The National Ecological Center of Ukraine, together with partners—the International Charitable Organization “Green Dossier Information Center” (UNP Working Group 3) and the Yavoriv Region Local Economic Development Agency (UNP Working Group 2)—is implementing the initiative “Green Public Procurement (GPP) and ESG Standards as Tools for Implementing EU Regulation 2024/1991 and Stimulating Investment in Territorial Communities” within the project “Supporting the Activities of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF in 2025–2026,” implemented by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting with financial support from the European Union.
The initiative title: Green Public Procurement (GPP) and ESG Standards as Tools for Implementing EU Regulation 2024/1991 and Stimulating Investment in Territorial Communities
Organization: The National Ecological Center of Ukraine, together with partners—the International Charitable Organization “Green Dossier Information Center” (UNP Working Group 3) and the Yavoriv Region Local Economic Development Agency (UNP Working Group 2)
Objective: The initiative aims to provide methodological and expert support to local self-government bodies in preparing for the implementation of EU Regulation 2024/1991 through the development and adoption of Green Public Procurement (GPP) mechanisms and ESG standards.
Implementing this initiative will help enhance the investment attractiveness of communities, increase the transparency of financial flows, and build institutional capacity for future nature restoration.
What are we doing?
To achieve this goal, the project team is implementing a comprehensive set of measures:
Analytical work: preparation of the document “Adaptation of GPP mechanisms and ESG standards to the requirements of EU Regulation 2024/1991: road map for territorial communities of Ukraine”
Expert events: holding a round table “From GPP to nature restoration: integration of EU Regulation 2024/1991” and a training webinar for CSOs “Implementation of ESG and green procurement: how to attract transparent investments”
Information and advocacy work:
- Development of the infographic “Why GPP is not only about procurement, but about the future of Ukraine’s nature” and a video explainer regarding Regulation 2024/1991.
- Presentation “Investing in communities: how to detect offshore fraud through ESG transparency”.
- A series of working meetings with relevant ministries (Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Rehabilitation) and consultations with experts of the EU Delegation.
- Advocacy campaign to bring recommendations to the committees of the Verkhovna Rada, Association of Cities of Ukraine and DG Environment (European Commission).
- Accompanying information campaign (a list of links to event results, reports and publications will be posted on NECU official resources).
Ruslan Havryliuk, National Ecological Center of Ukraine:
Implementing EU Regulation 2024/1991 on nature restoration requires Ukraine not only to shift its approach to environmental management but also to modernize financial and procurement tools at the level of territorial communities.
Currently, this process is complicated by the catastrophic consequences of hostilities, escalating threats from industrial pollution, and instances of malicious, predatory exploitation of natural resources during wartime. Amidst these harsh realities, the use of EU financial aid aimed at social resilience and reconstruction cannot simply entail preserving or linearly replicating the status quo—be it outdated technologies or obsolete consumption patterns; instead, it must be grounded in comprehensive modernization based on strict environmental criteria. Consequently, combining Green Public Procurement (GPP) with ESG standards (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is emerging as a key mechanism for attracting transparent investment, meeting European requirements, and preparing communities for large-scale ecosystem restoration efforts scheduled for 2030–2033. The initiative aims to transform environmental responsibility into an economic advantage for communities while ensuring transparency in the use of EU funds.
The successful recovery of Ukraine requires a systematic approach to the integration of European standards into activities at the local level. EU Regulation 2024/1991 sets ambitious goals that cannot be achieved without attracting private capital and responsible use of public funds. The introduction of ESG criteria and green procurement will allow communities not only to fulfill international obligations, but also to protect themselves from corruption risks and offshore falsifications, laying the foundation for the sustainable development of territories for decades to come.
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This initiative is implemented within the project “Supporting the Activities of the Ukrainian National Platform of the EaP CSF in 2025–2026,” carried out by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting with financial support from the European Union. The content of the research is the sole responsibility of authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
