Water Cadastre, Environmental Monitoring, and Waste Management: Ecological Priorities Named in the Rada

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management held a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine. Participants discussed key directions of environmental policy, legislative changes, and tasks within the framework of European integration.

One of the main directions was identified as the preservation of biodiversity and the development of protected areas. This includes improving the management of the nature reserve fund, developing the Emerald Network and Natura 2000, as well as further expanding protected areas.

Special attention was given to water policy. Planned measures include the creation of a unified GIS system of data on water resources and the integration of water and land cadastres.

Priorities in this area also include effective water resource management, drought management, restoration of aquatic ecosystems, and increasing their resilience to climate change. Plans include digitalization of water and land cadastres, development of hydrological monitoring, and automation of observations of surface, groundwater, and marine waters. Long-term tasks involve implementing the Water Strategy until 2050, river basin management plans, and the introduction of the EU Water Acquis.

Other directions include environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. In particular, bilateral agreements with Poland and Slovakia on transboundary environmental impact assessment are planned, as well as transitioning post-project monitoring within the EIA framework to a digital format.

In the field of subsoil use, updating the regulatory framework for market functioning is foreseen. This involves a comprehensive review of the Ukrainian Subsoil Code and legislation on production sharing agreements.

Another direction identified is environmental monitoring. Legislation necessary for the full operation of the State Environmental Monitoring System is planned to be developed, an integrated information system created, and observation networks and the material and technical base of monitoring system entities modernized.

In the field of industrial pollution prevention, the introduction of a full-fledged integrated permitting system is planned.

Waste management remains an important area of work. Key tasks include introducing extended producer responsibility and preparing legislative changes aimed at reducing the environmental impact of plastic products.

The reform of forest management systems and transition to modern forestry methods closer to natural processes were also discussed. Forest policy was separately presented, which includes developing regulatory acts to preserve primeval forests, quasi-primeval forests, and forest biodiversity.

Participants emphasized the need to keep environmental policy among the priorities of the Ministry of Economy and Environment and to ensure coordination between the parliamentary committee and the ministry.

Following the meeting, members of parliament and ministry representatives identified joint priorities, plans, and expectations for further development of environmental policy. The parties agreed to strengthen systematic interaction, jointly prepare necessary legislative decisions, and work on implementing pro-European integration initiatives.

Such cooperation is expected to help coordinate actions of state bodies, accelerate the adoption of necessary decisions, and create a foundation for further reform of the environmental protection sector.

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