Putting the green reconstruction of Ukraine into action: Requirements for programme design and policy

by CEE Bankwatch, Centre for Environmental Initiatives “Ecoaction” and Berlin Economics

While the fight to liberate Ukrainian territory continues, discussions on the reconstruction process have already begun and several proposals have already been circulated by various organisations and stakeholders. Although each proposal for a reconstruction programme contains references to a “green reconstruction”, plans have so far been relatively vague on the precise meaning of this term.

In order to advance the discussion during the upcoming Lugano conference and beyond, the necessary transformations and technology options for each sector, as well as the key barriers and appropriate policies for realizing a green reconstruction now need to be identified. Against this backdrop, Low Carbon Ukraine, together with Centre for Environmental Initiatives “Ecoaction” and CEE Bankwatch, have organised a roundtable conference on May 31st, 2022. This roundtable brought together over 60 representatives from civil society and industry, as well as national and international experts, to discuss what green reconstruction means concretely in every sector, what barriers to a green reconstruction currently exist, and how an optimal policy mix could overcome these barriers. This article reflects the insights the organisers gained from the conference.