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Danish - Ukranian Environmental Co-operation 1993-2002

Chapter 4
Main Environmental Problems in Ukraine

Improvement of the condition of the water resources, reconstruction of the sewage treatment plants, improved solid waste management, conservation of the biological and landscape diversity, improved energy efficiency and better safety on the nuclear installations are just some of the priorities for the future Ukrainian environmental re-establishing strategy.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) has been made overall responsible for the development and implementation of environmental policies in line with international standards. The National Environmental Action Plan NEAP for Ukraine was approved in 1998 as part of the so-called "Environment for Europe" process, and the National Environmental and Health Action Plan NEHAP for Ukraine was approved in 1999. Furthermore, various, more or less comprehensive environmental policy reform initiatives have been launched during the last decade.

Based on an analysis of the state of the environment, fundamental principles of the state policy have been formulated in the sphere of regulation of ecological security, creation of safe living conditions and rehabilitation of natural environment. Understanding that Ukraine, at its present stage of development, will encounter a lack of financial resources, it has been considered a necessary step to clearly identify the priorities and the problems of primary importance.

By this document, the following priorities in the field of environmental protection were declared:
environmental safety on nuclear installations and protection of the environment and the population against radiation, mitigation of the effects of the Chernobyl accident;
environment of Ukrainian river basin's ecological condition and drinking water quality;
stabilisation and gradual improvement of the environmental condition of the Donetsko-Prydniprovsky region (Donetsk Basin and the downstream stretch of the Dnipro River);
new construction and reconstruction of the communal and industrial sewage treatment plants;
protection of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov against pollution and further environmental status;
Sustainable management of natural resources and making the main sectors of the national economy environmentally friendly, including waste management;
creation of a balanced system of use of the environment with an adequate structural change in production potentials, environmentally friendly technologies and industrial construction, agriculture and transport; and
conservation of the biological and landscape diversity, development of nature reserves

Implementation of international environmental policy of Ukraine promotes the solution of specific environmental problems and the integration of the country into the world system of environmental law and ensures the introduction of economic instruments in the use of natural resources.

The following sections of the book describe most of the environmental projects that have been or are being implemented in Ukraine as part of the Danish environmental assistance. In addition, the book includes profiles of Danish and Ukrainian companies that have been involved in the environmental assistance.

Following sectors receiving assistance are:
water supply and sanitation;
solid waste; and
energy.

In addition, the book also provides a description of environmental projects with emphasis on institutional strengthening and public awareness projects.

Problems addressed by the projects implemented include the following:

Water Supply and Sanitation
Poor drinking water quality.
Inefficient operation of water supply system.
Contamination of water resources.
Insufficient treatment of waste water.
Frequent breakdown of pipes within the waste water sector.
Insufficient sludge handling.
High energy consumption within the waste water sector.

Solid Waste
High level of generation of hazardous waste.
Lack of hazardous waste treatment and safe deposit facilities.
Increasing volumes of municipal waste.
Poor municipal waste collection services.
Improper disposal of municipal waste.

Energy and Industry
High energy intensity.
Heavy dependence on gas, coal and oil.

 

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