oday, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries VirginijusSinkevičiusand theMinister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets jointly signed an agreement on Ukraine’s accession to the LIFE programmeSearch for available translations of the preceding link••• for environment and climate. Ukraine is the first non-EU country to join the programme. By joining the LIFE programme, Ukraine could benefit from LIFE’s support to help restore its environment after the destruction brought about by the Russian invasion, be it pollution, destruction of ecosystems, or other long-term effects.
Commissioner Sinkevičius said:
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing a substantial immediate damage to water supply and sewerage systems, sea, land and air pollution which will have a long-lasting environmental impact. Repercussions on human health can last for a very long time. Through this partnership, Ukrainian public and private organisations will be able to receive financial support for projects to clean polluted areas, rebuild after the destruction in a way that protects and restores nature and is in harmony with a circular and zero emission economy.
In the short term, the LIFE programme could support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts through a needs analysis and the mobilisation and capacity building of different actors to tackle soil and water decontamination through nature-based solutions. In the medium and long term, as in other countries participating in LIFE, projects can aim to:
- Develop and demonstrate eco-innovative techniques and approaches
- Promote best practices and behavioural changes
- Support the development, monitoring and enforcement of laws similar to the ones in EU as well as plans and strategies that can contribute to implement these laws
- Catalyse the large-scale deployment of successful solutions
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