Letter from Ukrainian environmental NGOs to Oleksii Sobolev, the newly appointed Minister of the merged Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture
Kyiv
July 21, 2025
Collective letter from environmental NGOs to Oleksiy Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture
Dear Oleksii Dmytrovych!
On behalf of the non-governmental organisations (listed below), we express our respect and congratulate you on your appointment as Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.
NGOs whose main area of activity is the protection of Ukraine's environment express concern about the liquidation of the Ministry of Environment and the creation of a ministry that will combine the economy, environment and agriculture in its activities. The main concerns relate to the loss of subjectivity of the environment and its further administration by the state solely for the purpose of exploitation of natural resources.
Given the need for rapid recovery of the country, the approach to simplifying or abolishing environmental procedures may seem appropriate. However, we find this approach absolutely unacceptable, given the prospects for the country's development and the level of impact of environmental quality and safety on the quality of life of citisens. In addition, the environment and climate policies related to the process of Ukraine's European integration have one of the largest volumes of regulations that need to be transposed into Ukrainian legislation.
Based on the above, with the aim of establishing a systematic dialogue and forming a plan of action for the new ministry, taking into account public opinion, on behalf of the non-governmental organisations (listed below), we are writing to you with a proposal to organise a joint event to present and discuss the ministry's action plan under your leadership.
We are ready to participate in the preparation of the provisions and establishment of an effective new structure of the ministry.
We look forward to our fruitful cooperation.
Signatories:
Iryna Chernysh, Head, NGO SaveDnipro/SaveEcoBot
Olena Kravchenko, Director, International Charitable Organisation “Environment-People-Law”
Sofia Sydorenko, Head, Ukrainian Zero Waste Alliance
Danylo Vankovych, Head, Centre for Economic and Legal Analysis NGO
Sofia Shutiak, Committee on Agrarian, Land and Environmental Law, Ukrainian National Bar Association
Olha Polunina, Environmental protection expert
Oleh Lystopad, Environmental Expert, National Interests Advocacy Network ANTS
Ihor Kaprus, Head of the Environmental Commission, Shevchenko Scientific Society
Tamara Malkova, Director, Information Center “Green Dossier”
Svitlana Romanko, Director, Razom We Stand
Bohdan Vykhor, Executive Director, WWF-Ukraine
Oleksii Pasiuk, Executive Director, Centre for Environmental Initiatives “Ecoation”
Yanina Basysta, Chair of the Board, NGO ‘Ecosmart’
Ruslan Havryliuk, Chair, National Ecological Centre of Ukraine
Natalia Gozak, Director, Greenpeace Ukraine