A Course Towards a Green Economy: Vinnytsia Liaison Office in Brussels Initiates Research on the Green Component of the City's Economy

After Vinnytsia City Council proclaimed the Vinnytsia Green Deal in January 2022, the issues of decarbonization, climate neutrality, and integration of environmental and climate issues into all spheres of city life became an integral part of Vinnytsia's strategic planning and practical actions.

The development of a green economy and the creation of green jobs are among the most pressing areas of the Green Deal that need to be addressed, given the need to attract new investment, post-war reconstruction and transformation, the relocation of enterprises, and the need for Ukrainians to return home.

Finding opportunities and funding for the implementation of Green Deal projects is one of the priorities of the Vinnytsia Liaison Office in Brussels. The work of the Head of the Mission, Mariia Levanchuk, resulted in the involvement of Vinnytsia City Council in the study "Green Jobs in Vinnytsia. State and Prospects", conducted by the Resource and Analysis Center "Society and Environment" and the NGO Razom We Stand with the financial support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Ukraine.

The results of the study will be presented in Vinnytsia at the end of June. The study will determine how many green jobs there are in Vinnytsia now, what is the potential for the development of the green jobs market, what are the obstacles and benefits, and, most importantly, what should be done in the future to strengthen the green component of the city's economy.

According to Nataliia Andrusevych, Chairman of the Board of the Resource and Analysis Center "Society and Environment": "The development of green industries and the green jobs market in Vinnytsia will be the key to a successful green transition. Working on the principles and foundations of the green deal demonstrates Vinnytsia's leadership in Ukraine and gives it a high chance to attract green investments in the future and form profitable partnerships with European cities and businesses. The study we are conducting will not only help us understand the current situation with green jobs, but also improve our work in the green economy, explain the benefits of creating green jobs to businesses, and raise the necessary funds for this area."

Green jobs are jobs that contribute to the preservation or restoration of the environment, both in traditional sectors (manufacturing and construction) and in new green sectors (renewable energy and energy efficiency).

Green jobs help to: increase the efficiency of energy and raw material use, limit greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste and pollution, protect and restore ecosystems, and support adaptation to climate change. Sectors such as energy, transportation, and water supply have the greatest potential for creating additional green jobs.