The Ukrainian NGOs “Ecoaction”, “Razom we Stand”, “Vision Zero”, and Greenpeace demand to put green recovery principles as the basis for the reconstruction of post-war Ukraine. That includes a transition to renewable energy, electric public transport and Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings as standard and no further investment in fossil fuels. The organizations request German chancellor Olaf Scholz to support this goal at the International Expert Conference on the Recovery, Reconstruction and Modernization of Ukraine starting tomorrow in Berlin. Therefore, activists raised a replica wind turbine near the chancellery.
“We cannot rely anymore on the centralized fossil fuel energy systems of the past”, says Svitlana Romanko, director of Razom We Stand, “apart from harming the climate, they have proven to be extremely vulnerable to deliberate attacks. Ukraine’s reconstruction is the unique chance for Europe as a whole, as a continent, to step up energy transition and achieve real energy security based on renewables. Chancellor Scholz and President Zelensky must face the truth: There is no place for new fossil fuel infrastructure in a post-war Ukraine.”
“Renewable energy production was a fast-growing sector before the war in Ukraine”, says Yevheniia Zasiadko, head of the climate department of Ecoaction. “But two-thirds of all renewable energy generation is located in southern Ukraine, in one of the most war-affected region. The energy system is centralized, so the whole system is an easy target for russia, and it will affect all country. The recovery period should be based on development of decentralized renewable energy projects and reduce dependence on large power generating facility, like nuclear energy. Households, organizations and communities should be able to produce and manage their own energy.”
“The draft for Ukraine recovery plans does not at all correspond to the EU Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy”, says Viktor Zagreba, head of Vision Zero. “The word ‘automobile’ is mentioned 195 times, and ‘sustainable’ only once! In addition, the needs of Ukraine's cities are not reflected at all. We strongly believe that the recovery plans need to be completely re-written, and that the new documents should be based on a green vision and on EU’s sustainable mobility goals and best practices.”
“While repairing and building new houses and public buildings, we cannot afford spending recovery money on old technologies”, says Denys Tsutsaiev, Greenpeace campaigner in Kyiv. “The installation of solar panels, heat pumps and proper insulation should be prioritized. In order to have warm, efficient and welcoming homes for all Ukrainians waiting to come back. Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings should be the new standard for all new buildings already from 2023. Ukraine has the historic chance to take the path to climate-friendly, independent energy with the best modern technologies. This is the best and real investment into the Ukrainian future”.
Footage of the press conference and action near the chancellery available here.
Contacts for media:
Jason Kirkpatrick
Senior Communications Manager, Razom We Stand, Berlin, Germany.
jason@razomwestand.org
Denys Tsutsaiev,
Greenpeace Campaigner based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
dtsutsai@greenpeace.org
About the Organizations:
Razom We Stand, founded in 2022, is a grassroots organization calling for a total and permanent embargo on Russian fossil fuels and an immediate end to all investment into Russian oil and gas companies. We seek to build momentum for a redesign of the global economy with a new clean energy plan based on renewables, freedom from petro-dictators and the complete phase-out of fossil fuels to create a more prosperous and peaceful future for Ukraine and the whole world. We act together to end fossil fuelled conflicts and climate chaos and drive the clean energy revolution in Ukraine and globally. The NGO finances through grants from philanthropic foundations.
The Center for Environmental Initiatives “Ecoaction”, founded in 2017, is a civil society organization that unites efforts of experts and activists in a joint struggle to protect the environment. They advocate for energy efficiency, renewable energy, countering climate change, clean air for all and sustainable development of transport and agriculture in Ukraine. The NGO finances through grants, membership and individual supporters.
“Vision Zero”, founded in 2016, is a Ukrainian research and advocacy NGO working on sustainable urban mobility with three goals: Zero fatalities from transport crashes, zero-carbon transportation in cities, and zero barriers for persons with reduced mobility. The organization is volunteer-based. Some research is funded by other partnering NGOs via international grants.
Greenpeace is a network of independent organizations with national and regional offices in 55 countries. The NGO uses peaceful, creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and develop solutions for a green and peaceful future. Ukraine is covered by the office “Central and Eastern Europe”, with actually two Ukrainian employees working on the project Greening Ukraine’s Reconstruction.
