Nature conservation is a rather abstract concept when viewed through the eyes of local officials. Environmental programs in the Kyiv region once again confirm that, if one so desires, this sphere can encompass everything from urban beautification to road construction. What makes this misrepresentation of concepts particularly problematic is that communities are spending environmental tax funds on pseudo-environmental measures—even though such measures are not prohibited.
EcoPolitic continues its series of articles on the use of environmental tax funds at the local level and local perspectives on global environmental issues. This time, we analyzed environmental programs in the Kyiv region. We should note right away that Kyiv is not included here, as it warrants a separate analysis.
Environmental protection measures at the regional level
In the Kyiv region, the program for environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources for 2023–2026 was approved in late December 2022. Implementing all of its measures will require nearly 1.7 billion UAH. However, the lion’s share of this funding—1.48 billion UAH—was to come from non-budgetary sources. The remainder consists of funds from local budgets, as well as the regional budget, specifically from the Environmental Protection and Development Funds.
The most expensive environmental measure planned by the region concerns the eco-modernization of equipment at the Trypilska TPP. No budgetary funding is foreseen for this project, only "non-budgetary sources", most likely meaning enterprise funds. Specifically, this refers to capital repairs of electrostatic precipitators and the construction of flue gas desulfurization for UAH 1.4 billion.
The region planned to spend its own funds in particular on the following (estimated funding over four years):
- purchase of vehicles for the collection and transportation of waste – UAH 68.2 million;
- management of demolition waste – UAH 30 million;
- purchase of containers for waste collection – UAH 14.1 million;
- development of land management projects for establishing the boundaries of the nature reserve fund – UAH 9.2 million.
For city, village, and settlement greening across the region, UAH 45.9 million is planned to be allocated over four years. However, these public amenities disguised as environmental initiatives will be funded by local budgets, with only a minor contribution from non-budgetary sources.
Environmental plans of the region’s cities
A step-by-step plan for environmental protection in Bila Tserkva was approved in September 2024. To implement its measures, the city will need approximately UAH 101.6 million, of which only UAH 31.6 million comes from the city budget. Bila Tserkva plans to obtain the rest “from other sources.”
To protect against flooding, the city plans to improve both the technical and environmental condition of several water bodies, including the local reservoir and the Protoka, Kamyanka, and Ros rivers. Separate water bodies will be cleaned of silt, waste, and vegetation. Waste collection containers are to be installed along the banks, with UAH 1.2 million allocated to this. Also, for the outlets of storm sewers, the city wants to build local treatment facilities, again for UAH 1.2 million.
They plan to reduce air pollution in the city by... building a bypass road. They plan to spend over 50 million hryvnias on this project.
Plans to protect plant resources in Bila Tserkva include landscaping the area for 1 million UAH and major repairs to public amenities for 0.9 million UAH. An additional 600,000 UAH will be spent on an inventory of green spaces.
The eco-program also includes the development of a local waste management plan. The cost of this initiative is 2.5 million UAH. Equipment worth 1.2 million UAH will be purchased for waste management. The same amount is planned to be allocated for the collection and disposal of hazardous mercury lamps and batteries.
Boryspil’s environmental program for 2024–2026 is less extensive and less detailed. The total cost of its initiatives exceeds 30.7 million hryvnias, of which 19.3 million hryvnias come from the state budget. It is unclear from the document whether funds from the Environmental Protection Fund are to be used.
So, what significant environmental initiative did the city decide to allocate state funds to? The sewer system. The initiative is described as “Design and construction of wastewater treatment facilities.”
City budget funds were to be allocated specifically for the following measures: landscaping (150,000 UAH), the purchase of trash containers (1.8 million UAH), and waste collection vehicles (8 million UAH).
Smaller сommunities and the environment
In its five-year plan of environmental measures for 2024–2028, the Velykodymerska settlement community did not include any questionable sewer projects. Waste management is present, but only in two measures: allocating a plot for the construction of a waste processing plant and clearing sites of mass accumulation of war waste.
The community also plans to establish its own nature reserve, “Povalushky,” restore damaged natural landscapes, remove water protection and erosion-prone areas from arable land, and lease equipment to monitor air quality.
As part of the environmental program, the community also planned to green its settlements. This measure falls under the category of plant resource protection, which also includes the care of forests and forest belts, as well as the reforestation of degraded and low-productivity lands.
In its environmental protection program for 2023–2026, the Prystolychna Village Council planned to install an air quality monitoring station and noise barriers along highways.
Waste management primarily concerns separate collection and hazardous waste, particularly incandescent light bulbs—separate containers were planned for them, along with collection and disposal. The village council also planned to set up a composting site.
However, no plantings were included. Among the measures are the greening of settlements and the roadside of the Kyiv-Kharkiv-Dovzhansky highway.
You can read previous EcoPolitika articles on this topic by following the link.
In this article, we explain how an environmental tax can truly contribute to decarbonization and environmental protection.
