Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Yuriy Katsion held a meeting with representatives of the government, banking sector, and non-governmental organizations to discuss prospects for implementing sustainable development financing mechanisms in Ukraine.
Yuriy Katsion noted that although the full-scale Russian invasion has slowed the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it has not stopped the process.
“Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is an integral part of our European choice. Today, every government program and strategic document being developed takes the SDGs into account. Ukrainian businesses also share and implement these goals,” said the Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President.
In particular, the majority of banks have already incorporated sustainability standards into their policies.
Deputy State Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers Oleh Voytovych provided an update on the implementation process of the SDGs. According to him, national targets and indicators have been revised because the country is at war.
“We emphasized to international partners the need to take martial law into account. This includes indicators related to the restoration of damage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, demining of territories, and environmental damage caused by the war,” Oleh Voytovych stated.
Head of Capacities for Climate Action / Ukrainian Climate Office Julia Jesson noted that Ukraine’s partnership with international organizations – in particular with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) – will help provide high-quality expertise on sustainable development and climate resilience, and support the development of financing mechanisms for the SDGs.
Following the meeting, it was agreed that the Office of the President will continue to support efforts to improve sustainable development financing mechanisms in line with European standards.