The Climate Office, opened with the support of the European Union and the International Climate Initiative (IKI), will start operating in Ukraine, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine has announced.
According to its Facebook post on Saturday, the Climate Office was launched at the International Conference “United for Justice. United for Nature” conference held on October 20-21 in Kyiv, was opened by the head of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets, European Commissioner Virgijus Sinkevicius and German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke.
It is noted that it will support the government of Ukraine in implementing climate policy, help regions and businesses implement decarbonization and adaptation projects, and become a tool for attracting green finance for Ukraine’s post-war recovery. In addition, it is indicated that the office will be one of the key stakeholders that will facilitate Ukraine’s cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and accession to the international carbon market, and will develop an emissions trading system in Ukraine.
According to Strilets, this is the last link that will complete the development of climate governance in Ukraine.
“Today, a titanic work is being done to ensure that our country becomes a member of the European Union and is within the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism). Next year we plan to launch a pilot national emissions trading system (ETS). We will give producers the opportunity to try to make transactions in the ETS market and understand how this market works,” explained Strelets one of the areas of the office’s work.
According to the minister, carbon certificates are to be introduced in 2025, which will allow Ukraine and its producers to sell excess CO2 that has not been emitted.
“In 2026, the emissions trading system will be fully operational in Ukraine. For now, we need to verify all the available data and show the world our potential for free allowances. We are ready to share our emissions and contribute to the global climate track. The support of our partners is important for our country, and we have really felt it from the very beginning of our struggle for justice and peace,” the head of the Ministry of Environment emphasized.
As reported, in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine in early October, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets said that he considers it necessary to adopt a law on the national TRS next year in order to implement it in 2025 and thus avoid obstacles to Ukrainian exports related to the entry into force of the CBAM on January 1, 2026.
“If we create our own national ETS that is fully in line with the European one, including the price of CO2 emissions, or integrate our ETS with the European one, then we are not afraid of CBAM at all. Because we will already be in this CBAM within its borders. Now those who want to supply us with products will have to pay. In fact, our task is to move the CBAM border and be inside this project,” Strelets said.
The International Climate Initiative (IKI) is an instrument of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) for international financing of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is launching a project to develop a roadmap for Ukraine to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, said Bernardas Padegimas, head of the institute’s environmental policy and strategy team.
“We will start actively working on the project, discussing it at different levels. The goal is to help Ukraine achieve climate neutrality through a green transition and recovery,” Padegimas said at the United for Justice United for Nature high-level international conference in Kyiv.
According to him, the project is funded by the Swedish government.
According to his presentation, the roadmap, in particular, should be developed by June 2025.
According to Padegimas, the roadmap will be followed by “the development of a number of specific projects with the participation of specific donors,” and this process is scheduled to be completed in March 2026.
Padegimas noted that the development of a roadmap for Ukraine will be based on the principles of green transition adopted in Europe, and it will contain Ukraine’s goals and mechanisms for achieving them in the short, medium, and long term.
He added that many experts will be involved in the development of the map, particularly in the area of “green” development.
As reported, the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, speaking at the international conference “United for justice. United for nature”, said that Ukraine’s plan to restore the environment affected by Russia’s full-scale aggression should be reflected in a resolution of the UN General Assembly.
At the same conference, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets noted that law enforcement agencies are investigating more than 2,500 crimes against the environment as a result of Russia’s military aggression, with total environmental damage amounting to EUR 55 billion.
In January-September this year, Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant (KZHRK) reduced production of commercial iron ore from underground mining by 28.5% year-on-year to 1.8 thousand tons.
According to the company, in September, Pokrovska mine produced 35 thousand tons of ore, Kryvorizka mine – 35 thousand tons, Kozatska mine – 25 thousand tons and Ternivska mine – 40 thousand tons, while the total production at the plant in September amounted to 135 thousand tons.
As reported, in 2022, KZHRK reduced production of commercial iron ore from underground mining by 32.8% year-on-year to 2.888 million tons.
KZHRK specializes in underground iron ore mining. The company has four mines: “Pokrovska (formerly Oktyabrskaya), Kryvorizka (Rodina), Kozatska (formerly Gvardeyskaya) and Ternovska (formerly Ordzhonikidze and then Lenin).
Starmill Limited owns 99.88% of the plant’s shares.
Earlier it was reported that SCM Group owns a certain share in KZHRK, while Metinvest Group has no relation to KZHRK. At the same time, SCM Group is only an investor, while Privat Group exercises operational control over the plant.
Japan will launch a new program to support Ukrainian refugees from April 2024, aimed at helping Ukrainians adapt in Japan, particularly by learning the country’s language and culture, The Japan Times reported.
“The Immigration Services Agency said on October 20 that it will launch a program in April to help foreign nationals fleeing conflict zones adjust to life in Japan… The program was designed mainly to help Ukrainian evacuees living in Japan, whose number exceeds 2,500,” The Japan Times reported.
The program is aimed at facilitating the adaptation of Ukrainians in Japan. In particular, within its framework it is possible to join courses lasting six months or one year to learn the Japanese language, as well as to familiarize oneself with the laws and customs of the country.
The Japanese Immigration Service Agency will also continue to provide cash payments to cover the living expenses of refugees from Ukraine. However, this will only apply to those without sponsors.
In addition, from December 1, 2023, a government decision will become effective in Japan, according to which foreigners who have taken refuge from the war in the country will be granted permission for long-term stay in Japan with the possibility of employment.
Volynhaz JSC has come under state control and joined the Naftogaz group,” the company said on Friday.
“This is the 17th regional gas distribution company that has come under state control since the beginning of the year. The changes were necessitated by the need to address strategic energy tasks concerning the reliable protection of critical facilities, as well as the speedy restoration of infrastructure in the event of enemy attacks,” the group said.
“Volynhaz” provides gas distribution to budget organizations and more than 250 thousand homes in the region.
“Tariffs for distribution services and personal accounts for residents of the region remain unchanged. On the change of requisites we will inform additionally”, – informed in “Naftogaz”
Earlier in the NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” included JSC “Vinnytsiagaz”, JSC “Dniprogaz”, JSC “Dnipropetrovskgaz”, JSC “Donetskoblgaz”, JSC “Ivano-Frankivskgaz”, JSC “Zhytomyrgaz”, JSC “Kievoblgaz”, Krivorozhgaz, Kirovogradgaz, Lvovgaz, Mykolaivgaz, Sumygaz, Kharkovgorgaz, Kharkovgaz, Khmelnitskgaz and Cherkasygaz.
PJSC “Production Association “Stalkanat” (Odessa) is forced to reduce supplies to the EU due to restrictions at the Polish borders, – said the agency “Interfax-Ukraine” general director of “Stalkanat” Sergey Lavrynenko.
“We are currently operating roughly tentatively at about 60% for export, and 40% for the domestic market. But lately the deliveries to the EU have been delayed through Poland, and there are deliveries from Asian countries,” – stated the top manager.
According to him, the company has prepared for the winter period of restrictions, although the situation is difficult.
He added that he hopes that the state will protect Ukrainian companies in foreign markets.
As reported, “Stalkanat” is considering the purchase of a generator to stabilize the work after the shelling of the energy infrastructure.
PJSC “Stalkanat” is the largest producer of steel ropes in Ukraine.
According to the NDU, as of the fourth quarter of 2021, David Nemirovskyy (Ukraine) holds 50.0001% of the company’s shares, Anton Mykhalenko – 23.7%, and Edery Liron (both in Israel) – 23.1%
