Topic: 2025 – Impact of Climate Change on Air Quality
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Jessica Liu
92% of the world’s population lives in places where the air quality levels exceed the limits recommended by the World Health Organization, highlighting the urgent global crisis of climate change and its devastating impact on environmental and public health. In Ukraine, these challenges have deep historical roots. Dating back to its Soviet energy model, dominated by coal, nuclear, and hydroelectric-based energy production, it began to heavily impact urban and rural environments. These environmental pressures, combined with recent wartime damage to infrastructure, have only culminated in an air pollution crisis. Recognizing the critical impact of climate change on air quality, the delegation of Ukraine stresses the need for coordinated global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate air pollution while protecting ecosystems and human health.
In recent years, Ukraine has taken measures to address both climate change and conventional air pollutants, as many sources, including energy production, industry, and transport, contribute simultaneously to greenhouse gas emissions. The Law of Ukraine No. 991-IX, established August 10, 2024, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; increase absorption across various sectors; increase the share of renewable energy and alternate fuels; lower the energy intensity of GDP; enhance resilience; ensure environmental, food, and energy security; and achieve climate neutrality, supporting the Paris Agreement target statistics. In addition, Ukraine has a chance to develop a modern energy system with a more efficient and balanced mix, increasing both its energy security and economic resilience. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s energy system and infrastructure have been severely damaged, the cost to rebuild according to EU standards in 2024 alone amounting to $67.8 billion. However, despite this crisis, Ukraine now has the opportunity to renew its grid without its previously centralized model and dependence on imported fuel. Furthermore, air-quality monitoring initiatives, such as Clean Air for Ukraine, now include over 250 stations nationwide and track environmental damage in war-affected regions.
With this in mind, Ukraine urges the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to strengthen international cooperation to address climate change and air quality in tandem. The delegation emphasizes the importance of accelerating renewable energy adoption, reinforcing emission standards across energy, transport, and industrial sectors, and taking measures to protect communities from pollutant exposure. Through these efforts, Ukraine seeks to safeguard public health, prevent further environmental damage, and contribute to global climate objectives.
Works Cited
Bandura, Romina, and Alexander Romanishyn. “Striving for Access, Security, and
Sustainability: Ukraine’s Transition to a Modern and Decentralized Energy System.” Csis.org, 2025, www.csis.org/analysis/striving-access-security-and-sustainability.
Popov, Oleksandr, et al. “Risk Assessment for the Population of Kyiv, Ukraine as a Result of
Atmospheric Air Pollution.” Journal of Health and Pollution, vol. 10, no. 25, Pure Earth, Jan. 2020, pp. 200303–3, https://doi.org/10.5696/2156-9614-10.25.200303.
“The New Green Reconstruction Project for War-Affected Regions Is Being Launched by the
‘Clean Air for Ukraine’ Program – Все про повітря.” Все про повітря, 29 Feb. 2024, cleanair.org.ua/en/13327/proekt-zelena-vidbudova-ukraini-vid-chiste-povitya-2.
“Ukraine’s Climate Policy Goals Defined by the Law of Ukraine.” Ukrainian Climate Office, 14
Nov. 2025, ukrainian-climate-office.org/en/infographic/ukraines-climate-policy-goals-defined-by-the-law-of-ukraine-no-991-ix-article-4-08-10-2024.
