In light of the Russian attacks that have severely damaged the energy infrastructure, Ukraine is focusing its efforts on developing nuclear energy as a reliable source of clean energy, notes the author, Tatyana Stezhar. Additionally, the country is receiving support from the international community: the American company Westinghouse will become the main technological partner in the project, while the IAEA will provide technical assistance for the integration of new energy units into the national energy system.
The new energy units will provide 2.2 GW of clean energy, which will not only strengthen Ukraine's energy independence but also contribute to achieving global emission reduction goals, the journalist highlights. As noted by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi, "the implementation of this project is critically important for the stability of the Ukrainian energy system."
Annual UN climate conferences, known as COP (Conference of the Parties), serve as the primary platform for discussing and implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement, signed in 2015. That year, countries around the world agreed on joint actions to limit global warming to within 1.5–2 °C. At the COP29 summit taking place in Baku, Ukraine once again reaffirms its commitment to the goals of the agreement, Stezhar added.
"The objective of the conference in Baku is to further convince the world that gas, oil, and coal are the main factors behind climate issues, and that a transition away from their use in favor of nuclear energy is entirely feasible, even for countries facing challenging times. In this regard, Ukraine, which is defending its territory from Russian invasion, suffers from the targeted destruction of energy facilities by the enemy while simultaneously beginning the construction of new energy units at nuclear power plants, can show other countries the right path – from fossil fuels to clean energy," concludes the article's author.