Ukraine Pavilion at COP28 presents the consequences of the Kakhovka Dam disaster and outlines Ukrainian green recovery plans
From November 30th to December 12th, 2023, the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) is set to take place in Dubai. Ukraine will, for the second time in history, present its pavilion at the conference. The aim is to showcase the scale of environmental damage caused by war and propose preventive measures against ecocide relevant to the entire planet.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy Peace Formula initiative will be introduced at the conference, aligning with the 8th point of this formula: Ecological Safety.
The Ukraine pavilion’s exposition is divided into three significant blocks.
The Kakhovka block narrates one of the most significant man-made disasters in human history — the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.
The “Recovery” block demonstrates how Ukrainians, despite the traumas of war, strive to quickly revive what has been destroyed.
The Consequences block presents information about the devastating damage inflicted by war, while the Recovery block illustrates how Ukrainians, despite the wounds of war, strive to swiftly restore what has been destroyed.
Materials and exhibits collected from various regions of Ukraine exemplify how war complicates the resolution of climate change-related issues. The key installation in the pavilion, called the Roof, commemorates the tragedy of lost homes due to flooding. It visually represents the thousands of destroyed Ukrainian houses, using tiles from the Kherson region, where residents directly experienced the consequences of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant explosion.
Samples of burned wheat and corn serve as a reminder of food security’s importance — grains intended to feed people globally, yet thousands of tons of harvest were destroyed by missile strikes. The pavilion also features a panel displaying dead Ukrainian black soil — the world’s most fertile soil — whose quality diminishes after field fires caused by shelling.
Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, states, “The COP28 venue aims not only to showcase the environmental and climate consequences of war but also to unite and engage the international community in achieving justice and peace. Ukraine’s objectives at COP28 include advocating for the Environmental Declaration and continuing the international dialogue on the President of Ukraine’s announced Global Platform for Assessment of Environmental Damages Caused by Military Actions from COP27. Despite the war, Ukraine is finalizing the development of its climate architecture and consistently fulfilling its climate commitments. At COP28, we plan to gather even more partners around our country for a greener future for Ukraine and the entire world.”
One of the pavilion’s key messages is that despite the war, Ukraine is actively building its future. Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to learn about Ukrainians who are revitalizing parks, cities, and agricultural lands. They’ll also acquaint themselves with Ukraine’s restoration plan, involving 850 large-scale projects over the next decade. Priority programs include “Recovery of a Clean and Protected Environment,” “Energy Independence,” and “Green Deal.”
Ukraine will also showcase an already implemented green energy project from the 2022 conference — the Tyligulska Wind Power Station, the world’s first built during wartime. Additionally, the Global Platform for Assessment of Environmental Damages Caused by Military Actions, announced by the President of Ukraine at COP27, will be launched at the event.
Maxim Timchenko, CEO of DTEK, said, “Despite the challenges of war, our commitment to a green transition in Ukraine remains absolute. Indeed, the war is driving us to transform our energy system even faster as we understand that renewable energy systems are so much more resilient and secure. DTEK recently finished a windfarm – Tyligulska – just a few miles from frontline fighting and we are about to quadruple its size. If Ukraine can do this today, think what the world can achieve.”
The Ukraine pavilion at COP28 was organized by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine with the support of the German Government, IKI, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, the UN Global Compact, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Ukraine Recovery and Reform Architecture Programme), and DTEK Group — a key private investor in Ukraine’s energy sector. The pavilion’s innovative concept was crafted through a partnership between the Gres Todorchuk agency, the architectural office “FORMA,” and the Ukrainian production agency how.production.
Event details:
What: 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference
When: November 30th to December 12th, 2023
Where: Dubai, UAE
Ukraine pavilion website: cop.ukrainian-climate-office.org
Pavilion working hours: November 30th to December 11th, 2023, from 10:00 to 17:00
Press Attaché for the Ukrainian Pavilion at COP28: Sofiia Kasianenko, communication manager of Reform support team at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine (email: sofiakasjanenko@gmail.com. WhatsApp: +380953946844).
