Is the New “Super Ministry” Planning to Exploit Rather Than Protect the Environment?

“Decisions will now be made in a single center — without unnecessary bureaucracy,” stated Oleksii Soboliev, the newly appointed head of the Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The official vision of this ministry, presented on the Cabinet of Ministers’ website, emphasizes priorities such as economic development, digitalization, attracting investments, and creating a competitive agricultural sector.

But what about the environment?

It is virtually absent — neither among the key tasks, nor in the formulations, nor in the strategic approaches. Nature remains only in the name.

This is not a mere technicality but a deliberate political choice that marginalizes environmental policy and climate security at a critical moment for Ukraine when these issues should be paramount.

The environment is not a priority even amid ecological disasters

Ukraine:

• has already lost over 71 billion USD due to environmental damages caused by Russian aggression;
• generates approximately 180 million tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually related to the war;
• has accumulated over 600,000 tons of war debris waste without an effective disposal strategy;
• has suffered more than 600 billion UAH in damages to biodiversity and protected areas.

And these figures are preliminary — assessments are ongoing.

How, under such conditions, can “regulatory simplification” be implemented without any mention of environmental oversight and sustainable development?

Nature is not just a word in the ministry’s title

The merging of three key sectors — economy, environment, and agriculture — should be a test of the state’s ability to integrate ecological thinking into all policies, rather than relegating it to the sidelines.

Combining these areas should not mean subordinating environmental concerns solely to economic interests. On the contrary, a nature-centered approach is the only realistic strategy for Ukraine, which aims to rebuild its economy, use natural resources efficiently, and become a full member of the European Union.

The European Union expects strong environmental policies, not deregulation

• To advance towards EU integration, Ukraine must fulfill its obligations under Chapter 27 of the Association Agreement, including:
• ensuring an effective system of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA);
• implementing environmental legislation that works in practice rather than remaining declarative;
• developing a robust climate policy aligned with the goals of the European Green Deal;
• adhering to the principle that environmental considerations are integrated into all governmental decisions.

This is not an added burden on business but an inherent norm of the modern European economy. Rejecting environmental standards means isolation, not development.

Civil society will not remain silent

We demand:

• a clear public position from the minister regarding the role of environment and climate within the new ministry;
• the restoration of priorities in environmental monitoring, waste management, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation;
• active involvement of environmental expert communities in policy formation.