Climate action and energy transformation in war times

Starting in October 2022, Russian forces have targeted and destroyed big parts of the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine’s primary focus is on repairing the existing infrastructure but increasingly, the establishment of new renewable, decentralized and less vulnerable energy systems is gaining momentum. All while fighting Russia’s aggression, Ukraine remains committed to an ambitious climate policy and the targets of the Paris Agreement. Which lessons can be learned from other countries when it comes to establishing decentralized renewable energy solutions under challenging conditions?

International partners have supported Ukraine by procuring large amounts of spare parts needed for the repair of the energy infrastructure. After over 20 months of war the following question becomes more and more relevant: In how far can emergency measures contribute to the transition of energy systems to achieve carbon-neutrality and avoid fossil lock-in effects?

In the framework of the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership and the International Climate Initiative (IKI) Germany and Ukraine are cooperating in the areas of renewable energies, energy efficiency, coal transition, decarbonisation and combating climate change. How can a bilateral cooperation like this support the green reconstruction of Ukraine and the energy transition of the partner countries?

Therefore the objectives of the discussion are:

• to elaborate on the role of decentralized renewable energy solutions in a resilient and decarbonised energy system for ambitious climate action. Lessons learned from other countries;
• to detail on how to address emergency needs while avoiding lock-in effects and contributing to a green transformation;
• to uncover the role of bilateral cooperation in green recovery and energy transition.

Panel I: Ukraine’s Climate and Energy Transition Agenda in Times of War

Moderator: Yuliia Rybak, Advisor to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine and Co-Head of the German-Ukrainian Energy Partnership

Panel II: Decentralized renewable energy projects and mini-grids – Experiences from around the world

Moderator: Katja Kammerer, Director Commissioning Parties, Client Liaison and Business Development, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Panel 1:

• Herman Galushchenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine
• Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (tbc)
• Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
• Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (tbc)
• Lionel Rapaille, EIB Director of the Enlargement & Neighbourhood Department

Panel 2:

• Svitlana Grynchuk, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine (tbc)
• Representative from Ministry for the Environment, Turkey (tbc)
• Juan Carlos Olmedo, President of Board of Directors of the National Electricity Coordinator, Chile (tbc)
• Adomas Audickas, Head of Biomethane Business MHP in Ukraine
• Anna Ackermann, Policy Analyst, Green Reconstruction of Ukraine, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), Board Member of Center for Environmental Initiatives Ecoaction
• Kristina Haverkamp, Managing Director, German Energy Agency (dena)

Watch the recording of the event: 

Part 1:

Part 2: