The fifth meeting of the International Working Group on the Environmental Consequences of War was co-chaired by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and former Deputy Prime Minister, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden Margot Wallström.
The event was also attended by: Vice-President of the European Parliament and former Minister for International Development of Finland Heidi Hautala, Chair of The Elders, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme, former Minister of Environment of Brazil Izabella Teixeira, representative of the European Union Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Arūnas Ribokas, Member of the Swedish Parliament Rebecka Le Moine, former Member of Parliament of the Åland Islands, member of the Ecocide Alliance Simon Holmström, and environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
On the Ukrainian side, the meeting was attended by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets, and Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Oleksandr Bevz.
Opening the meeting, Andriy Yermak emphasized that Ukraine faced the New Year under massive Russian shelling.
"This horrific, unprovoked and very brutal war continues to kill our people, civilians and military, and to damage the environment. All of these attacks are causing enormous damage. For example, after the latest attack, the air quality in Kyiv has deteriorated significantly due to the high concentration of combustion products, chemicals and dust. The estimated environmental damage exceeded 56 billion euros with more than 3,300 documented court cases," said the Head of the Presidential Office.
He noted that Ukraine is determined to be one of the first countries in the world to bring the aggressor to justice for environmental damage.
Andriy Yermak thanked the representatives of the International Working Group for their significant work on the Environmental Compact for Ukraine. In particular, the Head of the President's Office noted the leadership of the Co-Chair of the International Working Group, Margot Wallström, in elaborating the document.
"This document should serve as a guide to combat the negative impact of war on nature. Not only for Ukraine, but also for the world," he emphasized.
Andriy Yermak invited the representatives of the International Working Group to Ukraine for a public presentation of the compact and its official presentation to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"The most difficult task ahead is the implementation of the compact both in Ukraine and abroad. And here we will be very grateful for your expertise and dedication. I will be glad to meet you in Kyiv and decide together on further forms of cooperation," he said.
The Head of the President's Office informed the interlocutors of the upcoming meeting of national security advisors and political advisors to the heads of state on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula to be held in Davos. Andriy Yermak emphasized that the following points of the Formula are to be discussed during the meeting: withdrawal of Russian troops, restoration of justice, ecological safety, security commitments and prevention of escalation, confirmation of the end of the war.
"This year will not be easy. But this year can be a transformative and crucial one. We have a lot of work to do, and the environmental aspect remains our top priority. I thank you for your dedication and urge you to continue your efforts," the Head of the Presidential Office emphasized.
Margot Wallström, former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, reminded that the provisions of the Environmental Compact are part of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula.
"First of all, this compact describes the current state of affairs: the diversity and richness of Ukraine's nature, as well as the devastation of the war," she said.
Also, according to Margot Wallström, the Environmental Compact will contain a unified approach to assessing the environmental impact of the Russian war in Ukraine, define approaches to compensation for the damage caused, and proposals for "green" environmental recovery.
“46 recommendations have been formulated. They are directed both to Ukraine and to the international community. Many of them have to do with increasing capacity, with organization and steering of the different processes. Some concern strategy and priorities. Some are directed to organizations, partners, and governments, and they are about policy decisions and technical assistance overall,” Margot Wallström said.
She also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine in recording environmental crimes of the Russian Federation.
The former Deputy Prime Minister thanked all Ukrainian and international experts, as well as representatives of the Ukrainian authorities involved in the work on this document.
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin emphasized that 280 criminal cases of ecocide and environmental war crimes are currently under investigation, and the Russian aggressor must be held accountable for these crimes. He emphasized the importance of taking into account the environmental, scientific and legal aspects of the war's environmental consequences. Andriy Kostin emphasized that the Prosecutor General's Office, together with international experts, has developed a draft strategic action plan, which, in particular, contains recommendations for the implementation of the Peace Formula and the Environmental Compact for Ukraine. The Prosecutor General noted that today it is important to unite the efforts of international organizations, business, and the public to effectively implement the recommendations of the Environmental Compact at both the national and global levels.
First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized that Russian aggression is destroying global progress in climate protection. In particular, the aggressor's actions are killing animals, destroying forests, ecosystems, natural resources, and such significant infrastructure as the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam.
"Russia must be held fully accountable for these horrific acts," she emphasized.
The First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy emphasized the importance of collecting evidence of the crimes committed by Russia against the environment of Ukraine, bringing the aggressor to justice, as well as demining and restoring the territories of our country.
Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets emphasized that Ukraine suffered losses worth $400,000 due to air pollution caused by Russian shelling on December 29 and January 2. According to him, more than 5 thousand tons of CO2 were released into the air. Ruslan Strilets noted that inspectors continue to record the damage caused to the Ukrainian environment by the Russian occupiers.