The NECPs should follow this direction to fulfil their role in delivering meaningful and cohesive climate policy across Europe. Amid escalating climate disasters, the EU and its Member States, as some of the worst emitters in global history, have a collective responsibility to move away from fossil fuels if humanity is to secure a livable future.

Lack of transparency in financing export in Czechia

The domestic market in the Czech Republic is small and the economy is dependent on exports. Czechia, like other countries, supports exports with taxpayers’ money, in accordance with the Export Strategy of the Czech Republic for 2023-2033, which is available on the website of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. One of the instruments of export support are export agencies, such as the Export and Guarantee Insurance Company, a.s. (hereinafter EGAP) and the Czech Export Bank, a.s. (hereinafter CEB).

As we found out when looking closer on their functioning, these agencies often support projects with unclear impact on the environment, while also financing those subjects who do not export domestic products, which encourages rather pointless movement of goods around the globe.

Uncertainties around projects supported by EGAP

EGAP is subject to strict regulations in the area of state supervision and control, and projects are analysed in terms of environmental and social impact. However, there is a way for EGAP to implement projects that are not subject to state supervision and control, whose environmental and social impact is not assessed and also risk management and sustainability is not standard, see EGAP Annual Report 2023. These are, for example, projects that EGAP implements under the COVID Plus, EGAP Plus and Ukraine Fund programmes. Each of these programmes is regulated by its own government resolution.

All data in the annual reports are only aggregated, therefore we do not know the individual beneficiaries. When asked by the Centre for Transport and Energy how the three above-mentioned programmes are assessed in terms of the environmental and social impact of the projects and how risks are managed, EGAP refused to answer. An appeal has now been lodged.

At the same time, one of the conditions for state-supported insurance in EGAP are the Rules for the Origin of Goods, according to which in the case of business cases up to CZK 100 million (around EUR 4 million), the share of Czech goods is not monitored, and in cases reaching higher sums, an exception reducing the share of Czech goods to 20 per cent is always possible. This leaves lot of space for state support of the export of goods not produced in the Czech Republic.

How does the Czech Export Bank contribute to export promotion?

Based on the CEB’s Annual Report 2023, the CEB provided CZK 6.8 billion (around EUR 2.7 billion) in supported financing products, at a cost of CZK 306 million (EUR 12 million). This is a considerable amount, which, to give you an idea, corresponds to the amount of state subsidies for crop production in Czechia in 2023.

The Annual Report states that ‘beyond the reported volumes, the CEB also initiated/implemented the processing of 16 letters of credit in the total amount of CZK 5 262.59 million on the basis of requests from 10 Czech exporters and their foreign partners. ’. However, even in this case, it remains unclear what risks were assessed by the CEB for these transactions, how the environmental, social and ESG risk assessment of the projects was carried out, and whether these letters of credit are assessed using the same methodology as supported financing products. We have asked the CEB about this and have not received an answer, and an appeal is pending.

Conclusions

Transparency of the use of taxpayers’ money is one of the important factors of a democratic society. However, in the case of state support for exports in the Czech Republic, the rules do not always apply and in many cases are being bypassed without explanation.

The annual reports of the Czech Export Bank and the Export and Guarantee Insurance Company do not provide information on specific projects and their financing. This raises the question of whether and to what extent is the Czech state support for exports actually supporting the export of Czech products, and to what extent does the state rather use the taxpayers’ money to encourage the movement of goods from one country to another through the territory of the Czech Republic, which certainly does not help Czech producers and, moreover, further burdens the environment.

Will the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference mark a turning point for municipalities?

Municipalities take centre stage

This year’s conference marked a significant milestone for Ukrainian municipalities. Attended by over 200 representatives of local and regional authorities as well as municipal associations, the event provided participants with a platform to network with potential donors and partners, share experiences in addressing recovery challenges, deliver presentations, and participate in panel discussions.

Discussions focused on crucial aspects of Ukraine’s recovery, such as ensuring the fair distribution of financial resources, building capacity at the local level, and forging partnerships to aid recovery efforts. Transparency, accountability, and building the trust of citizens were among the main themes, demonstrating commitment to a holistic approach to the national rebuild.

Significantly, the European Union (EU) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed a number of key agreements totalling EUR 517 million, the culmination of extensive preparatory work between multiple partners, including Ukrainian municipalities. Supported by EU investment grants, the EBRD also signed municipal lending agreements with the cities of Lutsk and Mykolaiv and a pre-financing municipal lending agreement with Kharkiv.

Under the new agreements, the EU will provide financial support for the EBRD’s four Ukraine recovery programmes, which aim to foster the competitiveness and inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises, introduce innovative green technologies, restore financial inclusion, and strengthen municipal, infrastructure and industrial resilience.

Mobilising efforts to support local recovery

Adding to the momentum of the conference, Ukraine’s international partners launched the Coalition for Sustainable Municipalities. This landmark initiative is intended to support Ukrainian municipalities in their efforts to bring about a green and sustainable recovery.

The principles of the Coalition, informed by research carried out by Bankwatch and Ecoaction on the role of municipalities in rebuilding Ukraine, include strengthening the role of self-government, developing the capacities of municipalities, coordinating efforts to promote community access to financial resources, building human capital, establishing municipal partnerships, and recognising the contributions of civil society, local businesses, and international partner municipalities

During the conference, members of the Coalition committed to mobilise almost EUR 2 billion to support initiatives rooted in these principles, such as strengthening the financial resources of municipalities, building capacity, and developing partnerships.

Energy resilience in action

One of the most pressing cross-cutting issues to emerge from the panel discussions, side events, and backstage conversations at URC2024 was Ukraine’s energy resilience and preparedness for the coming winter. This urgency has been understandably fuelled by Russia’s devastating missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, crippling half of its total generating capacity.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian municipalities have increased their efforts to implement sustainable energy solutions capable of sustaining critical infrastructure, hospitals, and water pumping stations. The city of Zhytomyr in northwestern Ukraine is a shining example of this proactive approach. Through forward thinking and long–term planning, the city has successfully converted its infrastructure to run on sustainable energy sources. As a result, the city’s residents are now largely immune to the power outages affecting many other parts of the country.

Civil society steps up

Leading civil society organisations, including Ecoclub, Ecoaction, Razom We Stand, the Energy Act for Ukraine Foundation, Greenpeace, the RePower Ukraine Charitable Foundation, and Bankwatch released a joint statement calling on the international community to support the energy resilience of municipalities through grants and low-interest loans.

They emphasised the importance of giving municipalities direct access to funding provided by international financial institutions, implementing capacity-building programmes focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency, and promoting active public participation in the development and execution of reconstruction projects.

A missed opportunity for green recovery?

Despite the large-scale nature of the event, there was no thematic dimension dedicated to the green recovery. Nevertheless, the representation of participants from the civil society sector, especially those involved in the green restoration, was significant and possibly the largest turnout at the event to date.

During the EU, business, and local dimensions, panellists stressed the significance of healthy ecosystems in delivering essential services to people and the urgency of addressing environmental issues. Virginius Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, underlined the strategic importance of environmental impact assessments and the principle of ‘do no significant harm’. Oleksii Sobolev, Deputy Minister of Economy for Digital Development, Digital Transformations and Digitalization of Ukraine, announced that the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan would be finalised within the next 12 months. And at the Recovery Forum, members of civil society shared their experiences in supporting community energy and the introduction of renewable energy sources.

The conference was also notable for the launch of the Platform for Action on the Green Recovery of Ukraine, a joint initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the Ukrainian government. The platform aims to create opportunities for stakeholders to exchange information and expert knowledge on the green recovery. Steffi Lemke, Germany’s federal environment minister, announced that the German government would be committing EUR 5 million to support the platform.

In our view, highlighting the environmental risks of development at high-profile events such as URC2024 is crucial. While Ukraine’s European partners may assume all development aligns with the principles of the European Green Deal, the Ukrainian government has yet to fully embrace this approach.

On a positive note, the European Commission’s announcement that EU accession negotiations with Ukraine are due to begin offers hope that domestic legislation will more actively adapt to EU environmental standards.

The path to URC2025

The success of URC2024 begs the question: How can we build upon this momentum for future conferences of similar scope? While the situation in Ukraine is bound to change by the time Italy hosts the next conference in 2025, the challenge of rebuilding the country during wartime will remain immense.

Looking ahead to next year’s event, the Italian government should build upon the inclusivity of the Berlin conference by providing even more opportunities for municipalities and civil society to engage in open dialogue, build partnerships, and contribute to discussions at the highest level.

Finally, we strongly urge the organisers of URC2025 to add a sustainability dimension, expanding upon the social and local dimensions addressed this year. Going forward, this is a crucial step in prioritising the environmental aspects of Ukraine’s recovery.

For those who missed URC2024 in person, the event stream recordings are available here.

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