Ukrainian cities team up for climate action
Twelve Ukrainian municipalities are partnering with selected European cities for support in their efforts to tackle climate change. This initiative is part of the EU-funded SUN4Ukraine(opens in new window) project that is empowering Ukrainian cities to transition to climate neutrality, in defiance of the ongoing war.
Partners on a mission
The European cities supporting their Ukrainian partners are part of the EU’s Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission(opens in new window) that aims to deliver 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030. The Mission cities will provide insights based on their work implementing Climate City Contracts(opens in new window), strategic tools designed to help cities find the most effective pathways to climate neutrality. Expertise shared will involve areas such as climate adaptation and mitigation, clean energy and mobility, climate action finance, citizen engagement and urban development, to help the Ukrainian cities incorporate climate neutrality in their reconstruction strategies. The city pairings were announced at a SUN4Ukraine conference held in Kyiv. The Ukrainian municipalities of Chernivtsi, Kyiv and Novovolynsk are collaborating with the three German Mission Cities of Mannheim, Leipzig and Aachen, respectively. Chernihiv and Zviahel are pairing up with Amsterdam and Utrecht in the Netherlands. The remaining seven partnerships are Dnipro and Budapest (Hungary), Kalush and Rzeszów (Poland), Kharkiv and Izmir (Turkey), Konotop and Lappeenranta (Finland), Mykolaiv and Barcelona (Spain), Pervomaisk and Parma (Italy), and Vinnytsia and Dijon Métropole (France). Munich and Oslo will serve as special advisors for all 12 Ukrainian cities. “Ukrainian cities are resilient. Ukrainian cities are determined. Ukrainian cities are committed to improving life for their residents. They are not only withstanding bombardment and disruption, but they are also planning for a European future built on peace, democracy and climate neutrality,” commented André Sobczak, Secretary General of SUN4Ukraine project coordinator Eurocities (Belgium), in a news item(opens in new window) posted on the project website. “EU Mission Cities are committed to stand by them to achieve this goal. These new partnerships, rooted in shared values and common purpose, will bring the expertise and know-how Ukrainian cities need to bring lasting and sustainable change for their people.” The choice of pairs was not a random one, but rather the result of careful consideration of the cities’ needs and strengths, size, economic profile, climate priorities and any existing connections, all within the context of wartime recovery. “The SUN4Ukraine partnerships are not only about capacity building and peer learning, but also about European cities showing solidarity and support for their colleagues in Ukrainian municipalities,” states Patrick Child, Mission Manager and Deputy Director-General for Environment at the European Commission. The partnership programme was officially launched during a workshop held in Munich, during which the participating cities shared their expectations and started mapping out joint activities. Once the 18-month partnership programme has ended, the SUN4Ukraine (Sustainable Urban Net Zero Network for Ukraine) project will create a Ukrainian Cities Climate Hub to share insights and best practices with other cities across Ukraine. For more information, please see: SUN4Ukraine project website(opens in new window)