This March a new member, the city of Toretsk, has joined the Platform for Sustainable Development of Coal Towns of Donetsk Region! Thus, the association includes all towns of regional significance where coal is extracted.
Currently, the Platform includes 7 towns (Vuhledar, Dobropillia, Myrnohrad, Novohrodivka, Pokrovsk, Selydove, Toretsk), Donetsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NGOs “Dobropillia Youth Center “DOBRO”, Platform of Initiatives “Move” (Novohrodivka) and Vuhledar Development Agency.
The purpose of the Platform is to implement the principles of sustainable development; strengthening partnerships in the framework of socio-economic development of communities; transformation of monoindustrial image of territories; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the welfare of the citizens.
“This association is a good communication format that will allow us to voice all the challenges facing mining towns at the national level. We have the hope to finally be heard.
This Platform, communities, with the support of international partners, will represent and defend their interests in developing opportunities for entrepreneurship and job creation, infrastructure development, creation and implementation of social projects, and learning about the transformation experiences of European coal regions.
We all understand that we need to look for a reliable alternative to the coal industry right now, and we will work together to achieve that”, – comments Serhii Vynnyk, deputy head of the Toretsk Civil-Military Administration.
We would like to remind that on May 21st, 2019 representatives of local authorities and civil society of Vuhledar, Dobropillia, Myrnohrad, Novohrodivka, Pokrovsk and Selidove signed a Memorandum of Partnership and created a Platform for Sustainable Development of Coal Towns of Donetsk Region.
Its activities are supported by NGOs Ecoaction, Luhansk Regional Human Rights Center “Alternativa” and Germanwatch within framework the project “New Energy – New Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Donbas”.
Contacts:
Valentyn, +380 (066)-545-14-88
vp@ecoact.org.ua