Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Yevgeny Fedorenko stated that the estimated amount of damage caused by russian forces to the nature of Ukraine has already reached $35 billion and is growing every day.
This happened at the fourth meeting of the EU4Environment Regional Assembly, Fedorenko wrote on Facebook.
He noted that in the last 20 years, this is the first international conflict in the world with such significant damage to the environment. Its consequences will be felt by the whole world, because the environment does not have a local character.
"That is why the world does not stand aside from our problems and together with us resists the aggressor," he said.
At the event, Fedorenko also told the partners about the regional component of the Recovery Plan of Ukraine, which the Government is currently working on. More than 200 experts were involved in the development of the "Environmental Safety" section. 76 nature protection projects have been identified, the implementation of which requires €25.5 billion.
He emphasized that, within the framework of the Recovery Plan, it is important to launch 9 urgent reforms in the following areas:
- waste management;
- state environmental control;
- regulation of industrial pollution;
- comprehensive environmental monitoring;
- management of nature conservation areas, etc.
The strategic goal of the Plan is a clean and safe environment and reconstruction according to the principles of the circular economy.
Fedorenko also thanked European colleagues for their attention to Ukraine, their principled position and support.
So Chloe Allio, head of the operational department "Economic cooperation, energy, infrastructure and environment" of the EU Representation in Ukraine, expressed her hope that the European Union is actively responding to what is happening in Ukraine, has already adopted an unprecedented aid package and will continue to mobilize the entire range of its instruments for assessment of urgent needs of Ukraine.
Fedorenko added that he supports the statement that EU programs and projects are important for solving the challenges facing Ukraine today, as well as for further progress in the implementation of European integration reforms.
"So we have a substantial list of tasks that we will perform together. I am convinced that with the accumulation of efforts, Ukraine will definitely achieve its goal - not only will it return to the starting point on February 24, but will become even better than it was before the Russian invasion," he said.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine for European Integration Svitlana Grynchuk said that russia's war against Ukraine accelerates climate change and causes an increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, in Kharkiv region due to systematic shelling of the dam of the Pecheneg reservoir there is threat of catastrophic flooding downstream area.
