The Ukrainian version of "Local Green Deals: A Blueprint for Action" was unveiled on January 30, 2024, during a webinar in which stakeholders from Ukraine, the European Commission, ICC cities and many more were present. The Blueprint, originally created under the European Commission’s Intelligent Cities Challenge (ICC), is a comprehensive plan that supports 80 cities across 18 countries in their journey towards green and digital transformation with advanced technologies. The translation of the Blueprint into Ukrainian opens increased opportunities for Ukrainian cities, facilitating both their accession to the EU and their recovery strategy. The Local Green Deals Blueprint offers an extensive framework and real-world examples for cities aiming to spearhead the green and digital transitions by implementing Local Green Deals between local governments and businesses.
Ukrainian Recovery and Accession
The webinar was an excellent chance for Ukrainian cities to highlight the work they have undertaken to this point in their individual twin transitions. Over 50 city representatives from Ukraine joined the meeting. Representatives from both Vinnytsia and Novovolynsk had the opportunity to showcase their work, and their commitment to a safer, greener and decarbonised future is evident.
As the first city in Ukraine to commit to the European Green Deal principles, Vinnytsia presented its leading work in green development which builds off its expertise in the area and its Municipal Green Deal Declaration. The roadmap for implementation is well underway for the city, with significant progress made on climate change prevention and adaptation, energy efficiency, smart mobility, biodiversity and education.
The Mayor of Novovolynsk showcased the city’s programme to enhance energy efficiency, and the return on investment that it has shown, with a 30% reduction in energy consumption over the past decade or so. With further assistance, both technical and financial it is clear that Ukrainian cities such as Novovolynsk have untapped potential for swift and effective transitions.
Hubert Gambs, Deputy General of DG GROW, underscored the significance of the translated Blueprint and applauded Ukraine’s commitment to a sustainable future. He remarked, "Despite the war of Russian aggression against your country, you still find the time to discuss a safer, greener, more sustainable future”. This resilience and the benefit to Ukraine’s accession bid to the EU, were emphasised throughout the webinar.
Mark Hidson, Deputy Regional Director of ICLEI, furthered this sentiment adding that a “needs-based, demand-driven” approach was necessary for a resilient recovery process. Hidson furthered this by highlighting that the Ukrainian translation not only makes the information more accessible but creates a deeper understanding of how local action can contribute to global sustainability.
Observer Status an Unmissable Opportunity for Ukrainian Cities
Another element of the webinar, that had been kept under wraps, was the announcement of the observer status of the ICC. Cities from non-EU states who show a great commitment to their Twin Transition can now apply to be an “observer” city. This means they can attend trainings and webinars related to the ICC but have no obligation to act as of yet. This will be a catalyst for Ukraine’s accession roadmap, aligning them ever closer to EU values and norms.
Dana Eleftheriadou, Head of Cities and Proximity Team at the European Commission discussed how critical this was and gave the example of Mannheim (Germany) and how they have taken a holistic approach to their Twin Transition, highlighting the opportunity Ukrainian cities will get to base their transitions on stellar examples like Mannheim.
The unveiling of the "Local Green Deals: A Blueprint for Action" in Ukrainian marks a significant milestone in Ukraine’s journey towards a sustainable future. This comprehensive Blueprint will not only guide Ukrainian cities through their green and digital transitions but also assist in their recovery strategies. Moreover, it serves as a crucial tool in their EU accession process. The newly announced observer status of the ICC provides an unparalleled opportunity for these cities to learn from leading examples, participate in training sessions and webinars and align more closely with EU values and norms. This step is indeed a testament to Ukraine's commitment to building a safer, greener, and more sustainable future, despite facing challenges.
More information on joining the ICC as an observer city will be available on the ICC website shortly.