Ukraine
Introduction
Ukraine is a founding member of the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), launched in 2004, and serves on the Coal Mines Subcommittee.
Ukraine has a robust set of national climate action frameworks to support the country’s ambitious methane emission reduction goals. These measures include support for biogas as a renewable energy source, expansion of methane capture technologies in the waste sector, and the phase-out of coal. In addition to a strong national approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, Ukraine also participates in international agreements to achieve global climate goals.
Ukraine is currently active on the Coal Mines Subcommittee.
- Introduction
- Methane Emissions Summary
- Methane Commitments and Plans
- Methane Actions
- Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
- GMI Delegates
Last Updated: October 2024
Methane Emissions Summary
Methane is the second source of total greenhouse gas emissions in Ukraine. The energy sector, including transportation, is the largest contributor to Ukraine’s methane emissions, followed by the agriculture and waste sectors. Major sources of Ukraine’s methane emissions include coal mining activities, enteric fermentation, and anaerobic decomposition of solid municipal waste. Overall, methane emissions in Ukraine have decreased by 61% compared to 1990 levels.
Trend in Methane Emissions by Sector, 1990-2021
Source: 2023 National Inventory Report, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, May 2023: https://unfccc.int/documents/628276
Methane Commitments and Plans
Methane mitigation efforts in Ukraine are guided by national and international commitments and plans. Ukraine also engages in partnerships dedicated to addressing methane.
National
- Ukraine’s National Renewable Energy Action Plan Until 2030, announced in August 2024, commits to reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030, as compared to 2020 levels. The plan aims to increase the share of renewable energy consumption to 27% by 2030 and features 38 measures including utilization of biogas.
- Ukraine’s 2023 National Inventory Report provides a detailed update on the status of methane emission trends and methane abatement activities across all sectors.
- Ukraine’s Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), released in 2021, sets a target to avoid exceeding 60% of the 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels, including methane, by 2030.
- Ukraine’s 2017 National Waste Management Strategy supports the expansion of landfill gas recovery technology, which will reduce methane emissions from the waste sector.
- Ukraine’s Sixth National Communication on Climate Change, published in December 2013, documents a 59% decrease in Ukraine’s methane emissions between 1990-2011 and summarizes methane emission trends and mitigation measures.
International
- Ukraine joined the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) in 2021 at the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP26), agreeing to take voluntary actions to contribute to a collective effort to reduce global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
- Ukraine has been a partner of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition since 2020, supporting activities to reduce methane and other short-lived climate pollutants.
Methane Actions
The following highlights a sampling of actions taken by Ukraine to address methane, organized by GMI sector.
Coal Mines Sector
- The Ukrainian government joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) committed to phasing out state-owned coal power plants by 2035.
Cross Sector
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Environment is working to establish a roadmap to reduce anthropogenic methane emissions in Ukraine in support of the country’s commitment to the Global Methane Pledge.
- The 2008 Amendment to Law 555 – IV on Alternative Energy Sources, amended by Law 601 – VI in 2003, identifies measures to convert organic waste to energy and the capture and use of coal mine methane.
Ministries and Agencies Supporting Methane Actions
Explore the following website to learn more about the government ministries addressing methane emissions.
GMI Delegates
| Committee/Subcommittee | Delegate Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Coal Subcommittee | Igor Yashchenko | Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine |