Vinnytsia city territorial community was the first in Ukraine to proclaim the Green Deal as the basis of urban development and joined the practices of the European Green Deal, which aims to turn Europe into the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
According to the Vinnytsia city council’s press service, the relevant declaration was signed by Mayor of Vinnytsia Serhiy Morhunov during a city council’s session, attended by high-ranking officials of the government of Ukraine, the Ukrainian parliament and Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine Matti Maasikas.
Such a step will allow the regional center to engage new mechanisms and innovative ideas to improve urban space, address environmental issues, raise additional investment, including for energy and industrial renewal of enterprises and city life support systems.
Morhunov said the accession of all Ukraine to the Green Deal is at the stage of forming the roadmap. However, Ukrainian cities are already moving in the right direction.
The Green Deal of Vinnytsia is a logical continuation of the long-term plans of the society, fixed both in the Vinnytsia Concept of Integrated Urban Development until 2030, and Strategy 3.0, a plan for the development of communities throughout the region. The priority is the “green” economy, smart specialization, affordable, safe and environmentally friendly environment,” the city mayor said.
He said that Vinnytsia is implementing advanced European experience not for the first time. Thus, in 2015, the city was the first in Eastern Europe to receive the European Energy distinguishing feature and in 2019 confirmed the high status of an energy-efficient regional center. Programs for the efficient consumption of energy resources, the launch of environmentally friendly urban transport, trams and electric buses, are being developed here now.
“We are striving to involve international experts and financial resources for the implementation of green projects that we have in our plans,” Morhunov said.
In turn, Maasikas said that on such a highly urbanized continent as Europe, cities, towns and citizens play a key role in responding to climate change.
Maasikas said he is pleased that the Ukrainian city and people are actively working on the green transformation of society. According to the diplomat, since the announcement in 2019 of the European Green Deal, it has set the direction for transformational change and this is the new growth strategy of the EU. It reflects the idea of transitioning the entire economy to a green economy. He also said that Ukraine shares these hopes.
