Environmental harm assessment: State Eco-Inspection staff participated in a preparatory meeting.

Representatives from the central office of the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine participated in the preparatory meeting of the Coordination Center for Environmental Damage Assessment. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine as part of a project funded by the Government of Sweden to assess environmental damage.

The Coordination Center will serve as a permanent advisory body for the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, tasked with reviewing scientific recommendations and providing professional consultations on environmental harm assessment. The activities of the Coordination Center will be financed through international technical assistance funds.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management, Elena Krivoruchkina, emphasized the importance of establishing the Coordination Center.

The war in Ukraine not only erases entire cities from the map but also negatively impacts the state of the environment, contaminating our rivers and seas and threatening to leave a toxic legacy for future generations. The tasks of the Coordination Center will include, in particular, providing support to the State Environmental Inspection in preparing proposals for legislative improvements, forming a register of environmental damage, and conducting training sessions with the involvement of international and national experts,” added Elena Krivoruchkina.

“This project will significantly enhance cooperation between the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine and international partners, contributing to the improvement and enhancement of the State Environmental Inspection's work in assessing environmental damage,” emphasized Dmitry Zaruba, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Environmental Inspection.

During the meeting of the Coordination Center, there was also a gathering of the working group on ensuring gender equality. Participants agreed on a further work plan to promote the implementation of gender equality and inclusivity in all aspects of the activities of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine and the State Environmental Inspection, ensuring equal access to opportunities, resources, and support for all employees, regardless of gender.