In Europe, the environmental situation has worsened as a result of the conflict in Ukraine
The consequences of the war in Ukraine affected the nature and environment of neighboring countries, including Romania and Moldova. This was reported by the ministers at the international environmental forum “United for Nature. Agenda for Ukraine”, held in Kyiv.
Environmental consequences of war: ministers from Romania and Moldova discuss challenges and collaboration
Mircea Feket, Minister of Environment, Water Resources and Forests of Romania, emphasized that the impact of the war on ecology is felt not only within the borders of Ukraine.
“We observed how construction waste appeared in the Danube Delta, where it should not have been. After the explosion at the Kakhovskaya dam, various rumors began to spread about the danger to the water quality in the Black Sea. We cooperated with our colleagues from Bulgaria and Ukraine in this matter. I immediately turned to the Minister of the Environment of Ukraine and asked about the quality of the water. We analyzed satellite images, determined the speed of water movement and performed various calculations. As a result, it turned out that the water in the Black Sea in this particular case remained safe for residents of other countries . However, we need to constantly monitor these processes, determine the damage to the environment, since this damage concerns the whole of Europe. Therefore, the aggressor must be punished,” – said Mircea Feket.
In turn, the Minister of the Environment of Moldova emphasized that the country notes the deterioration of air and water quality due to the war in Ukraine. According to her, ecologists actively monitor and monitor these processes.
“We are already seeing changes in air and water quality, and it is possible that cumulative impacts will increase over time. This requires further monitoring. We have also recorded active animal migration associated with wildfires and explosions, as animals are a very mobile part of nature , which responds to changes in the environment,” – Yordanka Rodika-Yordanov said.
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ruslan Strelets, said that the process of holding Russia accountable for the damage caused to Ukraine’s nature is currently underway.
“We are developing several directions for further actions. Among them are political and legal ways. We are already keeping records of damages, including the environmental aspect, and are working on mechanisms for their compensation from the aggressor. We have also initiated the Ukrainian environmental declaration and hope that other countries will join it It is important to note that this process of prosecution for crimes against the environment is historic and for the first time in the history of mankind,” – he emphasized.
“EcoThreat”: real figures of environmental damage after Russian aggression in Ukraine
Actual damage to the environment as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine was announced at the forum. However, according to Ruslan Strilets, these data are constantly changing. Current information can be found on the official resource of the Ministry – “EkoZagroza”.
“To date, 3,600 cases of crimes against Ukraine’s environment have already been recorded. The total amount of damages already exceeds 2.2 trillion hryvnias. Most of these damages include atmospheric air pollution, land and water pollution, and others,” – the Ukrainian minister said.
One of the most important tasks of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Ukraine for 2024 is the creation and promotion of the climate agenda in Ukraine, said Ruslan Strelets, Minister of Nature Protection of Ukraine.
“For us today, it is very important to take maximum steps in the next two years towards the introduction of climate legislation and the creation of an emissions trading system. This will be a guarantee that Ukrainian industry and the economy will not be affected by CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – the world’s first cross-border tariff on carbon emissions)”, – the minister emphasized.
It should be noted that the ecological component and the transition to a green economy are important tasks for Ukraine on the way to European integration. The government needs to make a number of changes in climate policy, including reforming the energy sector, developing renewable energy, reducing emissions, better waste management and meeting commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Russian aggression not only negatively affected the state of Ukraine’s environment, but also complicated the process of reforming the environmental sphere in accordance with the standards of the European Union. According to the head of the Ministry of Environment, negotiations are underway with partners regarding the reform of Ukraine’s environmental policy.