Professors of KSU spoke at a conference dedicated to the third anniversary of the tragedy at the Kakhovka HPP
June 5, International Scientific and Practical Conference «Kakhovka Reservoir: Impact on Climate and Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals». The event brought together representatives of government authorities, scientists, experts, and specialists, who discussed the consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and ways to restore the affected territories.
The participants of the conference were welcomed by the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration Oleksandr Prokudin. Also speaking with congratulatory words were the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management Oleh Bondarenko, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine Oleksandr Krasnolutskyi, the head of the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine Hanna Zamazieieva, and the head of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine Natalia Tabaka.
During the speeches, participants emphasized that the issue of the future of the Kakhovka Reservoir requires a comprehensive approach and wide public and scientific discussion. In particular, it was noted that decisions regarding its possible restoration can only be made after the end of martial law, the conduct of appropriate research, and the assessment of environmental risks.
«In both economic and military terms, we cannot currently speak of the restoration of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Whether it will be a partial or full restoration — such decisions can only be made after the war ends. Only then will we be able to conduct the necessary surveys, assess risks, find funding, and begin work on the future of this territory. Undoubtedly, both the Ukrainian environmental community and international partners will be involved in this process», — noted the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Environmental Policy and Nature Management Oleh Bondarenko.
He also added that at the same time, it will be necessary to take environmental requirements into account and consider the possibility of creating nature conservation ob’jects on part of the territory
The conference participants paid special attention to the environmental, economic, and social consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka Reservoir, its impact on climate processes, and the prospects for regional development in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals. The discussion focused on the issues of community adaptation to new conditions and the formation of strategies for the post-war reconstruction of the southern regions of Ukraine.
Scientists from Kherson State University joined the conference. The Vice-Rector for Academic and Scientific-Pedagogical Work of KSU, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor Dar’ya Malchykova presented a report «Kakhovka Reservoir: Impact on Regional Development until 2023 and Post-Catastrophe Adaptation Strategies in the Dimension of Sustainable Development Goals».
Also presenting a report was Igor Pylypenko, Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Geography and Ecology at KSU, an expert of the Polaris program. The topic of the report was «Post-Kakhovka State of Kherson Region: Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (Regression and Search for Opportunities)».
The participation of scientists from Kherson State University in the conference was an important contribution to the professional discussion of the consequences of one of the largest environmental catastrophes in modern Ukraine and the search for scientifically grounded solutions for the sustainable development of the country's southern regions.
KSU Press Center