Statement at the High-Level Political Forum

on Sustainable Development, SDG 13 – Climate action

delivered by Deputy Permanent Representative Khrystyna Hayovyshyn

(10 July 2024)

Mr. President,

Climate change is currently the biggest global problem facing all of humanity. This problem has a truly comprehensive global character and affects all countries and all people equally. Therefore, solving it is one of the main priorities of the domestic and foreign policy of many responsible countries.

Ukraine remains fully committed to SDG 13 – taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

We recognize the urgency of this challenge for all, especially for Small Island Developing States, whose people and communities suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change, despite being least responsible for it.

Ukraine has always promoted intensified and concerted actions to address climate change as a global threat to international peace and security. We fully recognize the devastating impact of this phenomenon on global food security and water resources.

We must emphasize that the ongoing war against Ukraine moves the world away from the Paris Agreement's goals of limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C.

For the two years of the Russian war, greenhouse gas emissions from military operations amounted to about 175 million tons of CO2. Of these, the potential emissions of greenhouse gases due to the need to restore the infrastructure destroyed or damaged are estimated at 56 million tons of CO2. These emissions would not have occurred in peacetime.

Every day of war increases the pressure on global climate neutrality. Forests, buildings, and equipment are burning every day. Only greenhouse gas emissions from all types of fires in Ukraine increased almost 10 times during the first year of the war compared to the same period prior.

Thus, we must clearly understand that the problem of climate change has no borders and its solution requires joint efforts of all countries. Climate change threatens the provision of basic human needs, such as access to drinking water, the ability to grow crops, and even breathing.

Ukraine joined the European Green Deal and renewed its nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement in 2021. According to this commitment, by 2030 we plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 65% from 1990 levels and achieve climate neutrality by 2060.

Even during the war, in 2023, the Government of Ukraine approved the "Global Methane Pledge" plan of measures to reduce methane emissions. According to it methane emissions will be reduced by 30% by 2030. However, that in order to achieve the global goal of the Paris Agreement, the world community must cease current and prevent future wars and conflicts.

Ukraine is ready to further promote the implementation of the climate-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda. We also express our strong solidarity with those who suffer from the devastating consequences of climate change.

Thank you.