TAZ: Ms. Akermann, one of Leitmotifs der Umwelt-Expert: inside for the reconstruction of Ukraine “Building Ukraine is better”. What does this philosophy mean for you?
Anna Akermann: For us at the International Institute of Sustainable Development (International Institute of Sustainable Development, IIS), it is not just a slogan. This is a fundamental approach to the environmentally stable reconstruction of the country. Not only environmental protection, but also social justice, inclusive and a comprehensive transition from Ukraine to a green economy in the center, which at the same time forms the basis for European integration of the country. This means: it is better to restore than before.
It is important that we are not talking about reconstruction after the war, but about reconstruction during the war. Wherever possible, Ukrainians want to restore the destroyed infrastructure inside, but this should be done with caution and given many factors. With this problem, we came to the conference on the restoration of Ukraine in Rome this year.
In an interview:
Anna Akermann
It is a political analyst at the environmental reconstruction of Ukraine at the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD).
TAZ: What is your main goal in participating in the conference – and what results do you expect?
Ackermann: In 2025, more than 40 Ukrainian and international organizations united and developed a “road map”. This describes priority reforms, political measures and structural changes that are necessary in the next two to three years to ensure environmentally stable and sustainable reconstruction in six key areas: traffic, energy, construction, industry, agriculture and the environment.
At the conference, we meet with representatives: within governments, ministries and international partner organizations that are already participating in reconstruction or are interested in it. We represent our concepts and are drawing to the drawing of attention to environmental stability in planning and implementing projects in Ukraine.
Our goal is to convey to the widest audience that Ukrainian civil society has a common, structured vision that is recorded in this roadmap. We also hope that international partners will agree with uniform stability criteria. Because so far each institution has its own. They must be coordinated so that the reconstruction is not only fast, but also stable.
TAZ: Can you give specific examples of projects based on the principles of environmental and stable reconstruction?
Ackermann: One example is the project to install solar panels on the roofs of schools and hospitals. They allow you to maintain work even in case of nutrition. Our goal now is to take one step: these objects should become “active consumers: inside”, that is, not only for the production and consumption of electricity, but also to supply surplus to the network.
Another example is the environmental reconstruction of a five -sided house in Trostjanez in the Sumi region, which was badly damaged during the Russian occupation in 2022. The building will be the first completely autonomous house of Ukraine to work with the sun and geothermal energy. The project will be carried out by the German energy cooperative Green Planet Energy, the Greenpeace and Greenpeace E environmental fund. V. Financed.
TAZ: At the same time, there are many obstacles to international investment in Ukraine. Which one can you hear most often?
Ackermann: The biggest obstacle is clearly the security situation. Whether we are talking with politicians, companies or investors: the topic of security dominates in all conversations. Even equipment suppliers no longer take on any guarantees and do not send technical specialists: inside for service, because they cannot evaluate risks. Companies that work in Ukraine today do this primarily from solidarity and less for business interests. This is understandable. Half a year ago, there was cautious optimism in relation to the end of the early war and the associated great reconstruction. But in view of the latest escalations and Russian attacks, the situation has worsened again – many investors are in standby mode.
TAZ: As international partners: from the inside, the best way to maintain the reconstruction process in Ukraine in these conditions?
Ackermann: Perhaps at this conference some new investment ads will be made – we hope. Nevertheless, it is extremely important that international partners are ready to provide financial guarantees to your private sector. Such models are already available, for example, in the field of armor and sometimes in the energy sector. But so far it is too little. Without such safety guarantees, large -scale obligations will not be developed.
