The climate strategy for Mykolaiv region has not yet been approved due to the need for additional research

One of the beaches in Mykolaiv in July 2024/ Photo for illustration from the archive NikVesti

The climate change adaptation strategy for the Mykolaiv region was not submitted to the regional council's deputy commissions for consideration due to the need to conduct a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of certain points in the document.

This was reported in a comment to NikVesti by Alla Riazhskykh, people's deputy and chair of the environmental commission of the Mykolaiv Regional Council.

She noted that only after the SEA procedure is completed can the materials be officially submitted to the regional council.

«There is a specific procedure for submitting documents for approval by the regional council. They are not ready yet, so they have not been submitted to us. There are points that require a strategic environmental assessment. Once they have conducted an SEA of these points, they will pass this project on to us,» she explained.

According to Alla Ryazhskikh, conducting an SEA requires time and funding, as it is carried out by contractors who are selected through a tender process. The procedure can take approximately one to two months, provided that the funds are available.

«I think as soon as they find the money for it, they will do it. An SEA is not done today for tomorrow. That doesn't happen. It is also a rather complicated procedure. I think a month or two, provided there is funding. It is not carried out by the administration (the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration's Department of Ecology, — note). The administration must conduct a tender, find contractors to carry out the SEA. Conduct the SEA, and then submit it (for consideration, — note). This is a procedure defined by law,» she added.

Earlier, the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration reported in response to a request from NikVesti that the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and its implementation plan for 2026-2028 are in the process of being prepared for approval.

The documents were developed in 2024 as part of the EU's APENA 3 international technical assistance project to develop a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Implementation Plan. The finalised draft documents were submitted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources to the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration.

Earlier, the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration reported that in order for the region to adapt to climate change, 171 measures with an estimated cost of €155 million need to be implemented over seven years. These include the development of an early warning system for dangerous weather phenomena, climate change monitoring, support for scientific institutions and the creation of specialised structures. The regional authorities plan to attract donor and grant funds for this purpose.

According to experts, Mykolaiv is one of the regions of Ukraine most affected by climate change — droughts, rising temperatures and extreme weather events, the risks of which have been exacerbated by the full-scale war.