The post-war reconstruction of Ukraine presents a unique opportunity not only to rebuild infrastructure, but also to rethink the economy, making it environmentally friendly, sustainable and socially responsible. One of the key areas of such development is the formation of a “green” labour market based on European values, decent wages and equal opportunities for all.
A round table discussion entitled “Green Jobs for Ukraine’s Recovery and European Integration” was recently held in Kyiv to discuss the prospects and challenges facing the Ukrainian economy. The event was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Recovery, the Ministry of Education, other state bodies, international organisations, businesses, scientists and civil society activists.
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An important aspect of the “green” market is ensuring fair pay and creating equal opportunities for all, including veterans, young people and people with disabilities. Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Olga Yukhymchuk emphasised that the green economy should become a platform for uniting society around the idea of sustainable development, where everyone can find their place.
According to expert estimates, up to 4.2 million new jobs could be created during the country’s recovery, of which about 1.2 million will be related to sustainable development. The main areas of green transformation are construction, renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly production, engineering, and related industries such as IT, finance, law, and analytics.
The initial results of the study will be presented at the Fourth International Conference on the Recovery of Ukraine in Rome in July. In addition to analytics, the project promotes examples of successful Ukrainian enterprises with an environmental focus, organises educational events, and develops practical recommendations for state policy in the field of post-war development and integration into the EU.
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