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Ukraine is pushing to rebuild back greener after its war with Russia with a Pavilion at Cop29 in Baku that’s made out of recycled paper and seeds.
The 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) has begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, running from 11th to 22nd November 2024.
After the summit, fragments of the Pavilion will be planted globally by Ukraine’s partners, symbolising a united effort toward a greener future.
This marks Ukraine’s third national Pavilion at COP. In 2022, the display highlighted the environmental destruction caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion, featuring a crater filled with 16 types of damaged Ukrainian soil.
In 2023, the Pavilion focused on Russia’s destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, using a roof salvaged from Kherson Oblast to represent the devastating floods.
In 2024, the Pavilion promotes the principle of “Build Back Greener,” showcasing 50 environmental initiatives spanning government, business, and public sectors. Designed with eco-friendly materials, the Pavilion features a 120-square-metre mural by Ukrainian artist Oleksandra Zhumailova, highlighting innovations such as renewable energy technologies, advanced recycling systems, demining solutions, and carbon dioxide traps.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy underscored the Pavilion’s message: “As we defend the lives of our people from Russian strikes and confront the largest ecocide in Europe, we need maximum unity. When unity is maximised, solidarity becomes effective, allowing life, freedom, law, and respect to prevail.”
The toll of the ongoing war on Ukraine’s environment is staggering: over 6,500 environmental crimes, 180 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, nearly 3 million hectares of forest damaged, and 139,000 square kilometres of land mined—three times the area of Switzerland. Visitors to the Pavilion can explore these impacts through VR exhibits, offering immersive views of destroyed forests and the Kakhovka Reservoir’s transformation into a thriving willow forest.
Ukraine’s commitment to climate action remains steadfast despite the conflict. The nation’s parliament has set a target of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The Pavilion also showcases sustainable recovery projects, including a debris recycling facility in Bucha, launched in April 2024, which supports reconstruction efforts.
“COP29 highlights Ukraine’s role as a hub of green innovation and digital transformation,” said Svitlana Grynchuk, Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. Supported by international partners, including the UNDP and the German government, Ukraine’s Pavilion stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, unity, and hope for a sustainable future.
Where: Baku, Azerbaijan
When: 17 Nov 2024
Credit: Ukraine Ministry of Environment/Cover Images
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