REPORT

III International Summer School

“GREEN ECONOMY AND EUROPEAN INTEGRATION”

(August 25-28, 2017)

Third time in a raw the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine together with Scientific Society of KNEU named after V. Hetman from August 25 to 28 of 2017 have conducted an International Summer School dedicated to the issues of green finance and sustainable development finance. This year the main focus of the School was on to the ways of climate finance mobilization for the purpose of green economy creation in terms of European integration. For instance, Ukraine according to the Association Agreement with the EU (article 360) obliged to establish the so-called green economy.

In 2017 the ISS was supported be Center for Blended Value Studies, University of Bremen (Germany), German University of Applied Sciences (Speyer, Germany), European University Viadrina (Frankfurt, Oder, Germany). Special support was provided by the Deputy of Ukrainian Parliament Oleksyi Ryabchin (Head of the Subcommittee for energy efficiency and energy savings)

In the picture: Deputy of Ukrainian Parliament O. Ryabchin, K. Bilotserkovets (Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Ukraine, in the center), Head of the Council of young scientists at KNEU (first from the left), Head of the Scientific Society of KNEU (third form the left), O. Sushchenko (Head of the Center for Blended Value Studies), O. Chernihevich (Deloitte Ukraine, first from the right).

 

It`s a pleasure to receive every year more and more applications for the ISS. This year the number of applications almost doubled in comparison with previous year and overall amount was more than 120. As a result, organization committee decided to increase the number of places up to 40. Moreover, every day guests of the ISS could attend the lectures and practical exercises.

This year the participants presented different ministries, local authorities, NGO`s, universities, research institutions, mass media and other organizations. Participants of the ISS were from different regions and age groups what was important to establish the new connections/contacts among them. In order to make a networking more easier organization committee gave an opportunity for the participants of ISS to play the games (bowling, volleyball, etc.) in the evening after the end of working part.

At the end of every working day participants of the ISS were trying to applicate their knowledge during the practical exercises. Moreover, the aim of their tasks was not only to summarize existing problems in the process of green economy creation, but also to elaborate recommendations to solve them.

In the picture: Prof., Dr. A. Heinemann (University of Bremen), L. Khatiashvili (German University of Administrative Sciences, Germany), G. Baumann (Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ukraine, Head), Associate Prof., Dr. M. Stepura (Scientific Society at KNEU, Head), Associate Prof., Dr. O. Sushchenko (Center for Blended Value Studies, Head).

 

In her welcoming statement, G. Baumann (Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ukraine, Head) underlined the role of Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in reforming Ukrainian financial system and establishing a green economy. In line with main message of the welcoming words Lia Khatiashvili from the German University of Applied Sciences (Speyer, Germany) outlined the climate policy from Kyoto Protocol to Paris Accord. Prof., Dr. R. Schwarze from European University Viadrina (Frankfurt, Oder) during his performance reviewed some particular features of the urban climate finance. General principles of green and climate finance mobilization were explained by O. Sushchenko (Center for Blended Value Studies) and A. Gonta (BFSE).

After the above-mentioned presentations participants of the ISS were able to listen to different aspects of the energy security by Oleh Hychka (Center for Blended Value Studies) and possible ways of green financial instruments utilization for the purpose of solving existing problems.

Second day of the ISS started with presentation by O. Sushchenko (Center for Blended Value Studies) about the green finance road map for Ukraine. Positive and negative consequences for Ukraine from using different green financial instruments were explored during the lecture. PhD, Associate Professors at KNEU named after V. Hetman M. Stepura and H. Kotina explained theoretical features of the green financial policy and practical aspects of fiscal instruments utilization for the purpose of sustainable development goals achievement – establishment of a green economy.

Next lecturer – Prof., Dr. A. Heinemann (University of Bremen, Germany) shared with participants of ISS German experience in stimulating smart cities with fiscal methods and instruments through an effective land allocation. Also, our foreign expert outlined the most interesting details of the property tax reform in Germany.

Prof., Dr. A. Heinemann from the University of Bremen is sharing German experience in supporting smart cities.

The Head of Global Compact in Ukraine T. Sakharuk in her lecture demonstrated the most interesting case studies in reporting on non-financial results on the corporate level, showed possible positive consequences for the companies from active improvement of sustainability and quality of non-financial reports. Practical aspects of emission allowances allocation for the companies from utility and energy sectors were explored in lecture by V. Logvyn – independent expert.

At the beginning of third day representative from the University of Bremen L. Backeberg outlined some specific features of tax competition in the EU in terms of sustainable development. German experience of using fiscal instruments to combat climate change was the core of presentation by A. Brunnbauer (GIZ expert). In order to stimulate sustainable development on the local level A. Bollen (University of Bremen, Germany) used an example of Bremen City to show some specific aspects of the green economy creation.

Second part of the third working day was delighted to the issues of non-financial disclosure on the corporate level. O. Lyubyascheva (Full ACCA) during her lecture explored general trends in existing approaches in reporting on non-financial results. O. Nekhoroshko from the EITI Ukraine dedicated her attention to specific features of non-financial reporting in case of companies from extracting industry. Sustainable supply chains were the topic of presentation by Prof., Dr. O. Dyma (KNEU named after V. Hetman).

In the picture participants of the ISS with their results of the game.

Last day of the ISS was organized by representative of Deloitte Ukraine O. Chernihevych, who gave an opportunity to the participants to play a role of the managers of one of the biggest logistic companies. Players of the game were forced to make decisions while taking into account non-financial risks, witnessing how those decisions can influence financial results.

At the end of the last day of ISS K. Bilotserkovets (Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ukraine) and Deputy of Ukrainian Parliament O. Ryabchin presented certificates to the participants and expressed their strong belief that received knowledge will be used in practice and contribute to establishment of a green economy in Ukraine.

We are thankful to all the organizers, participants and lectors for taking active part at the ISS “Green Economy and European Integration 2017”!

See you next year at the ISS 2018 dedicated to the issues of green economy and green finance!

 

Best regards,

Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ukraine

Scientific Society of KNEU

Center for Blended Value Studies