Ukrainian Cities Advance Communication Skills on Climate and Energy

On 2–3 June, a two-day communication training took place in Ukraine under the Covenant of Mayors – East (CoM East) initiative. The event, titled “Strengthening the Communication Capacity of CoM Signatories: Strategic Approaches, Artificial Intelligence and Impact Measurement”, gathered 37 participants, all representing small and medium-sized municipalities across Ukraine. The group included communication and public relations officers, as well as energy managers — two professional profiles working towards a shared goal of advancing local sustainable energy and climate action.

A key highlight of the training was the session on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in municipal communications. The module introduced participants to the possibilities of using generative AI tools to support day-to-day communication tasks, from content generation to campaign planning. The session also covered ethical considerations, the importance of prompt formulation, and safe use of AI in the public sector.

During a practical group session, participants applied AI tools to develop elements of a communication plan for EU Sustainable Energy Week 2025, including messages, posts, and campaign concepts tailored to their community context.

In addition to the AI training, participants engaged in sessions on strategic communication planning, storytelling, and media relations. Yulia Huzii, a communication manager from NGO Ecoclub, delivered a session on emotional storytelling and message framing in climate communication. Iryna Salo, Head of the Press Office of Lviv City Council, shared their experience in making complex messages clear and citizen-friendly.

The training also created valuable space for cross-functional collaboration between energy and communication teams, encouraging them to align messaging with technical content and speak with a unified voice.