At the Ukrainian Pavilion at the UN Climate Conference COP30 in Brazil, a panel discussion titled “Building Effective Climate Governance for Integrating Climate Considerations into Post-War Recovery” was held. The event was organized by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine together with the Office for the Green Transition.

The discussion brought together Diana Acconcia, Director for International Relations and Climate Finance at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG CLIMA); Alex Sobel, Member of the UK Parliament and Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Ukraine; and Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat.

Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Pavlo Kartashov presented to international partners the strategic climate-governance framework Ukraine has already established:

• adoption of the framework Climate Law

• commitment to climate neutrality by 2050

• approval of the updated NDC with a target to reduce emissions by more than 65% by 2035

As part of the next steps to strengthen institutional capacity, the Government plans to establish a new advisory body.

“By the end of this year, we plan to approve the regulation and membership of the new Scientific and Expert Council on Climate Change and Ozone Layer Protection. It will be similar to climate councils functioning in other countries. We are considering involving the Office for the Green Transition under the Ministry to act as the secretariat, ensuring daily operational support. The legal framework is currently under review,” noted Pavlo Kartashov.

Diana Acconcia outlined the role of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) in Ukraine’s EU integration process. She emphasized that the NECP serves as the operational backbone of climate and energy governance, functioning both as an alignment tool with the EU and as a performance-monitoring system. She noted that Ukraine must update its NECP by the end of 2025 and continue to raise its ambition in line with EU commitments.

Alex Sobel highlighted the potential of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, stressing that through strategic partnerships, climate-aligned trade, and joint innovation, the two countries can work together toward a greener, more resilient, and economically dynamic future.

Artur Lorkowski drew attention to the practical value of Ukraine’s international commitments. He stressed that the Energy Community provides a fast track to EU-compatible regulatory frameworks, forming the foundation for large-scale reconstruction. He underscored the importance of a coherent framework that combines strategy, planning, and implementation.

Andrii Kitura, Head of the Office for the Green Transition, noted that Ukraine is still shaping a clear vision for combining economic growth with emission reductions—a challenge shared by many countries. The Office is already developing practical solutions, including a draft Cabinet of Ministers resolution on monitoring climate policy based on tracking NECP implementation.

Discussing the need for international support, the Head of the Office emphasized priority areas, including:

• implementation of the emissions trading system (ETS) and RED III requirements,

• conditions for market coupling in the energy sector and other complex regulations,

• systemic and long-term cooperation between the Government and international partners.

Participants concluded that effective climate governance requires sustained work on institutional capacity, transparency, and international cooperation. Despite the challenges of war, Ukraine continues to build the foundations for the country’s green recovery.

For reference

The Office for the Green Transition is an independent advisory body under the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine. It supports the implementation of green transition, energy, and climate policy reforms. The Office operates with financial support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and is implemented by NGO “DiXi Group”.