A Peace Formula, green innovations, and plantable walls –– Ukraine presents a Pavilion at COP29

The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11th to 22nd 2024. This year, Ukraine’s focus at the event is restoration — the walls of The Ukraine Pavilion are made of recycled paper and real seeds. After the conference, fragments of its walls will be planted by Ukraine’s partners around the world, symbolizing collaborative action that enables a green future.

This is the 3rd time Ukraine has presented its Pavilion at COP — the largest international climate conference. In 2022, Ukraine’s Pavilion addressed the impact of the full-scale war on the wider Earth. The exposition was centered around a 3 meter long crater, with 16 types of Ukrainian soil, including marred soil that had been scorched and lost its fertility. In 2023, the central theme covered Russia’s terrorist destruction of the Kakhovka HPP and dam. The Pavilion featured the roof of a building from Kherson Oblast: a symbol of the tragic flood, and its impact on the wider region.

In 2024, Ukraine’s Pavilion concept revolves around the idea of how joint efforts can sprout into big changes. The primary building material used for the Pavilion is Ukrainian eco-friendly paper, with embedded live seeds. Artist Oleksandra Zhumailova has created a mural, covering over 120 square meters of the Pavilion. It features 50 key environmental initiatives of the Ukrainian government, business, and public sectors. These include digitized farming technologies, renewable energy sources, demining developments, innovative recycling startups, carbon dioxide traps, an eco-friendly alternative to Styrofoam, mobile printing facilities, and other Ukrainian ideas already being used in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan. The contents of the Pavilion promote Ukraine’s main ecological principle — Build Back Greener — while also highlighting the need for Russian compensation, as their aggression has caused extreme environmental damage.

“Now, as we defend the lives of our people from Russian strikes, and overcome the consequences of this war’s terrible crimes – including the largest ecocide in Europe – we need maximum unity. The unity of all those who share our key values: the value of life, the value of freedom, the value of law, and the value of respect. For every nation, every community, and every person. When unity is maximized, solidarity is most effective. And when that’s the case, life, freedom, law, and respect will prevail,” President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has committed over 6,500 crimes against the environment. Related greenhouse gas emissions have reached 180 million tons. Almost 3 million hectares of forests have been damaged by the war. 139,000 square kilometers of land has been mined, which is 3x the area of Switzerland.

Thanks to VR exhibits, Pavilion visitors will be able to see the destroyed Ukrainian forests and fields with their own eyes. They’ll also be able to fly over Kakhovka Reservoir, the site of the largest man-made environmental disaster, seeing the miracle of natural recovery firsthand: – the willow forest that has grown in its place.

Even in the face of full-scale war, Ukraine remains a reliable partner in achieving global climate action goals. On the eve of COP29, the Ukrainian parliament legislated 2050 as the benchmark for achieving climate neutrality.

“It is extremely important for Ukraine to be present at the COP29 climate summit, as it demonstrates our commitment to climate policy and our ability to work together with the civilized world for a common goal: overcoming the climate crisis and achieving climate neutrality. Our mission is to showcase Ukraine as a center of green innovation, environmental solutions, and digital transformation, where new projects and initiatives are born. One of the key platforms in this regard will be our national Pavilion, a symbol of unity, steadfastness, and commitment to green development even in times of war. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to the representation of Ukraine at COP29 and the creation of our national pavilion,” Svitlana Grynchuk, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

In this endeavor, Ukraine is supported by international partners, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). For example, one of Ukraine’s first sustainable, full-cycle debris recycling facilities, which was launched in Bucha in April 2024, can be seen at the conference. The station not only helps clear waste, but also allows for the reuse of materials for reconstruction work.

“UNDP remains committed to supporting Ukraine in implementing reform, including the development of a green recovery law and a long-term, low-carbon development strategy. With the support of the Government of Germany and other partners, Ukraine’s pavilion at COP29 will be an important platform for launching new partnerships and a catalyst for the country’s transition to green energy to recover based on the Build Back Better principle,” Jaco Silier, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian pavilion was developed by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agrarian Policy, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology of Germany, as well as the International Climate Initiative (IKI), UN Global Compact, UNDP, and Ukraine Reform Architecture (URA), DTEK, Kernel, Naftogaz, Ukrhydroenergo, Ukrnafta, EOPA, Ukrainian Climate Office, SaveDnipro, UAnimals, Ecodia, Breakthrough Energy, Covenant of Mayors East, Ukrainian Climate Office (UCO), European-Ukrainian Hub for Energy Transformation, Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility, International Renaissance Foundation, SPP Development, Relief, I. P.Cert, Federation of Oil and Gas Employers of Germany, EpicentrAgro, and Epicentr Group. The concept of the pavilion was developed by Gres Todorchuk agency.