Course title: Geography and Economics

Course number: 1014

Lecturer: David Leonard
Title of the essay: What is Ukraine doing to achieve the Sustainable Development goals? And
what are the impacts on Ukrainian society?

Submitted by: Roksolana Hrodzitska

Date Submitted: 06.06.2020
Matriculation Number: 61902240

First of all, what are these goals as well as why were they developed? The sustainable
development goals are for improving our lives and safety future since unprecedented problems
which we have faced around the world are causing a bad influence on the planet. Our world is
significantly changing and the world population is getting the highest point so here the
consequences are visible -overcrowd cities. Some countries are already dealing with these
problems and get wonderful solutions. However, we have to realize that not all lands are ready
to carry out these targets. So what about Ukrainian preparation and how economic,
environmental, social, and government systems try to interact?
Ukraine is still in progress with 15 of 17 SDGs. Nevertheless, it has considerably changed the
poverty rate: from 58,3% to 43%(data from
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/ukraine#:~:text=Ukraine%20has
%20achieved%20progress%20in,to%2064%25%20in%202017).). This happened due to the fact
that the government has figured out how to accomplish important progress due to better
development in labor remuneration standards and population coverage with housing subsidies.
Also, after long negotiations , the Ukrainian government finally complete a long-period
approach of “New Ukrainian School”, which was one of the main educational reforms, and
joined the PISA-2018. These innovations give the possibility to improve SDG 4 meaning that the
government and other communities can see changes and make improvements in the
educational system of the country. The government started to support local advancement and
the number has increased almost 50 times. ICT system has changed a lot since the last decade,
giving favorable circumstances for exporting it abroad and bringing money in the country
budget.
Ukrainian authority has developed a few distinct plans on how to implement goals into reality,
separating different sectors. The main point is to elaborate effective economic in the country.
They want to start from planning new infrastructure projects since it is one the weakest side of
the country. Moreover, it is important for them to develop innovations, which will make the
lives of every citizen much easier. This will help to achieve goal 9 from SDGs. The government
has provided special programs for local agro-industrial businesses, including SME, giving them a
chance for lower credit percentages, long-period payout, and lower taxes. In addition, they
have one consequential requirement for those enterprises – to create new proper jobs. Thanks
to that, it becomes a little closer to goals 2 and 8.
Important tasks are to improve people’s lives and their standards of living, especially curtail
inequality and poverty. Not only politics, but also simple local companies try to special
institutions and places for homeless and unemployed people, where they can find support. This
year the minimum wage had increased for a little, but it is still an improvement that brings
benefits for everyone. As it was said previously, our country tries to create more work places,
arranging appropriate education. The goal, which relates to inequality is still in progress
because of the high level of corruption. The “richest” people of Ukraine always find ways how
to avoid immense taxes and declarations.
One important thing that exists in Ukraine is high annual taxes for petrol cars, which sometimes
might be quite huge. So the Ukrainian government find a great solution on how to encourage
people to buy eco-friendly cars and created zero percent tax for electric cars in Ukraine. Also,
you don’t have to pay for charging your cars anywhere. You just have to find the nearest charge
station, which might be on every gas station or parking. In Ukraine, you will find the lowest
prices for any electric car in the world, that why it is so attractive for citizens.
No less important fact is that Ukraine tries to change the environmental laws and permission on
using natural resources. For example, till 2019 we haven’t legally any prohibitions and
restrictions on cutting trees from the forest, especially in the Carpathians area. Since that time
the number of cut wood has reasonably declined. Furthermore, companies started to refine
mountain water, water from rivers, lakes, and even sea, making it drinking for humans.
However, we haven’t yet solved the problem with trash, particularly on the west side of
Ukraine. Our authority is still looking for investors for building plant of garbage recycling, but all
attempts were failed.
Unfortunately, exist some factors that make obstruct the possibility of the implementation of
SDGs in Ukraine. The main reason is war aggression from Russia, which is still present om the
east side of the country, and annexation if Crimes. Exactly that brought huge men and
commercial losses. If we deal with that and get great success, it will help Ukraine to achieve
SDGs better.
The sustainable development goals are a common plan for everyone. So it brings a great
influence on everyone. Ukrainian nation fully supports this concept and helps in the
development of its ideas. However, you might meet people who disagree with that since it
interferes with their own beliefs or even businesses. They ignore all laws and political bans,
knowing that due to corruption they may deal with everything.
In this difficult time, such a community like “Home Owners of Ukraine for Sustainable Energy
Efficiency Solutions”, known as HOUSES, tried to support Ukrainian society with helping. First,
they created about one hundred thousands of informative posters about the coronavirus
situation in the country. They produced quite a large number of masks for citizens and doctors,
including 76 special suits for workers just last month. This program is sponsored by European
Union financing and it was provided about 4 million for future work.
Ukrainian people found out that using their own wind or solar power is much cheaper instead
of any other type of that. On the other hand, it is quite expensive to buy it and build in since the
middle Ukrainian has a totally low sum of income. Also, our government understands that it is
not profitably for that if everyone starts using not state power. However, already 24 thousands
of households are using solar batteries and save money on monthly payments (from gov.ua).
Different organizations were set up to help our country and humanity to go through difficult
times. They usually create charity evenings and actions to help poor people with food and other
important stuff.
Schools start social programs in recycling papers, it even might looks like a competition
between classes. Children really like that idea. Also, schools produce 4 different types of the
scrapyard and provide classes making schoolers aware of world problems and what they can do
to help.
Other important factors are out-of-date infrastructure, disorganized government as well as
restricted financing. The problem, which has faced all the world, including Ukraine, is
COVID_19. This issue gave the opportunity to the Ukrainian government to understand that we
immediately have to change medical and social reforms, improving condition in hospitals,
making medication free for older people and youngsters, adding health insurance for every
citizen, providing social support to people who lose their jobs and maintain ways of providing
education for everyone who needs.

In conclusion, it is important to mention that Ukraine continues developing, making happier

and easier lives of its population. But it is still a long list of work that should be done in the
nearest future to become on the same level as European countries.

Bibliography
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Coursera (2020)
The Age of Sustainable Development
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Sustainable Development Goals: Ukraine
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Implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in Ukraine
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%D0%B8%20%D0%92%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC
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Recycling Factory in Lviv, games of politics
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More than 24,000 Ukrainian families use solar panels and save on electricity bills
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