Ukraine

Last updated: October 2026

The country is one of the priority countries with which the International Climate Initiative (IKI) maintains a particularly close cooperation.

Ukraine is the largest country by area located entirely within Europe. At the beginning of 2022, approximately 42 million people lived in the country. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, many people have fled to other countries. Ukraine has considerable economic development potential. Before the start of Russia’s war of aggression, around two-thirds of the workforce were employed in the growing services sector. The share of the workforce employed in industry (approximately one-quarter) and agriculture (over 10 per cent) has been declining, but remains significantly higher than in countries such as Germany.

Owing to the country’s varied geography, Ukraine’s biodiversity is unique in Europe. Its landscapes range from the Carpathian Mountains to (primeval) forests, (wooded) steppes, pastures, (salt) meadows and wetlands, as well as the coast of the Black Sea. Although Ukraine accounts for only six per cent of Europe’s land area, it is home to 35 per cent of the continent’s biodiversity. This extraordinary wealth encompasses more than 70,000 species, including brown bears, bison, buffalo, wolves, moose and dolphins. Many of these species are rare or threatened, and some are found exclusively, or are now found only, in Ukraine.

The impacts of the war affect not only people and infrastructure, but also the environment, wildlife and vegetation.

Thanks to its fertile chernozem soils and high levels of agricultural exports, Ukraine contributes to global food security, particularly in developing countries, earning it the designation ‘the breadbasket of the world’. Overall, the country has considerable potential in terms of its highly skilled workforce.

Historically, electricity and heat in Ukraine were generated primarily from environmentally harmful energy sources, including coal, gas and nuclear power. Since 2022, Russia has deliberately attacked and destroyed almost all thermal gas- and coal-fired power plants used to generate electricity and heat. As a result, electricity and heating supplies are now severely constrained. Supply to households and industry is frequently interrupted. In its reconstruction efforts, Ukraine is deliberately prioritising climate-friendly renewable energy sources in line with the principle of ‘Build Back Better’. From 2027, all new buildings will be required to meet the nearly zero-energy buildings standard. As part of its integration into the European Union, Ukraine is adopting the EU acquis, the body of common EU law. This includes the introduction of an emissions trading system and requirements for the use of best available techniques in industry.

Following the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale war of aggression in February 2022, the work of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) was initially severely disrupted. All projects have since resumed their activities and continue to be driven forward by the strong commitment of their Ukrainian partners. Through its projects, the IKI aims to contribute to a green, climate-compatible and energy-resilient reconstruction.

The extent of the war-related environmental damage is currently difficult to assess, not least because some areas remain occupied or are experiencing intense fighting. In addition to landmines, environmental contamination caused by chemicals, residues of toxic warfare agents and heavy metals poses a major risk to both agriculture and reconstruction.
Even in the years preceding Russia’s full-scale war of aggression, Ukraine had steadily increased its climate ambitions. In 2016, the country submitted its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). In November 2025, it followed this with a second, updated version featuring ambitious targets. Ukraine has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 65 per cent by 2035 compared with 1990 levels, taking into account all sectors and gases covered by the national emissions inventory. This target is consistent with Ukraine’s ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Ukraine has been a member of the NDC Partnership since June 2019.

In addition, in June 2026, the government approved the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). This document is a key strategic instrument for policy planning and implementation to achieve the established energy and climate targets. EU Member States, as well as accession candidates such as Ukraine, are required to prepare such plans. In July 2026, Ukraine submitted its updated Long-term Strategy (LTS) to the United Nations, setting out pathways towards net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Strategy for Environmental Security and Climate Change Adaptation until 2030 was published in 2021. Ukraine ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1995 and acceded to the Cartagena Protocol in 2003. In 2026, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), comprising more than 270 measures, was updated. The NBSAP includes, among other things, the expansion of protected areas, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the integration of biodiversity considerations into economic planning, community development and reconstruction efforts.
Ukraine and Germany have a close and longstanding partnership in the fields of climate action and biodiversity. Since 2008, the IKI has supported Ukraine’s efforts to mitigate climate change, adapt to its impacts, conserve and restore natural carbon sinks, and protect biodiversity.

The IKI’s engagement in Ukraine focuses primarily on ambitious climate policy and greenhouse gas emission reductions. Ongoing IKI projects support, in particular, the further development of Ukraine’s NDC and the corresponding sectoral strategies, including their implementation.

In response to the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the IKI portfolio is increasingly being aligned with Ukraine’s needs for climate-friendly and resilient reconstruction. The IKI’s priorities include promoting decentralised renewable energy and measures to improve energy efficiency in buildings and industry.

Interface project

All priority countries of the IKI also engage in so-called IKI interface projects, which have permanent project offices in the capital city of the respective country. Alongside their own, country-specific project commission, these interface projects are also tasked with maintaining close contact to environment and climate ministries as well as networking with other relevant ministries in the field of climate and biodiversity policy. Beyond this, the interface projects also work to network all of the IKI projects in the country and region together so as to promote synergies.

In Ukraine, the interface function is represented by the project Supporting Ukraine towards ambitious and integrated climate policy (GreenUkraine).

Project priorities

IKI interface function supports the networking and cooperation between German und Ukrainian policy makers and institutions, the IKI implementing organisations and the Energy Partnership.
Support the Ukrainian Government in the 2025 NDC update aligned with the LTS development
Strengthen the capacities at the Ukrainian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources for the management and restoration of biodiversity, strengthening monitoring capacities in line with the updated NBSAP.
Ukrainian Climate Office (UCO) fosters the implementation of climate policies

Project contact

iki-ukraine(at)giz.de

IKI Ukraine: website for all IKI projeccts in the country

Supporting Ukraine towards ambitious and integrated climate policy (GreenUkraine)

In a nutshell

Region: Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe

Population: 38.9 million (World Bank, 2025)

CO₂eq emissions (incl. LULUCF): 180 million t (ClimateWatch, 2023)

CO₂eq emissions per capita (incl. LULUCF): 4,8 t (ClimateWatch, 2023)

Total energy supply (IEA, 2023):

21 % Coal
29 % Gas
2 % Hydro
24 % Nuclear
1 % Wind, Solar etc.
7 % Biofuels / Waste
17 % Oil
18 & RE in electricity mix (1 % Wind, 4 % PV)

IKI projects in the country (last updated: October 2026):

bilateral: 14 ongoing, 14 completed
regional: 3 ongoing, 7 completed
global: 8 ongoing, 3 completed

ClimateWatch

NDC partnership: country page

IKI partner ministries:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Energy
Ministry of Community, Territorial, and Internally Displaced Persons Development
Ministry of Reconstruction, Infrastructure, and Transport of Ukraine
Ministry of Economy and Environment

Links

UNDP: The Environmental Impact of the Conflict in Ukraine

Information from the Ukrainian Ministry of the Environment

WWF: ASSESSING the environmental impacts of the war in Ukraine

Center for Environmental Initiatives Ecoaction: Climate damage caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine

The IKI Strategy

The IKI wants to maximise its impact on climate action and biodiversity conservation. To this end, it concentrates its funding activities on prioritised fields of action within the four funding areas. Another key element is the close cooperation with selected partner countries, especially with the IKI’s priority countries.

Click here for the IKI Strategy