Climate target for 2035: how Ukraine is shaping climate policy amid war

The conference “Climate Policy of Ukraine: Ukraine’s NDC Amid Current Challenges,” held in Kyiv, brought together representatives from the government, businesses, and international partners to discuss the preparation of Ukraine’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The central focus was on challenges posed by the full-scale war and the need to adapt climate goals and measures to the realities of post-war recovery and economic development by 2035.

This event was organised at the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, with support from the IKI Interface and EU4ClimateResilience projects, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

As a reminder, this year, countries party to the Paris Agreement are required to submit their NDCs. Ukraine’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC2) must be ambitious and encompass the entire economy. However, the war introduces significant and tragic adjustments, affecting emission levels, economic structure, and the ability of the state and businesses to secure funding for large-scale climate transformation measures. These factors must be reflected in the NDC.

The new document must account for the war’s consequences and outline realistic emission reduction targets for 2035, considering post-war recovery. At the same time, Ukraine’s strategic goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 remains unchanged.

Olha Yukhymchuk, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine for European Integration, emphasised the importance of ongoing coordination and collaborative efforts toward the climate target, particularly amid the war and future recovery.

“The Nationally Determined Contribution is not just about numbers but about actions and measures that the entire government must implement. We need to work together to achieve the goals set out in the NDC. This concerns not only environmental policy but also the economy, energy, social protection – all aspects of our lives. The NDC is a comprehensive issue for society as a whole,” Olha Yukhymchuk noted.

The Deputy Minister paid particular attention to the European integration dimension of climate policy:

“All our climate goals must align with Ukraine’s path toward EU membership. By 2035, we envision Ukraine as part of the EU. Therefore, the measures we plan to achieve the NDC must be synchronised with EU climate policy. We must demonstrate to the world that, even in wartime, Ukraine remains a responsible player and fulfils its commitments.”

Roman Andarak, Deputy Minister of Energy, also participated in the conference, highlighting the challenges facing the energy sector.

“Even with a temporary ‘ceasefire’ on the frontlines, Ukraine’s energy system faces daily destruction. This significantly impacts our climate plans. We continue to model various scenarios, accounting for current threats and safety concerns. However, our focus remains on two key priorities – climate neutrality and energy resilience,” Roman Andarak stated.

The event featured several panel discussions where participants addressed strategic, scientific, and social aspects of NDC implementation. Notably, researchers from the Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine presented the results of modelling scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Significant attention was given to the practical dimension of economic transformation – implementing green technologies in industry, attracting investments for decarbonisation, and addressing social aspects of change. Representatives from the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, major industrial enterprises, and the Greencubator energy innovation platform shared experiences in transitioning to sustainable production models and adapting to new climate challenges.

An analytical report, prepared under the EU4ClimateResilience project and dedicated to just transition – one of the key aspects of NDC implementation – was presented during the conference. Participants discussed the importance of integrating social, economic, and environmental factors into Ukraine’s climate policy, particularly in the context of post-war recovery.

Special focus was placed on supporting vulnerable communities, especially in coal regions. The transformation must ensure social justice, create new jobs, and improve quality of life. Experts stressed that achieving climate goals must go hand in hand with ensuring people’s well-being and equal access to energy resources during the green transition.

In the final panel, participants discussed financial instruments to support decarbonisation, both from the state and international partners. Representatives from the EBRD, EIB, and UNDP confirmed their readiness to support NDC implementation and facilitate Ukraine’s stable transition to a climate-neutral economy.

The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is not merely a formal document but a strategic roadmap shaping Ukraine’s climate policy for the next decade. It demonstrates the country’s commitment to decisive steps in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the context of post-war recovery and the strategic course toward European integration, NDC implementation could become a powerful driver for Ukraine’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy and strengthen its position on the global stage.

The event was organised at the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, with support from the IKI Interface and EU4ClimateResilience projects (co-financed by the European Union), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety under the International Climate Initiative (IKI).