At a COP28 side event hosted by the Europe Ukraine Energy Transition Hub (EUETH), IKEM’s panelists highlighted the need for a robust legal framework and international cooperation for a successful transformation of the Ukrainian energy sector after the war.
“The energy transition is a key element for Ukraine’s long-term prosperity. A successful transformation contributes to global climate action and aligns Ukraine with the strategic goals of the European Union, ultimately facilitating the process of becoming a full member. Decentralizing and decarbonizing its energy sector will also help Ukraine to reduce previous dependencies on energy imports, with energy security being a major prerequisite for reconstruction and economic development”, said IKEM researcher Ievgeniia Kopytsia.
EUETH recently published a set of technical, economic and legal studies and recommendations for the post-war transformation of the energy sector of Ukraine. Building on these findings, IKEM director Prof. Dr. Michael Rodi stressed the importance of efficient legislation: “To unlock the full potential of its energy transition, Ukraine must start implementing the necessary legal instruments. This will require substantial legislation on a series of topics, including emissions trading schemes, guarantees of origin, green finance and investment as well as energy-efficiency and circular-economy.”
IKEM and the EUETH want to contribute to this process by providing Ukrainian and European decision makers with additional expertise. For Dr. Valentyn Gvozdiy, member of IKEM’s advisory board, international aid and cooperation is the key to a successful transformation: “The energy transition in Ukraine is not just a national concern but a significant component of the global climate agenda. Through the collaborative efforts of EUETH and its partners, we are committed to establishing a resilient, climate-neutral energy sector in Ukraine.“
Apart from the IKEM panelists, the side event at the Ukrainian pavilion featured the following high-level speakers:
- Prof. Dr. Michael Mehling (MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy/University of Strathclyde Law School)
- Anna Zhovtenko (United Nations Development Programe)
- Natalia Boyko (Office of the Prime Minister of Ukraine)
- Jon Creyts (Rocky Mountain Institute)
- Kyrylo Kryvolap (Center for Economic Recovery, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Ukraine)
- Gianpiero Nacci (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)
- Valentyn Gvozdiy, PhD (Ukrhydroenergo)
About EUETH
EUETH is an international initiative led by IKEM together with founding partners BBH, GO LAW and Horizon2, bringing together researchers, energy experts and relevant stakeholders representing all areas of the energy industry. Its main goal is to develop an energy strategy that will help create a climate-neutral and sustainable energy sector in Ukraine.
