White Book: How Environmental Impact Assessments Works in Ukraine and What Needs to Change

by NGO Ecoclub

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the key instruments of environmental policy. It makes it possible before the start of construction, mineral extraction, the development of industrial facilities, or other activities that may have a significant impact on the environment to assess potential risks and take them into account in decision-making.

In the context of war and future reconstruction, the importance of this instrument is only increasing. Ukraine needs rapid recovery of its infrastructure and economy, but these processes must be transparent, involve public participation, and take environmental impacts into account.

The “White Book. Environmental Impact Assessment in Ukraine. Between Legislation and Practice” was developed to analyse the current state of EIA implementation in Ukraine, identify systemic gaps, and formulate recommendations for improving EIA policies and practices in line with European standards.

What the White Book contains an analysis of legislation and the practical application of the EIA procedure in Ukraine, and an analytical section based on open data from the Unified State Register of Environmental Impact Assessment (e-EIA). The authors processed 2,633 registration cases from 2024–2025, which made it possible to provide an up-to-date snapshot of how the system functions under martial law.