The Green Transition Office and its partners presented initiatives on ESG standards and the Green Platform
Last week, an expert meeting on "Green Financing: the role of the banking sector and the state in developing sustainable investments" took place at the office of the Independent Association of Banks of Ukraine.
The roundtable brought together representatives from IABU member banks, the National Bank of Ukraine, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the Green Transition Office, international financial institutions, and members of parliament.
The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between government institutions, the financial sector, and international partners in creating effective green financing instruments in Ukraine—particularly in the context of adapting European ESG standards and the EU Taxonomy.
"Today it is extremely important to align the efforts of the state, the regulator, and banks toward sustainable financing. We need to establish a common language among all parties—the legislative and executive branches, banks, and businesses—so that green transformation becomes a practice, not just a declaration," noted Andriy Hrys, Head of Social and Environmental Risk Management at JSC Ukrgasbank and Chair of the IABU ESG Committee.
Ruslan Hrytsenko, Executive Director of IABU, emphasized that ESG is one of the strategic priorities for banks, as it provides access to European investment projects and international financing.
"Banks are increasingly integrating environmental and social standards into their strategies, and this requires clear frameworks, understandable rules, and ongoing dialogue with the state. The Association highly values the constructive dialogue taking place on IABU platforms, which enables Ukraine's financial sector to develop in harmony with European sustainable development practices," he noted.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Andriy Teliupa presented the ministry's initiatives on implementing the European Taxonomy and developing green financial instruments.
"Rebuilding a modern Ukraine is impossible without sustainable financing. We have already created the Green Platform—a joint project of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine and the Green Transition Office, which helps businesses and communities find financing for environmental projects. The next step is bringing banks into this ecosystem so they can offer their own products for green investments," he emphasized.
Andriy Danylenko, Deputy Head of the Systemic Risk Analysis Department at the NBU's Financial Stability Department, discussed the regulator's plans:
"Implementing ESG in the banking sector is an important new direction of work within the NBU's overall European integration track. Last year, the National Bank presented a comprehensive updated vision of the NBU Policy on Sustainable Finance Development in Ukraine, and this June—a White Paper on ESG Risk Management in the financial sector, which serves as a guide for further development of recommendations and regulations in this area. Our plan includes providing banks with recommendations on corporate governance considering ESG principles by the end of this year."
Andrii Kitura, Development Director at DiXi Group and Head of the Green Transition Office at the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, presented work on the Roadmap for implementing ESG principles and green financing:
"The key challenge today is not only implementing European standards but also ensuring their practical applicability for Ukrainian businesses. We are working to create a comprehensive ecosystem: from the legislative framework and sustainability reporting to specific financing instruments. It's important that banks, enterprises, and communities have access not only to criteria and requirements but also to real financial opportunities for green projects. That's why coordination among all market participants—government, regulators, the financial sector, and international partners—is our priority for the coming years."
Participants paid special attention to the role of international financial institutions and banks in ensuring Ukraine's sustainable recovery. Representatives from the European Investment Bank, EBRD, and leading Ukrainian banks emphasized the importance of consolidating efforts to develop projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy, recycling, and climate adaptation.
The meeting demonstrated that the banking sector is ready to become a key partner of the state in Ukraine's green recovery, and systematic coordination of efforts will transform ESG principles into a real mechanism for sustainable economic development.
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