In October 2023, during the 2nd Annual Ukrainian High-Level Forum on Just Transition “Reconstruction of Ukrainian coal mining communities in today’s conditions”, Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine announced that work on the State Target Program for the Just Transition of Coal Regions until 2030 would be resumed.
NGOs Ecoaction, Alternatyva and Germanwatch approached the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine with a proposal to assist in holding joint consultations with representatives of coal mining communities. On 14 December, the first event took place, where representatives of coal mining regions had the opportunity to discuss the changes in communities that have occurred since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the current situation and problems, possible development strategies and approaches to solving existing problems, in order to formulate proposals for the tasks and activities of the future Program. The Program should define what measures will be implemented at the state level to address the problems and promote the development of coal mining communities.
Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Hirske, Dobropillia, Pavlohrad, Ternivka, Novovolynsk, Chervonohrad, Poromiv, Novohrodivka and Lytovezh communities joined the discussion.
“We are glad to cooperate with the Ministry and the opportunity to help with the development of this important document for coal mining communities. This is a rather unique opportunity to participate in the development of a national program at such an early stage, and also to involve representatives of coal regions directly. We welcome such open dialogue in these difficult times and hope that this work will help make the text of the program truly reflective of communities’ needs”, comments Anastasiia Bushovska, Energy Policy Expert at Ecoaction.
The event was organised within the framework of the project “New Energy – Facilitating Dialogue for Sustainable Development of Ukrainian Coal Regions”, implemented by partner organisations Germanwatch, Centre for Environmental Initiatives “Ecoaction”, Luhansk Regional Human Rights Centre “Alternative” with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in cooperation with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.