Germany’s Vice Chancellor Habeck pledges 1 m for green reconstruction of Ukraine in Horenka
Horenka, UKRAINE, April 4. Robert Habeck, the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action announced that the German government is starting a program for one million euros for Ukraine's green reconstruction. The announcement was made at the Horenka hospital, near Kyiv, a flagship project of green reconstruction by Greenpeace and Ukrainian environmental organisations.
The vice-chancellor and minister, Robert Habeck, announced the launch of the German government’s “Renewables for Resilient Ukraine (R2U)”, which will be implemented under the International Climate Initiative (IKI) project and will provide 1 million EUR support for green reconstruction of Ukraine. The announcement was made during a surprise visit to a hospital in Horenka, on the outskirts of Kyiv, that Greenpeace, together with local NGOs, Ecoaction and Ecoclub, and the Victory of Ukraine charity have fitted with hybrid solar panels and a heat pump after it was damaged in bombing.
Mr Habeck praised the project for using renewable energy technologies during the reconstruction process and underlined that reconstruction with fossil fuels is not the future and the green reconstruction of Horenka hospital shows what a decarbonized green future could look like.
During his visit, the German minister met the representatives of Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Ukrainian NGOs Ecoaction, Ecoclub, and Energy Act. The vice-chancellor discussed with the NGOs how to improve the implementation of green technologies for rebuilding social infrastructure in Ukraine, damaged by the Russian invasion. They agreed that such green reconstructions ensure energy security and provide climate-friendly solutions for the reconstruction.
"The German government’s support for energy-efficient and renewable projects is a huge step for future green reconstruction we aim to accelerate in Ukraine. The reconstruction process should be decentralised. It is faster and more effective to support local municipalities directly. Additionally there is a need for a transparent and understandable mechanism for sending and distributing renewable energy equipment that is donated to Ukraine. We strongly call for the Ukrainian government to include solar power equipment and heat pumps in its emergency aid list", said Denys Tsutsaiev, Greenpeace CEE campaigner.
Greenpeace is urging European cities to partner up with damaged Ukrainian municipalities and implement projects of green reconstruction in Ukraine. The environmental organisation believes that such projects don’t only provide immediate support to Ukrainian citizens but they also make municipalities the frontrunner of the energy transition that can protect our climate.
"The future of Ukraine is in renewable energy and free from fossil fuel. The green reconstruction of Horenka hospital can already showcase this well. After its green reconstruction that took place in partnership with Greenpeace, local NGOs and the municipality of Horenka, the hospital can now partially cover its energy demand with solar energy even in winter", added Denys Tsutsaiev.
The green reconstruction of the Horenka hospital, a pilot project for Greenpeace, was finalised in February 2023. The project was initiated by Greenpeace CEE together with the NGOs Ecoaction and Ecoclub and the charity foundation Victory of Ukraine. Installing a heat pump and solar panels allows the hospital to save up to 60% of energy demand and there is no need for using natural gas for heating and the diesel generator during power cuts.
Other green reconstruction projects, similar to Horenka hospital, can also be found now in Irpin and Zvyahel thanked to Ukrainian NGOs Energy Act for Ukraine and Ecoclub which installed solar panels for hospitals and schools recently and they are now fundraising for future projects.
- Pictures from the meeting on 4/04/2023 in Horenka you can find here - link
- More information about Horenka projects - here.
For more information, you can also contact
Denys Tsutsaiev, Greenpeace CEE campaigner for the Greening Ukraine Reconstructure project, based in Kyiv
+380685944100, denys.tsutsaiev@greenpeace.org
Kateryna Bystrytska, Greenpeace CEE communication manager based in Kyiv
+380673057986, kateryna.bystrytska@greenpeace.org