UniCities: learning for a climate-neutral and just future in Ukraine

On Tuesday 23 May, the first forum of the UniCities Transition Lab, an Erasmus+ programme for the climate-neutral and just reconstruction of Ukrainian cities, was held in line with the European mission ‘100 climate-neutral cities by 2030’. The programme is driven by the Royal Swedish Technological Institute (KTH), UfM and a dozen Ukrainian universities and civil society organisations.

Olga Kordas, Director of Viable Cities and professor of sustainable urban development at the Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden (KTH) highlighted the connection of the programme with the European mission of climate neutral cities. Julio Lumbreras, Director of the Collaboration Platform for the Climate Neutrality of Spanish Cities cities2030 and professor at the UPM, emphasised the need and advantages of working between different sectors and between cities to achieve the goal of climate neutrality. Both Veronika Khudolei, Rector of Izhevsk State Technical University (ISTU) in Ukraine and Nataliya Lazarenko, from the Association of Ukrainian Cities, highlighted the importance of collaboration for the green reconstruction of cities. In particular, learning opportunities in working with universities and the introduction of the innovation component.

During the session, several representatives of the European Commission and representatives of the Ukrainian government spoke, as well as pioneering Spanish and Swedish initiatives addressing climate change issues in cities.

Santiago Saura, Councillor for Internationalisation and Cooperation of the Madrid City Council, spoke about the deep collaboration between sectors and actors for the design and implementation of the Roadmap to Climate Neutrality by 2050 that the Madrid City Council is currently implementing. In addition to this intervention, Jaime Moreno, professor at the UPM, pointed out the advantages that the university-city binomialcan add to these multi-stakeholder coalitions.

The need to build this future for Ukrainian cities is pressing. Despite the challenges and devastation caused by war, the aspirations and commitment in Ukraine demonstrate a willingness to transform towards a greener and more sustainable development model. With a focus on collaboration, building strategic partnerships and adopting systemic approaches, the UniCities project has taken a first step towards successful reconstruction and a more prosperous future for Ukrainian cities.

UniCities aims for European universities to take an active role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Working together with Ukrainian cities, innovation and multi-stakeholder dialogue will be key to achieving this.

Don’t miss the full conversation

On Tuesday 23 May, the first forum of the UniCities Transition Lab, an Erasmus+ programme for the climate-neutral and just reconstruction of Ukrainian cities, was held in line with the European mission ‘100 climate-neutral cities by 2030’. The programme is driven by the Royal Swedish Technological Institute (KTH), UfM and a dozen Ukrainian universities and civil society organisations.

Olga Kordas, Director of Viable Cities and professor of sustainable urban development at the Royal Institute of Technology of Sweden (KTH) highlighted the connection of the programme with the European mission of climate neutral cities. Julio Lumbreras, Director of the Collaboration Platform for the Climate Neutrality of Spanish Cities cities2030 and professor at the UPM, emphasised the need and advantages of working between different sectors and between cities to achieve the goal of climate neutrality. Both Veronika Khudolei, Rector of Izhevsk State Technical University (ISTU) in Ukraine and Nataliya Lazarenko, from the Association of Ukrainian Cities, highlighted the importance of collaboration for the green reconstruction of cities. In particular, learning opportunities in working with universities and the introduction of the innovation component.

During the session, several representatives of the European Commission and representatives of the Ukrainian government spoke, as well as pioneering Spanish and Swedish initiatives addressing climate change issues in cities.

Santiago Saura, Councillor for Internationalisation and Cooperation of the Madrid City Council, spoke about the deep collaboration between sectors and actors for the design and implementation of the Roadmap to Climate Neutrality by 2050 that the Madrid City Council is currently implementing. In addition to this intervention, Jaime Moreno, professor at the UPM, pointed out the advantages that the university-city binomialcan add to these multi-stakeholder coalitions.

The need to build this future for Ukrainian cities is pressing. Despite the challenges and devastation caused by war, the aspirations and commitment in Ukraine demonstrate a willingness to transform towards a greener and more sustainable development model. With a focus on collaboration, building strategic partnerships and adopting systemic approaches, the UniCities project has taken a first step towards successful reconstruction and a more prosperous future for Ukrainian cities.

UniCities aims for European universities to take an active role in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Working together with Ukrainian cities, innovation and multi-stakeholder dialogue will be key to achieving this.

Don’t miss the full conversation