Ukraine

Diplomatic League Model United Nations Accreditation Conference Southern Luzon

Delegate: Jean Alchie Capacio

Notes

Opening Speech

Honorable chair, fellow delegates and distinguished guests, Ukraine is grateful to be part of this
respected conference. Despite the pressing concerns that Ukraine deals with concerning economic
and political issues, there is still enough recognition of the environmental problems today. In
recent years, Ukraine has adopted different waste management strategies, more specifically the
National Waste Management Strategy and National Waste Management Plan until 2030, which
were created through agreements. Last year, Ukraine also adopted the “Waste Management
Law” which aims to provide a better-multifaceted system that could help resolve these
environmental issues as we also deal with Climate change. This law covers the European waste
management hierarchy and also emphasizes the “polluter pays” approach of many European
countries.

Indeed, these existing solutions have been a huge step towards a positive change and Ukraine
believes in the role of youth in this matter. However, there are several issues that are being
overlooked and problems that remain unresolved. This is especially the case with food waste and
the participation of the youth. For instance, the ongoing conflict has caused more than 48 billion
US dollars in environmental damage. According to the State Environmental Inspectorate,
harmful chemicals have caused a 3-4 times increase in air pollution which gravely affected the
crops. The aggression also undermined the capacity of Ukraine to harvest and export crops which
then became spoilt and wasted. But most of all, the role of youth would not be realized if over 4
million young people would have to flee their homes and find refuge, thus having priorities that
far outweigh the need for food waste management and climate change.

Thus, Ukraine looks forward to discussing the current efforts, the plans of action, and how these
systems and strategies can be put into practice. But also, to realize the importance of adopting the
“polluter pays” principle, as well as to make the youth realize their role in this issue considering
the unique challenges that every young people face.
Notes, Research

Ukraine

About
Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders to the east and
northeast.

Figures
Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy
- is a Ukrainian politician and former comedian and actor who has served as the sixth and current
president of Ukraine since 2019
- Proponent of E-government (G2C, G2B, G2G, G2E)

Background

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded and occupied parts of Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-
Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The EU is now Ukraine's largest trading partner, accounting for 40%
of its trade in 2019.

In general, the waste management system in Ukraine is defined by the following trends:1
 accumulation of waste both in the industrial and domestic sectors, having an adverse effect on the
environment and human health;
 improper treatment and disposal of hazardous waste;
 storing household waste without taking into account possible hazardous consequences;
 improper use of waste as secondary raw materials.

Status of Food Waste in Ukraine

Problem:
● Irrational consumption and inefficient production, when food is unevenly distributed, and
sometimes overproduction occurs.
● Today, Ukraine ranks 9th in the world in terms of waste production, generating 7 million tonnes
of organic waste annually.
● Average Ukrainian generates 250-300 kg per year. 60% of solid municipal waste is composed of
organic waste.2
● “According to the NGO All-Ukrainian Environmental League, each Ukrainian annually produces
an average of 250 kg of waste, half of which is food. Most waste is generated due to transportation

1
https://dlf.ua/en/ukrainian-national-waste-management-strategy-until-2030-approved/
2
https://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail/Cutting-food-waste-while-improving-food-security-and-environment-in-
Ukraine/en - Food and Agriculture Organization
 and storage problems. Many food products are spoiled in the retail sector, catering establishments,
and in the process of consumption.”
● Food waste is a problem of consumer economy and lack of public awareness.
● Currently, there are 5,470 landfills and dumps in Ukraine, of which 305 (5.6%) are overloaded and
1,646 (30%) do not meet environmental safety standards. According to expert estimates, over 99%
of the operating landfills do not comply with the European standards.3

Past International Actions

FLW Reduction in Europe
FAO - SAVE FOOD Initiative: Multi-disciplinary approach
- FLW assessment at retail, HoReCa and consumer levels in Georgia and Ukraine
- Sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems development – Moldova, Ukraine (ongoing)
- Children Education Programme on food waste reduction at consumer/ household level - Albania,
Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Portugal, Turkey, Ukraine
European Youth Foundation (EYF): Council of Europe’s Joint Council of Youth on 12 October 2022
- Support young people affected by the war through civil society and youth work interventions
(2022)

European Union: Support the Youth in Ukraine

The EIT Food Youth Mission – European Institute of Innovation & Technology
- Pique youth’s interest for food and food sustainability

Country Policy, and Possible Solutions.

In 2014–2017, Ukraine adopted the National Waste Management Strategy until 2030 as part of its
commitment under the Association Agreement with the EU.4
- Gradual transition from landfill waste disposal to a comprehensive waste management system
- FAO partnered with the All-Ukrainian Environmental League to study the municipal solid waste
management practiced in the two cities.
- All-Ukrainian Environmental League is working to develop an online platform for registration of
surplus food available for collection from businesses.
- The package of educational guides “Do Good: Save Food!” was developed by FAO in close
cooperation with International Food Waste Coalition to shape and promote a more sustainable
consumption among children.
On Waste Management – Waste Management Law (Draft - 20 June 2022)
- Once signed by the President of Ukraine, the Waste Management Law will become effective one
year after its official publication.
- The adoption of the Waste Management Law is an opportunity to initiate the changes that Ukraine
needs, among others, to fulfil the European Union membership requirements.5

3
https://dlf.ua/en/ukrainian-national-waste-management-strategy-until-2030-approved/
4
https://www.fao.org/europe/news/detail/Cutting-food-waste-while-improving-food-security-and-environment-in-
Ukraine/en
5
https://www.wolftheiss.com/insights/new-waste-management-framework-in-
ukraine/#:~:text=On%2020%20June%202022%20the,%E2%80%9CWaste%20Management%20Law%E2%80%9D).
 - Introduces a European waste management hierarchy (prevention, followed by re-use, recycling,
recovery and finally disposal)
On September 10, 2021, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources approved the
Methodical Guidelines for developing regional waste management plans.
- Today, Ukraine has no European-style landfills for waste disposal, with the existing ones
operating overtime with numerous violations of environmental laws.

Actions and Policies in Ukraine against Food and wastes

1. Reform of the Agricultural Land Market, Increasing Soil Fertility and ‘Grain of Ukraine’
2. Food Safety and Food Security
3. Economic Growth and Improved Livelihoods in Rural Areas
4. Rural Infrastructure Development
5. International Technical Assistance for Livestock Sector Development within ENPARD Framework

When asked to provide information on the main Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food initiatives in the
sphere of reduction of losses and waste in Ukraine, the following four programs were cited by the ministry:
1. Financial Support to the Development of Wholesale Agricultural Product Markets
2. Partial Compensation for Investments in Individual Milking Equipment
3. Interest Rate Support for Commercial Credit Used by Producers in Development of Greenhouse
Production, including Sorting, Packaging and Storage
4. Control of Pests and Disease affecting Crops and Livestock

Country Report (Daniel Themen 2013)

“the bulk of losses in the priority agri-food chains are evidenced at the agricultural production and post-
harvest handling and storage stages of the chains. These result in large part from an insufficient supply of
modern harvest, post-harvest and storage machinery and equipment. outdated and substandard
technology continues to be used as a result of the shortage of supply of more efficient machinery and
facilities”

“Exacerbating this absence of investment in technological upgrades are the overall investment climate and
difficulty of doing business in Ukraine, compounded by discouragingly high rates of interest (over 20% per
annum) charged by commercial lenders to commercial value chain actors and the prohibitively high levels
(up to 50% per annum) charged by commercial lenders and credit unions to small producers and SME
actors and market entrants”

“Poorly qualified management and labour responsibility for major losses, particularly in (on-farm)
livestock production, through poor and outdated maintenance and feed regimes. an absence of good
management processes”
“Supply chain logistics is also a major challenge in Ukraine, again particularly for fresh produce requiring
refrigeration.”

“Current Ukrainian investment policy and the overall investment climate mitigate against loss-and waste
reducing investments in new technologies and practises at all stages of agri-food chains.”

“Poor quality of Ukrainian produce, the fragmented nature of production on numerous small farms lacking
standardized approaches to production to allow the supply of commercial quantities of inputs at basic
quality standards.“

Sum: Currently, there are 5,470 landfills and dumps in Ukraine, of which 305 (5.6%) are overloaded and
1,646 (30%) do not meet environmental safety standards. According to expert estimates, over 99% of the
operating landfills do not comply with the European standards.

Key Factors in Food Waste

1. Resources and Technologies

2. Management, Marketing, Product development
3. Value chain coordination and supply logistics
4. Trade and taxation policies
5. Food safety and quality standards

Actions and policy proposals

1. Multiple Food Chain Actions and Policy Proposals

a. Investment in upgrading technology in production, post-harvest handling, cold chain and
processing
b. Upgrading the skill sets of and stimulation of agri-food chain personnel
c. Reducing Losses and Waste in the Distribution & Consumption Phases
d. Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism for Food Losses and Waste
2. Individual Food Chain Actions and Policy Proposals
a. This set of actions and proposals aims to address food losses and waste in the two agri-
food chains analysed for which substantial quantities of potentially food-grade produce
are relegated either to animal feed or simply discarded, i.e. the wheat and potato chains.

Effects of Russian Invasion

  Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has been since February 2022 undermining the latter’s capacity
to harvest and export crops. Ukraine is the world’s largest producer of sunflower seed, as well as
a key exporter of wheat, rapeseed, barley, vegetable oil, and maize.6
- the war has led to the closures of ports and oilseed crushing operations, affecting exports.

“Russia’s second invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24 February, has forced over 4 million young people
to flee their homes according to the Ministry of Youth in Ukraine. At the same time, young people are often
at the forefront of the humanitarian response to natural disasters, political upheaval and armed conflicts.
The war in Ukraine is yet another horrific example of an event that has caused a devastating impact on
people’s lives, yet motivated young people to help others. On 12 August, we celebrate International Youth
Day to highlight what young people are capable of when a crisis hits.”

As of May 2022, 8 million people were internally displaced in Ukraine, 6.3 million people fled Ukraine
following Russia’s aggression, while 1.9 million Ukrainians have returned to Ukraine during the same
period (UNHCR, 2022[8]).

Solution:
In the short-term, efforts should focus on providing logistical support to Ukraine to enable agricultural
exports.

Facilitate exports from Ukraine7

Keep trade in food and agricultural inputs open
Strengthen market transparency:
 Reduce food loss and waste: It is estimated that the current amounts of food loss and waste could
feed around 1.26 billion people per year (FAO, 2022[3]).2 Reducing food loss and waste is an
attractive option to lower the overall demand for agricultural commodities and alleviate
environmental pressure. Nevertheless, attempts to reduce food loss and waste appear to only be
effective in the long-term. The current high prices of agricultural commodities create a large
incentive to reduce food loss and waste.

UNICEF: The children and families of Ukraine have endured a year of escalating violence, trauma,
destruction and displacement.

Challenges for the Youth’s involvement

1. Threat of safety
2. Psychosocial distress
3. Millions flee from their homes, some are front

6
https://www.oecd.org/ukraine-hub/policy-responses/the-impacts-and-policy-implications-of-russia-s-aggression-
against-ukraine-on-agricultural-markets-0030a4cd/
7
https://www.oecd.org/ukraine-hub/policy-responses/the-impacts-and-policy-implications-of-russia-s-aggression-
against-ukraine-on-agricultural-markets-0030a4cd/
 4. Uncertainty of the future
5. Socio-economic disruptions

Solution: UNICEF and EU empower youth in conflict-affected Ukraine

- Strengthening community capacities and referral systems to support youth resilience.
- Empowering to solve conflicts in school settings.
- Building sustainable civic engagement of youth and adolescents.
- Empowerment of young leaders.
Help: European Democracy Youth Network (EDYN), a platform supported by USAID (US Agency
International Development)
- brings together young leaders in Europe and Eurasia who are committed to advancing democracy
and civic engagement in their countries, including Ukraine.

Recommendations:

1. There must be an emphasis on the involvement of Youth, especially in war-torn countries since they
faced challenges that should be considered in the proposed solutions. To do that, there must be efforts
that encourage and motivate the youth. This can be done through the utilization of social media, films,
hashtag movement, seminars and psychological help. Utilize social media and the internet in raising
awareness of food waste and climate change.
2. There must be strict implementation and actualization of existing and future policies and waste
management systems. This can be done by adopting the European union standards of waste
management.
3. Countries should be held accountable for the environmental damage that they caused, especially those
that affect another country. This is through the “polluter pays” principle of many European countries and
is currently being adopted by Ukraine.

Ukraine is the only European country with no extended producer responsibility (EPR) approach. EPR
means “the polluter pays,” i.e., manufacturers are responsible for recycling the packaging waste they
create.

Advocating for policy change: Youth can also advocate for policy changes that support food waste
reduction and climate action. This can involve lobbying local and national governments, writing letters to
elected officials, and participating in protests or marches.

Overall, youth have an important role to play in food waste management and climate change. By raising
awareness, reducing food waste, supporting local farmers, and advocating for policy change, they can help
build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
Waste Management Law
The Waste Management Law:
 Introduces a European waste management hierarchy (prevention, followed by re-use,
recycling, recovery and finally disposal)
 Introduces the waste management system planning at national, regional and local levels
 Establishes the principle of “polluter pays”
 Introduces extended producer responsibility that obliges manufacturer to ensure the
complete disposal of the packaging that it placed on the market together with the goods
 Introduces a waste management information system designed to simplify the accounting
and reporting, the implementation of permitting procedures in the field of waste
management
 Introduces a subsystem of registers containing comprehensive information on issued
permits and licenses, extended responsibility producers and products, entities engaged in
waste processing activities, etc. Registers may be accessed by the creators and other
owners of waste, as well as the public
 Establishes a procedure for the collection, removal and processing of household waste,
including separate collection and recycling
 Provides that special rules should be developed regarding the disposal of waste resulting
from the Russian aggression against Ukraine
 Will allow closing of old landfills and bringing the remaining ones to European standards
 Allows creating conditions for the construction of modern waste recycling infrastructure
in Ukraine according to European rules and open borders for investors

Beginning of greater opportunities for the waste sector8

The New Law, however, establishes only a framework or guidelines for new up-to-date
regulation of the waste management system in Ukraine, and is basically a starting point for
reform in the waste management area.

8
https://www.wolftheiss.com/insights/new-waste-management-framework-in-
ukraine/#:~:text=On%2020%20June%202022%20the,year%20after%20its%20official%20publication.