The Covenant of Mayors, the world’s largest climate and energy initiative, highlighted its successful work in Ukraine at a high-level conference held in Lviv on May 10, 2023. Mayors and representatives of about 200 Ukrainian municipalities attended the event to discuss their achievements and common problems within the framework of the Covenant of Mayors.

The event focused on the crucial issue of post-war recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine, with an emphasis on practical success and development strategies for the future initiative, especially in the context of the “Green Deal” and other European initiatives. Stakeholders from Ukraine and other countries, associations of local authorities, and representatives of local and national authorities attended the conference. At the event, representatives from EU institutions and member states emphasized the significance of international assistance for Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

“A professional team and a sustainable management system create the foundation for sustainable recovery of Ukrainian cities. When restoring destroyed facilities, we must not merely construct new walls; we must fill these objects with new meanings, network connections, create conditions for the growth of the local economy and adhere to European standards for the implementation of the green transition”, Serhii Sukhomlyn, the mayor of Zhytomyr, said during his speech at the panel discussion “What do communities need for sustainable recovery?”.

Along with members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, representatives from non-governmental organizations and foreign financial institutions also attended the conference. It was mentioned that the cities that joined the Covenant of Mayors developed and carried out their Sustainable Development Access and Climate Action Plans (SEACAP), which combine a set of strategic projects to improve all city areas and sectors, taking into consideration potential sources and mechanisms of funding, as well as the impact on lowering CO2 emissions. These action plans have already been created in 103 cities as of today. An important step towards climate preservation and the fight against energy poverty was made when 198 mayors pledged to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The conference showed that Ukrainian mayors and citizens, as members of the global community, are engaged in the fight to protect the environment for future generations. We can build a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for Ukraine and the entire world by continuing to advance together.