End of Commitment Report – Formation of the Green Course Action Plan, the development of the social and inclusive, climate neutral community’s economy.

Name of Evaluator

Romana Mykhailyshyn

Email

khmelcityagency@gmail.com

Member Name

Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine

Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Title

Action plan – Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine, 2021 – 2025

CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action...

Formation of the Green Course Action Plan, the development of the community’s economy. Community’s economy should be social and inclusive, climate neutral and ensuring growth.

Title

Formation of the Green Course Action Plan, the development of the community’s economy. Community’s economy should be social and inclusive, climate neutral and ensuring growth.

Action

Development and implementation of the Green City Action Plan.The Green City Action Plan (GCAP) will establish a green vision for the city, including strategic objectives, actions and investments, to ensure a sustainable future for Khmelnytskyi. Creation of an interactive space for schoolchildren, students and adults “Gufi Center” will inform about the waste management system and the impact of garbage on the environment.An interactive center will be opened; awareness of the waste management system and the impact of garbage on the environment will be increased; 27,000 people will visit the center annually.

Problem

It ensures the need for prioritization and a systematic approach to solving the city’s environmental issues.  It creates the strategic documents for the city that allows to coordinate and implement long-term development goals related to the field of green development.  The city needs to develop the Green City Action Plan (hereinafter – THE GCAP). The Khmelnytskyi GCAP offers the City of Khmelnytskyi the opportunity to align their long-term development goals with an aspirational green growth agenda. This will provide long term investment benefits into the city across multi-sectors, demonstrating commitment to the global green agenda.Also, the creation of an interactive space for schoolchildren, students and adults “Gufi Center” will help to inform the main stakeholders about the waste management system and the impact of garbage on the environment, thus – it solves the problem of low public awareness of the proper management of solid waste.  It provides a comprehensive and high-quality approach to teaching the population on proper waste sorting, recycle process, as well as impact of waste on the environment and people.

1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?

complete

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The city has successfully fulfilled its commitments towards climate neutrality. On June 2, 2023, the Khmelnytsky City Council approved the Green City Action Plan (GCAP), aimed at addressing environmental issues systematically. The plan was introduced to the public on May 3, 2023. Developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, the GCAP includes 21 action sets focusing on governance, green spaces, urban transport, energy security, water resources, and solid waste management. A Strategic Environmental Assessment indicates that its implementation will have a positive environmental impact. The investment plan requires €694 million over 10 years (2023-2032) and seeks funding from various sources, including the city budget and international organizations. Since 2021, the Gufi Centre  has served as an interactive waste management training center for all ages, featuring five themed halls and over 30 interactive exhibits.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

Green City Plan

1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).

The successful realization of this commitment has been shaped by significant external factors, particularly the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine. Nonetheless, the unwavering support from community partners, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has been pivotal in making this achievement possible.

In response to the challenges posed by the pandemic and the ongoing war, the development process of the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) was adapted by prioritizing online engagement and communication tools. The project team made every effort to ensure that these interactions were not only effective but also meaningful.

While developing the GCAP, it became crucial to recognize the pressing challenges and impacts on urban infrastructure and public service deliveryTo ensure that citizens of all groups are better supported by the government, OGP participating governments are working to improve the quality of and access to public services. Commitments in this are... More caused by the Russian military invasion. To effectively address these issues, a rapid assessment was conducted to measure the war’s effects, particularly on urban services and infrastructure for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The insights gained from this assessment were instrumental in creating the document.

Additionally, the limited presence of active civil society organizations (CSOs) in Khmelnytskyi, especially concerning the green city theme, posed a significant challenge. However, through strong collaboration with educational institutions, universities, and other professional entities, the municipality effectively navigated this obstacle during the document’s development.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

All of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

Although external factors may have influenced the timing of the commitment to develop a Green City Action Plan (GCAP), they did not detract from its overall quality.
In April 2021, WS Atkins International, in consortium with FDI Bilfinger Tebodin Ukraine, was selected to assist in the development of the LEDS for the city of Khmelnytskyi. According to the EBRD methodology, the project’s goal is to help Khmelnytskyi systematically address environmental issues (the EBRD methodology is available here).
Central to the GCAP methodology is the active engagement of key stakeholders, who were kept informed throughout the entire preparation process and encouraged to participate collaboratively in the development of the Green City Action Plan. This initiative included vital participants such as the city council as local policymakers, the expert community, business leaders, civil society representatives, educational institutions.

Provide evidence for your answer:

Web links

2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The Green City Action Plan (GCAP) is a comprehensive and structured document that addresses various environmental issues systematically. It includes a wide range of measures across different aspects of urban life, such as transportation, energyEnsuring universal access to sustainable, dependable, and affordable energy is critical to every aspect of prosperity. Increasing public oversight and transparency in the energy sector can help to ens... More security, green spaces, and waste management. This holistic approach not only tackles individual local problems but also establishes an overall strategy for the sustainable development of the city.
The GCAP is based on collected data and the results of a strategic environmental assessment, ensuring that the information is relevant and reliable, particularly regarding the environmental impact of the proposed activities.
Public presentations and the involvement of diverse stakeholder groups at different stages of the development of the GCAP highlight the effectiveness of communication between local authorities and the community.

2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?

Not Applicable

2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Major

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The commitment to developing the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) has significantly enhanced the accountability of municipal officials. By regularly and systematically tracking all activities and their environmental impacts, city authorities can assess the progress of the GCAP against the original plans and evaluate how well the measures contribute to achieving the stated goals. This strategic approach has established and strengthened accountability channels, enabling citizens to monitor and assess environmental and green development initiatives.

2.1.4 Other Results

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The Gufi Centre, a waste management training center was established as part of a commitment to foster a new waste management culture within the community through systematic educational initiatives. The centre offers training sessions, lectures, and workshops to teach residents how to effectively sort, recycle, and reduce their waste. As a result of this practical knowledge, residents have started to view waste as a resource rather than a problem. The Centre actively promotes the principles of Zero Waste and encourages conscious consumption in daily life. This shift has led to an increase in the community’s environmental responsibility and a decrease in the negative impact on the environment.

2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

The achievement of this commitment also addresses the lack of strategic documents necessary for coordinating and implementing long-term green development goals. Adopting the Green City Action Plan (GCAP), as part of the EBRD’s Green Cities Programme, helps identify and secure the environmental and social benefits required to drive change, influence decision-makers, and create opportunities for necessary financing.

3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.

One of the key lessons learned from the implementation of this commitment is that effective environmental problem-solving requires a long-term strategy and active community engagement. The successful development and approval of the Green City Action Plan (GCAP) demonstrated that involving a diverse group of stakeholders at all stages—from data collection to implementation—is essential for achieving sustainable results.
An important barrier remains the significant financial resources needed to fully implement the GCAP. Addressing this challenge requires exploring various funding sources, including the city budget, partnerships with international organizations, and private sectorGovernments are working to open private sector practices as well — including through beneficial ownership transparency, open contracting, and regulating environmental standards. Technical specificat... More involvement.
Another vital component of this initiative was the opening of the Goofy Centre. This educational space has shown how initiatives aimed at raising awareness can influence the environmental consciousness of citizens, particularly children and young people. With over 20,000 visitors to the centre, there is clear evidence of growing interest in waste sorting and management. This success illustrates that enhancing community awareness is crucial for the implementation of large-scale environmental projects.