2022 has almost come to the end. It’s been a tough year, to put it lightly.
This year will forever be remembered by the gruesome and vicious full-on invasion by russia on Ukraine. At first, we, the Ecoaction team, were shocked and scared. But together with our partners and friends we gathered our strength and got back to work.
We couldn’t have made it this far without your help. Same goes for the perseverance of our Ukrainian partners and colleagues. During this difficult time, they managed to help people in need with humanitarian work, as well as do their regular job – work on sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate solutions.
So this holiday season, we encourage you to support the Ukrainian environmental movement by donating to one or a couple of NGOs listed below.
1. Ecoclub
Ecoclub is a non-governmental organization based in Rivne that has been working for over 20 years to preserve the environment. The NGO has been supporting local communities around the country helping them develop sustainable energy and climate action plans and solutions.
Ecoclub team is supporting Ukrainian war-affected communities, doctors, and volunteers. The team also started the Teplovilniy project to inform and prepare the population of Ukraine for power and heating blackout. Ecoclub is fundraising for solar PV stations for Ukrainian hospitals too.
2. Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group
Ukrainian NGO aimed to consolidate efforts of experts and scientists to protect Biodiversity and support the network of Protected Areas in Ukraine.
During full-on invasion, UNCG is helping protected areas and sites, including two biosphere reserves, that are currently located in the zones of active hostilities, occupation, and humanitarian crisis.
Support Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group here.
3. Agency of Economic Development
The NGO is working on human right protection and on involving the community in decision- and policy-making processes in socially important spheres of the citizens’ life.
Since the beginning of the invasion, the Agency has been documenting human rights violations and war crimes committed by the russian army in Mykolaiv region. The NGO has also been supporting internally displaced people and providing affected households with information about financial & other available help.
Support Agency of Economic Development by clicking on the red button in the top right corner here.
4. Ekoltava
Ekoltava is an independent association of experts and environmentalists, founded in 2013. The NGO helps communities implement environmental solutions and become more eco-friendly.
Ecobus by Ecoltava is regularly collecting hazardous waste such as batteries, fluorescent lamps, and mercury thermometers. Ecoltava has also helped 3,000 people take care of their food security and grow vegetables and greens to go through the year.
5. Khmelnitsky Energy Cluster
An open platform that unites public organizations, governments, businesses, media, and representatives of science to develop renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency in the Khmelnytskyi region.
The NGO has been actively advocating for energy independence, resilience and security through renewable energy and energy efficiency colutions for communities in Khmelnytsky region.
Support Khmelnitsky Energy Cluster here.
6. Plato
Plato is a NGO that works on making climate change a priority of Lviv’s city policies and scale the community’s climate awareness through advocacy and education.
Since the beginning of the invasion, Plato has been engaged in humanitarian aid. Shortly after they developed a space for urban gardening and vegetable growing in Lviv.
7. Save Dnipro
The NGO has been actively fighting for clean air in Ukraine by encouraging polluters to be eco-conscious, developing a regulatory framework that improves chances of a clean environment and doing an independent air quality monitoring.
In spring 2022, Save Dnipro built a chatbot to make it easier to access data on pollution and to report damages to the environmental cause by russia’s war. They keep compiling this list and factchecking against open sources.
8. U-Cycle
The NGO has been advocating for sustainable mobility and development of bicycle infrastructure in Ukrainian cities, popularising bicycle as a mode of transport and working to make it safer for everyone.
In spring 2022, U-Cycle together with partner NGOs launched a global fundraising campaign #BikesForUkraine to increase the mobility of Ukrainian volunteers and make humanitarian aid more accessible to those who need it most.
9. Ecoaction
Ecoaction is an organization that advocates for energy efficiency, renewable energy, countering climate change, clean air for all, and sustainable development of transport and agriculture in Ukraine.
Ecoaction has focused on accounting for potential environmental impacts caused by russian invasion, the Green Reconstruction of Ukraine, and providing communities with humanitarian aid.
Slawa Ukrajini! The fight of the people for freedom, ☮ , liberty and democracy is not only your fight for self-determination and the survival of a free nation. It is also the fight for the free world. We are extremely grateful and you deserve all our support. We cannot imagine your suffering and heroism but we include you in our thoughts and actions. This will not end with your victory about the Russian oppressors. It will continue so that you can build up your lovely country, making it better, greener and more sustainable. We will continue to stand with you. All best for you!
Thank you for this article highlighting Ukrainian NGOs in this field. And keep up the great work – it’s ground breaking on so many fronts despite the odds.