Ukraine: a sustainable economic recovery for people and nature

by WWF and Boston Consulting Group

While the end of the war is still unknown, it is clear that Ukraine will need the largest reconstruction plan in Europe since World War II. Planning for post-war reconstruction has already started with the Ukrainian government presenting a draft recovery plan at the high-level international Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano on 4-5 July 2022. At the conference key actors committed to sustainability as one of the key principles of recovery. 

The WWF-BCG report provides a pathway to achieve these sustainability goals.It shows that, while circumstances are dire, if sustainability is at the core and reforms are properly implemented, this effort could shape a sustainable model of economic development for Ukraine, Europe and the world. Developed with WWF-Ukraine, who work closely with other social and environmental organizations, academia and businesses, the report aims at bringing a civil society voice into the reconstruction agenda.

Modernizing Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure in a way that works with nature rather than against it would generate many benefits, including enhanced security with less dependence on imports of fossil fuels and accelerated economic development and job creation. Such reconstruction can accelerate Ukraine’s integration in the EU and alignment with key policies such as the European Green Deal, to which Ukraine has already committed.