On 26 of June Bankwatch network organised the webinar on just transition in Ukraine as part of the webinar series “Navigating the just transition”. Experts from Ecoaction took part to discuss the past, the current and the future of the just transition in Ukraine. Anastasiia Bushovska, our Energy Policy Expert, and Kostiantyn Krynytskyi, our Head of Energy Department participated in the discussion to share our experience with fighting for just transition of our coal mining communities.
Ecoaction has been working with coal communities since 2018. Direct engagement of communities, mayors and local decision-makers and their will for transformation has proven to be a successful strategy for advocating for just transition on the national level.
The full-scale war in the country inevitably delayed the just transition planning process and impacted all coal regions in Ukraine – both in the East and in the West. Despite the challenges, the coal regions are determined to transition justly and continue the work started before the invasion. Some coal communities even manage to plan just transition and/or work on just transition related projects.
Communities and civil society organizations should be consulted and directly involved in planning for post-war reconstruction prior to the end of the war. Involving more people in planning a just transition as part of post-war reconstruction will enable the transition to be truly just and successful.
Oleksandr Brykalov, Mayor of Myrnohrad (one of the towns we work with) and Adam Cwetsch, Head of the European Green Deal Unit at Energy Community, also joined the discussion.
To learn more, see the recording: