Ukraine presented plans for decarbonization of the energy sector at СОР 28

Ukraine presented a report on the decarbonization of the energy sector by 2050 and a preliminary version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for 2025-2030 during a panel discussion at the UN Climate Conference COP 28. This is stated in the message of the Ministry of Economy.

«By 2030, we expect to have 27% of our final energy consumption from renewables, a 30% reduction in methane emissions, and a gradual phase-out of coal by 2035. We are currently discussing other ambitious goals and will be happy to present them in the first draft of the NECP in December 2023 – January 2024,» said the Deputy Minister of Economy Oleksiy Sobolev.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko reminded that at COP28, Ukraine and more than 20 other countries joined the declaration on joining efforts to triple the use of nuclear energy in the world. The Ukrainian official emphasized the importance of these intentions for Ukraine, where nuclear generation continues to produce more than 55% of the country’s electricity even after the occupation of the largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Ruslan Strilets, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, noted that climate policy, which is an integral part of all sectoral recovery plans, should be at the heart of Ukraine’s green recovery and achievement of zero emissions. According to Strilets, the Ministry is currently developing climate legislation that will create a framework for climate governance.

During the panel discussion, it was also said that currently the main goal is to increase the stability of the Ukrainian energy system, increase its decentralization, and carry out digitalization. The country will need large investments to reform the sector, but could become an energy hub in the future.

As GMK Center reported earlier,  in October 2023 the European Council reached an agreement regarding the proposal to make changes to the structure of the block’s electricity market. The reform aims to make the price of electricity more independent from the price of fossil fuels and to better protect consumers from future crises. In addition, the block will accelerate the introduction of renewable energy sources.