At the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), which took place from 10 to 21 November in Brazil, more than 30 different events were held in the Ukrainian pavilion with the participation of government officials, diplomats, scientists, business representatives and civil society.
On behalf of the Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, Oleksiy Sobolev, Deputy Minister Pavlo Kartashov delivered the national statement, a mandatory and responsible element of the conference. The speech focused on the environmental damage caused by Russia’s full-scale aggression, not only to Ukraine.
Ukraine brought important results of its work to COP 30:
- the adoption of the second Nationally Determined Contribution, which set an ambitious goal of reducing emissions by more than 65% by 2035;
- the submission of a biennial transparency report under the Paris Agreement;
- and the presentation of a Long-Term Low Carbon Development Strategy at the conference (this document will be officially adopted in the near future and will serve as a roadmap for green transition and recovery in Ukraine).
In addition, the Deputy Minister held about 20 bilateral meetings with representatives of the governments of the EU, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and international organisations, and thanked international partners for their continued support of Ukraine. The meetings focused on cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, decarbonisation, water resources, waste, biodiversity, and green recovery.
“Climate and the environment know no borders. The terrible pollution caused by the Russian war, especially over the last four years, is already having repercussions in our country and far beyond its borders. Despite this, Ukraine remains committed to its international environmental obligations and has once again demonstrated this at the UN COP30 climate conference in Brazil,” said Pavlo Kartashov, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
European partners noted Ukraine’s progress, including the adoption of a framework climate law, a commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and the preparation of an action plan for the Emissions Trading System.
“I am extremely impressed by how Ukraine, while in a state of full-scale war, is also taking steps to combat climate change. When you decentralise your energy system and increase the share of renewable sources, these steps strengthen resilience — and are an investment in Ukraine’s future,” said European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen.
Almost every discussion in the Ukrainian pavilion focused on the scale of damage to the environment and climate that Russia is already causing to the whole world, as well as on Ukraine’s post-war recovery. “We need to ensure that the reconstruction is truly guided by the principle of “build back better” — to rebuild better than it was before.
This means rebuilding the country in a way that lays the foundations for a clean economy. Instead of rebuilding outdated and high-carbon facilities, Ukraine has the chance to leap straight into a modern low-carbon industry — investing in green steel, hydrogen and sustainable building materials. If the reconstruction is truly green, it will not only reduce emissions and restore ecosystems, but also secure Ukraine’s place in the European economy,” said Kristi Klaas, Deputy Minister of Climate of Estonia.
One of the key presentations was the launch of Europe’s first national standard for eco-industrial parks, presented by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. The standard is harmonised with the UNIDO international framework and creates new rules for the formation of modern industrial sites for sustainable development and green reconstruction.
“Today, Ukraine needs not just investment, but capital that complies with ESG principles. Eco-industrial parks offer just such conditions: transparent management, modern infrastructure, and environmental standards. This makes Ukraine an attractive and responsible destination for investors,” emphasised Vitaliy Kindrativ, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
A separate discussion at COP30 was devoted to the impact of the war on Ukrainian soil. The war has already destroyed millions of hectares of agricultural land. The organic matter content of burnt soil is decreasing — carbon is rising into the atmosphere, and the soil is losing its ability to capture and retain it. Combat operations also cause erosion and the risk of contaminated substances being transferred to fertile fields. Heavy metals and toxic explosive residues pose an additional threat.
“We are the first in Europe to face such a large-scale contamination. Ukraine is working to develop an internationally recognised methodology for soil sampling, laboratories and a model for assessing the risk of contaminants entering agricultural products. We need international support to bring life back to these lands,” emphasised Ihor Bezkaravaynyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian delegation also participated in events outside the pavilion, particularly regarding compensation for climate damage caused by Russian aggression. The IGGAW initiative estimated emissions from the war at 236.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent and damages at $43.8 billion.
Despite the war, Ukraine is among the countries proposing new standards for sustainable development, modernising industry and shaping approaches to green reconstruction. The COP30 conference confirmed that Ukraine is an active participant in global climate policy and a reliable partner on the path to a climate-neutral future.