Zelensky spoke about Kiev’s climate ambitions

This year, Ukraine has felt the negative impact of climate change especially acutely, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.

Ukraine has ambitious climate goals, the longest of which is carbon neutrality. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the International Summit on Climate Ambitions, which was held on December 12 in an online format, the press service of the head of state reported on Sunday, December 13.

“This year, more than 70 heads of state and government participated in the event, who recorded short video messages describing the ‘new and ambitious’ commitments of their states under the Paris Climate Agreement,” the service said. presidential press on Sunday morning.

In his video message, Zelensky said that this year Ukraine felt the negative impact of climate change especially acutely: in several regions, a prolonged drought destroyed crops, in the east of the country there were large-scale forest fires, and in the west, devastating floods.

“All the inhabitants of the planet are already experiencing the breath of global warming and suffer losses due to a passive attitude towards climate policy,” he emphasized.

According to the president, Ukraine is consistently adhering to its commitments to effectively implement the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and international climate agreements.

“In preparation for the Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement in Glasgow, we are working on a second nationally defined contribution. On this basis, we consider the target for greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 in all sectors of the Ukrainian economy in the range of 36% to 42% compared to 1990, then there is a reduction of 58-64%, “Zelensky said.

In addition to the new commitments under the Paris Agreement, Ukraine is also working to improve mechanisms of state financial support for climate policy, he noted.

“Ukraine is also striving to harmonize its climate policy and legislation with the European Green Deal. We will intensify cooperation with the EU in the areas of energy efficiency, the development of hydrogen energy and renewable energy sources, a just transformation of the sector. of coal and the development of a national system of trading quotas for greenhouse gas emissions, “he said. President.

“Ukraine’s long-term goal is to achieve carbon neutrality. We will make efforts to minimize the time to achieve this goal,” he added.

In addition, according to Zelensky, there is a review process of the Energy Strategy of Ukraine, which provides for the development of renewable energy, the gradual replacement of fossil fuels, in particular coal.

“We have started to prepare a framework strategy for adaptation to climate change in Ukraine until 2030. The document will coordinate the work of various authorities at national and local level. Ukraine is and will remain one of the active and responsible participants in the global process of fight against climate change and environmental protection “. , – stressed the president.

The 2020 International Climate Ambition Summit is dedicated to the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement (2015) and preparations for the next UN Climate Conference on Climate Change (COP26) to be held in Glasgow in November 2021.

The event is chaired by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Under Article 4 of the Paris Agreement, parties are required to report their nationally determined contribution every five years, indicating progress relative to their current contribution and reflecting the most likely ambition and respective capabilities in light of national circumstances. According to Ukraine’s first nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement, the country has committed not to exceed 60% by 2030 of its 1990 greenhouse gas emissions (or a 40% reduction since 1990, excluding land use, land use change and forestry). economy “).

It was previously reported that the summit of heads of state and government of the European Union set the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% compared to 1990 by 2030. This was stated by the head of the European Council Charles Michel .

It also became known that in 2020, November in the world became the warmest in the history of observations. Last November was 0.77 degrees Celsius warmer than the average for November from 1981 to 2010.

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