Over 5,000 participants from 23 regions of Ukraine took part in the first-ever Ukrainian Climate Week 2025 (UCW) — a nationwide initiative that brought together communities, educational institutions, civil society organizations, nature conservation bodies, and artists around a shared goal: protecting nature and taking action for the climate.
UCW events took place in more than 75 cities and towns, including Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, Lutsk, Kropyvnytskyi, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Nikopol, Pavlohrad, Kramatorsk, Berezivka, Hlukhiv, Volodymyr, Shyshaky, Kozacha Lopan, Kaniv, and others. Communities from frontline and shelling-affected regions also joined — Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. In these communities, the activities had not only an educational effect but also a therapeutic one — reminding people that caring for nature and the climate is an act of resilience and belief in the future.
“We felt that it works. Ukrainian Climate Week brings people together around a shared purpose,” said the organizers from the civic initiative enwar_mental.
Scale and Diversity of Events
Throughout the week, more than 150 events were held — from ecology lessons in schools and creative workshops to scientific conferences and climate discussions at universities. The most active regions included Sumy, Poltava, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson oblasts.
Activity formats included:
- Educational events — interactive lessons, eco-classes, climate games
- Community actions — tree planting, clean-up campaigns, art projects
- Scientific gatherings — student meetups, conferences, panel discussions
- Arts initiatives — exhibitions, eco-art, video projects
- Online webinars and information campaigns
“This is a powerful initiative! Ukrainian Climate Week is a strong tool for consolidating the efforts of everyone who cares about the climate,” said the authors of the Eco Art Project “Terra Anima.”
Strong Communities, Strong Climate Action
UCW demonstrated that even amid war, Ukrainian communities retain their energy, creativity, and capacity to act together. Particularly striking was the participation of educational and youth organizations in frontline communities — from Kramatorsk to Nikopol — where the daily dangers of Russian aggression did not stop people from holding eco-classes, campaigns, and lectures.
“Events like these build environmental awareness and teach people to treat their surroundings with responsibility,” concluded teachers from Kremenchuk Lyceum No. 30 “Olimp.”
“I was moved by the unity around this topic. There is hope that real change is possible,” said the coordinator of the Energy Efficiency Center in Mykolaiv.
What’s Next
Participants are calling for Climate Week to become an annual event. Plans include expanding inter-regional partnerships, building a unified network of communities, schools, and universities acting together for the climate. Ideas for 2026 include roundtables with scientists, joint community actions, new educational materials, and a unified events program.
“Even under the most difficult conditions of war, Ukrainian communities demonstrate the power of solidarity, care for the environment, and readiness to act for the future,” the UCW organizers emphasized.
Ukrainian Climate Week 2025 is an initiative that united hundreds of communities, schools, organizations, and activists across the country. Its goal is to raise awareness of the climate crisis and consolidate efforts to address it. This was the first event of its kind in Ukraine, and it aims to become an annual tradition.
The next Ukrainian Climate Week will take place October 5–11, 2026.