FAO launches project addressing climate change priorities in Ukraine

Ukraine is setting its priorities when it comes to dealing with climate change, and an FAO project that starts today is designed to help with that process.

Setting priorities for national climate change mitigation and adaptation for the Ukrainian agriculture sector is called for in the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change “Paris Agreement.”

Funded entirely by FAO, the project will be carried out in close collaboration with Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food and Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. It will address national policy development, methodological approaches and technical advisory services.

Ukraine is already working on climate change issues to a certain extent, but the topic has not yet been incorporated in national or sub-national policies and strategies for the agriculture sector.

In 2015, Ukraine submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) its so-called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) which described the country’s ambition to substantially prevent the increase of greenhouse gas emissions and address adaptation problems. Reaching these goals will require effective policies and significant financial investments.

The new FAO project falls under the current Country Programming Framework – or cooperation agreement – signed by FAO and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

The project will consider current and projected climate conditions in Ukraine and their impact on agriculture (including forestry and fisheries). Vulnerability and risk assessment will be carried out, and priority areas for action identified. The project will suggest measures for mitigating climate change, and for adapting to it. A series of consultations will be held to ensure transparency and broad input into the development of a plan of action.

“FAO has long been one of the global leaders in addressing climate-related issues through cutting-edge research and innovative methodologies,” says Mikhail Malkov, coordinator of FAO development programmes in Ukraine.

‘This project is incredibly important for Ukraine today, since the issues of irrigation, deforestation and forest degradation have become critical priorities on the national agroecological agenda.’

Mikhail Malkov
Coordinator, FAO development programmes in Ukraine

“This project is incredibly important for Ukraine today, since the issues of irrigation, deforestation and forest degradation have become critical priorities on the national agroecological agenda,” Malkov continued. “I’m sure that this comprehensive initiative will help advance climate change science and therefore support the development of tools for reducing emissions and safeguarding the country against climate-change impacts.”

The FAO project will operate until December 2017, complementing recent efforts on the part of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, and leading to policies and greenhouse gas limits that go even further than Ukraine’s current international obligations.

About FAO
An intergovernmental organization and specialized agency of the United Nations, FAO has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, FAO is present in over 130 countries.

Ukraine joined FAO in 2003 and is partnering with various FAO projects both in the country and in the region. Since 2015, FAO is operating in Ukraine in two directions: Emergency response programme implemented in the conflict affected eastern Ukraine, and Agriculture Development programme with a nationwide coverage.

28 July 2017, Kyiv, Ukraine