In July, a committee meeting of the Professional Association of Environmentalists of Ukraine was held to combat climate change and adapt to it. The Zaporizhstal Works shared its experience of eco-modernization, contribution to the implementation of the ideas of the Paris Agreement and the vision of further strategy in this direction.
A significant contribution of Ukraine to the implementation of the global climate agreement can be a comprehensive environmental modernization of the country’s industrial complex, Zaporizhstal believes. Inna Kholina, Head of the Plant’s Environmental Protection Department, stressed that many companies in Ukraine are already implementing these approaches in their work. But to make eco-modernization, and hence the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, a national trend is possible only with the support of the state and the introduction of incentives for business.
“The success of European partners – colleagues of Ukrainian industrialists is based on a balanced and economically sound model of incentives. If tools such as cheap loans for eco-projects, reduction of taxation on imported energy-efficient and environmental equipment, targeted use of paid ecologist, including redistribution for eco-modernization of enterprises – Ukraine’s contribution to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement would be more significant, ” – notes Inna Holina.
Zaporizhstal’s experience in implementing environmental projects has repeatedly been recognized as one of the most successful in Ukrainian industry. Since 2012, the Works has already allocated about 15 billion hryvnias for the ecological transformation of production, and continues to invest.
Inna Holina is sure that another solution that would significantly support modernizing enterprises and create an incentive for others is the introduction of a system of a truly functioning national market for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading.
This system will allow attracting “green” investments for further implementation of environmental and energy saving measures. In addition, taking into account European practice, participants in the emissions trading system are exempt from paying the greenhouse gas tax, ”said Inna Kholina.