International Sustainability Forum 2023

The panel discussion on "Transition to a green economy. Decarbonisation as a path to sustainable development" was addressed by Sviatoslav Pavliuk, Executive Director of EECU. Here are some of Sviatoslav's thoughts on Ukraine's transition to a green economy:

• "Business in Ukraine is now more dynamic than the government, because it responds to opportunities and works where they exist. In the commercial sector, we see real projects, and in the residential sector, we see talk of potential. There is a big difference between the potential that is often mentioned by the government and the opportunities that can actually be used by businesses. Without turning potential into opportunities, business will not come to the decarbonisation and sustainable development sector, and we need to work on them."

• "The energy efficiency policy in Ukraine should be continuous and not transferred from one ministry to another every year. This leads to the loss of accumulated knowledge and competences. If we want the residential sector to become energy efficient, the national policy in this area should not be interrupted, it should have permanent institutional and financial support instruments."

• "The implementation of European energy efficiency directives has several aspects. It involves not only the formation of a legal framework for energy efficiency policy that sets requirements, but also support and enabling instruments. These include technical and organisational support, access to finance, availability of qualified personnel, access to data and quality control. We have the Legal Framework of the Energy Efficiency Law, but we lack support and enabling instruments."

• "The current policy on tariffs and subsidies is in fact a premium for high energy consumption rather than a high level of energy efficiency. It demotivates both consumers and businesses to engage in it, extending the payback period rather than shortening it."

The main goal of the Forum was to form a partnership-based sustainable business ecosystem for Ukraine's economic recovery based on the principles of sustainability and to develop real mechanisms and programmes aimed at green transformation.

The event brought together international investors, business, the public sector, and members of the public. The International Sustainability Forum 2023 is expected to result in the creation of a Green Strategy for Ukraine based on the principles of sustainability, taking into account the requirements of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, international partnership, and current challenges.

To watch the broadcast of the second day of the forum, please follow the link.