Ukraine: Slavutych shares the experience of effective energy policy with the Covenant of Mayors Signatories within City2City, 19-21/06/2019

From 19 to 21 of June 2019, Slavutych hosted representatives of five municipalities that are Signatories of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate &Energy.  The study tour was organised in the framework of the EU-funded project “Covenant of Mayors – East” (CoM East) for representatives of five small cities of Ukraine – Koziatin, Bucha, Novogrodivka, Olevsk and Pokrovsk – with the aim of exchanging experience in developing and implementing local energy policy.

The city of Slavutych has significant achievements on the way to sustainable energy, improving energy efficiency and climate change, and is open to share experiences and best practices with other municipalities.

Participants who have been selected on a competitive basis study the specificities of development and implementation of the Sustainable Energy Action Plan of Slavutych, learn the main aspects of planning, attracting external funding and implementation energy efficiency and renewable energy projects under the approved energy policy of the city. Representatives of five small Ukrainian municipalities also analyse practical aspects of the municipal energy monitoring and energy management systems, meet and communicate with the municipal and private companies of the city, as well as jointly elaborate recommendations taking into account the specifics of their cities. One of the important elements of the training programme is site visits to facilities where energy efficiency and renewable energy measures have been implemented.

Natalia Biletska, energy manager of Novogrodivka, highlights: “It is very useful to listen to practitioners, not theoreticians, to get engaged in constructive discussions, share experience in overcoming the challenges of a single-industry municipality, and in the field of development of small and medium business. We received first-hand information about the specificities of SEAP development as well as the important aspects of introducing the municipal management system.”

Hanna Nechai, chief specialist of the Department of Ecology, Climate and Energy Conservation of the Pokrovsk City Council, shares her impressions of the internship: “During the first day of the study tour we have already gained a lot of knowledge that can be applied in our cities both in the field of development and implementation of the SEAP, and in the process of implementing the municipal energy management system. Every action of the local government and subordinate institutions of Slavutych is well balanced and result-driven, which is really inspiring!”

Study tours in the format of several-day twinning visits provide an opportunity to build contacts and adopt the experience of successful Signatories for those municipalities, which have recently joined the Covenant of Mayors and are now at the initial stage of developing and implementing their Sustainable Energy Action Plan and climate change mitigation. The aim is to create exchanges that work both ways – host cities also get new insights and inspiration for their climate and energy work.