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CoM East and ICLEI partners to support Ukrainian cities in building climate resilience
Over 80 representatives from Ukrainian municipalities joined international experts on October 1st for a workshop on climate adaptation and urban resilience. The event titled “Strengthening Cities’ Capacity to Respond to Climate Threats” was organized by the Covenant of Mayors – East (CoM-East) in partnership with ICLEI European Secretariat (ICLEI) and supported by Lviv City Council within Ukrainian Resilience Week 2025.
Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainian communities are looking ahead, integrating climate adaptation into their recovery plans and aligning with European sustainability standards. The workshop provided an important platform for knowledge exchange between Ukrainian municipalities, national authorities, and international partners.
Vasileios Latinos, ICLEI Europe Head of Resilience and Climate Adaptation, presented the organization’s Ukraine Roadmap, detailing practical steps for municipalities to develop climate adaptation strategies. Christian Nussmueller from the Executive Office for Urban Planning, Development, and Construction in Graz, Austria, shared his city’s approach to integrated urban development, offering valuable insights for Ukrainian communities.
Oksana Kysil, national expert for the CoM-East, presented new climate risk and vulnerability assessment methodologies specifically adapted to Ukrainian conditions while maintaining alignment with European standards. Anna Huskova from NeboPole.Labs demonstrated how innovative technologies, combining remote sensing, spatial analytics, and field research, can support better municipal decision-making, drawing comparisons with Graz’s experience.
The discussion featured contributions from Nuha Eltinay, ICLEI Senior Expert for Resilience and Climate Adaptation, and Ukrainian practitioners, including Svitlana Sushko, Acting Director, Recovery and Reform Support Team at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Olha Liashchuk from EcoClub NGO, Borys Pakholiuk from Zhytomyr City Development Agency, Andriy Pelekhatyy, Deputy Mayor of Pustomyty, and Vitaliy Volkov, national expert for the CoM East initiative.
While climate change is a global phenomenon, its impacts hit local communities hardest. Extreme weather, flooding, and droughts directly threaten citizens’ well-being, a challenge amplified by the war in Ukraine. Integrating climate policy into local strategies is therefore essential not only for environmental sustainability but also for security, prosperity, and Ukraine’s European integration path.