Working Group on Environmental Consequences of War in Ukraine holds fifth meeting
The International Working Group on the Environmental Consequences of War, co-chaired by Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak and Sweden’s former Vice PM and Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, met on Monday for the fifth time.
That’s according to the President’s Office, Ukrinform reports.
Opening the meeting, Andriy Yermak emphasized that Ukraine entered into the New Year amid massive Russian strikes.
"This horrific, unprovoked and very brutal war continues to kill our people, civilians and military, and to damage the environment. All of these attacks are causing enormous damage. For example, after the latest attack, the air quality in Kyiv has deteriorated significantly due to the high concentration of combustion products, chemicals and dust. The estimated environmental damage exceeded 56 billion euros with more than 3,300 documented court cases," said the chief of the President’s Office.
He noted that Ukraine is determined to be one of the first countries to bring the aggressor to justice for environmental damage inflicted.
Andriy Yermak thanked members of the Group for their significant work on the Environmental Compact for Ukraine. In particular, he noted the leadership of Co-Chair Margot Wallström in elaborating the draft.
According to Wallström, the Environmental Compact will contain a unified approach to assessing the environmental impact of the Russian war in Ukraine, define approaches to compensation for the damage caused, and proposals for "green" environmental recovery.
“Forty-six recommendations have been formulated. They are directed both to Ukraine and to the international community. Many of them have to do with increasing capacity, with organization and steering of the different processes. Some concern strategy and priorities. Some are directed to organizations, partners, and governments, and they are about policy decisions and technical assistance overall,” Margot Wallström said.
She also emphasized the importance of cooperation with the ecology minister of Ukraine in documenting Russia’s environmental crimes.
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin emphasized that 280 criminal cases of ecocide and environmental war crimes are currently under investigation, and the Russian aggressor must be held accountable for these crimes. He emphasized the importance of taking into account the environmental, scientific and legal aspects of the war's environmental consequences.
Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets emphasized that Russia’s strikes on December 29 and January 2 caused environmental damage worth $400,000 due to air pollution as over 5,000 tons of CO2 were released.
As reported earlier, with the broad support from the EU member states and the international community, work continues on creating a special tribunal to hold Russia accountable for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Points 7 and 8 of the Peace Formula put forward by President Volodymyr Zelensky are about establishing justice and holding the aggressor to account for crimes against Ukraine, about combating ecocide and restoring the environment.
Photo: President’s Office