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Ukraine

Environmental Public Monitoring (UA0066)

Overview

At-a-Glance

Action Plan: Ukraine Third National Action Plan 2016-2018

Action Plan Cycle: 2016

Status: Inactive

Institutions

Lead Institution: Ministry of the Environment, State Agency for Administration of the Exclusion Zone, Regional and Kyiv Municipal State administrations.

Support Institution(s): Civil society institutions and international organisations (by consent).

Policy Areas

Environment and Climate, Open Data

IRM Review

IRM Report: Ukraine End-of-Term Report 2016-2018, Ukraine Mid-Term Report 2016-2018

Starred: No

Early Results: Did Not Change

Design i

Verifiable: Yes

Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information Technology

Potential Impact:

Implementation i

Completion:

Description

Event: Introduction of public monitoring of the state of the environment.; Implementation timeframe: 2016-2018; Entities responsible: Ministry of the Environment, State Agency for Administration of the Exclusion Zone, Regional and Kyiv Municipal State administrations; Partners: Civil society institutions and international organisations (by consent).; Expected results: Ensuring the: Creation of an open list of the largest polluters in the regions as part of the development of a national automated environmental data system. Creation of an electronic system for monitoring radiation safety and environmental threats.

IRM End of Term Status Summary

10. Introduce public monitoring of the state of the environment

Commitment Text:

Introduction of public monitoring of the state of the environment.

Expected results: Creation of an open list of the largest polluters in the regions as part of the development of a national automated environmental data system. Creation of an electronic system for monitoring radiation safety and environmental threats.

Responsible institutions: Ministry of the Environment, State Agency for Administration of the Exclusion Zone, Regional and Kyiv Municipal State administrations.

Supporting institutions: Civil society institutions and international organizations (by consent).

Start date: December 2016..                                     End date: August 2018

Commitment Aim:

This commitment aims to introduce a public monitoring system of the state of the environment in Ukraine. It would provide a transparent mechanism to monitor the enviornment and keep residents informed about enivronment issues and dangers in their regions. This commitment seeks to create an open list of the largest polluters in the regions as part of the development of a national automated environmental data system. It would also create an electronic system for monitoring radiation safety and environmental threats.

Status

Midterm: Limited

By the end of the first year of the action plan, the government delivered the first expected result. On 4 July 2017, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources published a list of the top 100 national polluters on its website. [178] The list identified polluters based on one of three categories of pollution: water, air, and industrial waste. Experts from environmental civil society groups criticized the methodology used to acquire the data, as well as the quality and timeliness of the data. Authorities agreed that the information on ecological pollution remained incomplete. The data portal and monitoring system were at the stage of the basic conceptual design. The three published, publicly accessible environmental datasets [179], [180], [181] present the above-mentioned list in an open data (.xls and .csv) format. However, the government has not integrated the datasets into a single, automatic system. For more information, please see the 2016–2018 IRM midterm report. [182]

End of term: Limited

Although the ministry announced that it updates the datasets annually, [183] as of the end of September 2018, the latest available data was from July 2017. Relatedly, the ministry noted insufficient information and communication technology infrastructure, the lack of institutional capacity, and inefficient coordination of activities related to collecting and structuring ecological information, especially in digital format. The ministry admitted that its methodology was imperfect, as each regional authority submitted the top five polluters in their regions. However, some regions contain more dangerous enterprises than others. The ministry recognized that, instead, the top 100 polluters should be identified nationwide. [184] Considering this, in 2018, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR) developed a new methodology for the evaluation of ecological threats. It also developed an integral indicator of negative effect on environment. This indicator includes (1) a potential ecological threat of a facility; (2) a facility’s actual negative impact on environment (in the form of emissions, discharges, waste generation, and waste management); and (3) the current pollution rate of territories (including soils, water surface and underground objects, and the level of damage to the local biosystem). [185] To apply this methodology, in 2018, MENR delegated the monitoring of polluters to a research institution implementing a research project for public funds. [186]

On 28 March 2018 the Cabinet of Ministers adopted decree #244-p. This decree constituted the government’s action plan for 2018. [187] It included the development of a nationwide automated system, Open Environment. The government action plan entails drafting and adopting the relevant concept paper, action plan, and terms of reference for Open Environment. It also calls for a trial operation of several modules of Open Environment by the end of 2018. The government planned for Open Environment to form a digital geo-information infrastructure for the protection of environment and a centralized electronic system for managing ecological information. MENR informed the IRM researcher that it has developed the concept paper on the automated system Open Environment. On 23 July 2018 it received legal approval from the Ministry of Justice, and on 7 September 2018 it submitted the paper to the Cabinet of Ministers for review and adoption. [188] An expert on ecological transparency from civil society confirmed that the government developed the concept paper and that it conforms to European Union regulations. [189]

Various agencies and volunteer projects conduct the monitoring. For instance, on 6 July 2018 the State Agency of Water Resources presented a jointly developed interactive map of river pollution in Ukraine. [190] The ministry envisions this tool as becoming part of the future Open Environment system. This Clear Water map visualizes the pollution of the six biggest rivers in Ukraine to a high precision. [191] An ecologist and civic activist explained that the map demonstrates water pollution by 16 parameters, according to data from 445 locations. [192] The State Agency for Administration of the Exclusion Zone conducts air pollution monitoring exclusively in the contaminated zone. [193]

Did It Open Government?

Access to Information: Did Not Change

At the beginning of the action plan, despite the efforts of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, there existed no transparent mechanism for monitoring the environment in Ukraine. The available information was limited or outdated. For example, publicly accessible pollution data was significantly out of date. Therefore, the government took on the commitment to introduce public monitoring mechanisms. Specifically, it sought to publish an online, open list of the largest polluting industries by region and to develop a national, automated data system to track environmental indicators. The government designed this system to be paired with an electronic system to monitor spikes in unsafe radiation, as well as other environmental threats. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources published the top 100 polluters (up top five polluters in each monitored oblast) and drafted a concept paper of the automated system Open Environment. However, the government has published the lists of top 100 polluters in previous years, [194], [195], [196] and the concept paper has not been adopted by the government yet. Thus, there has been no significant change in government policy on the issue.

Carried Forward?

Given the relevance of this topic in Ukraine, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources should develop and launch the automated system Open Environment. It should present detailed, disaggregated information on air, water, and industrial waste pollution, and radiation contamination in an open data format, with visualization.

[178] “Information about Objects, Which Are the Biggest Atmosphere Polluters,” Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, https://menr.gov.ua/files/docs/news/TOP_100.pdf.

[179] “The List of the Biggest Environmental Polluters in Ukraine—Considering Air Pollution,” Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, 13 July 2017, https://menr.gov.ua/news/31570.html.

[180] “The List of the Biggest Environmental Polluters in Ukraine—Considering Water Pollution,” Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, 14 July 2017, https://menr.gov.ua/news/31574.html.

[181] “The List of the Biggest Environmental Polluters in Ukraine—Considering Industrial Waste,” Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, 14 July 2017, https://menr.gov.ua/news/31575.html.

[182] “Ukraine Mid-Term Report 2016–2018,” Open Government Partnership, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/ukraine-mid-term-report-2016-2018-year-1/.

[183] “Information about Objects, Which Are the Biggest Atmosphere Polluters,” Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, http://data.gov.ua/passport/b348d687-40d6-4039-b346-171096fc6101.

[184] Dmytro Bulyka (Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine), email exchange with IRM researcher, 14 September 2018.

[185] Ibid.

[186] Ibid.

[187] “Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The Decree on 28 March 2018 #244-p, The Government Portal,” Unified Web-Portal of Executive Authorities of Ukraine, https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/npas/pro-zatverdzhennya-planu-prioritetnih-dij-uryadu-na-2018-rik.

[188] Dmytro Bulyka (Ministry of Ecology of Ukraine), email exchange with IRM researcher, 14 September 2018.

[189] Antonina Yerysheva (Civic Energy), interview with IRM researcher, 16 August 2018.

[190] “‘Clear Water’: The Online Map of River Pollution in Ukraine Was Presented,” the Government Portal, Unified Web-Portal of Executive Authorities of Ukraine, https://www.kmu.gov.ua/ua/news/chista-voda-prezentovano-onlajn-kartu-zabrudnenosti-richok-v-ukrayini.

[191] Clear Water, http://texty.org.ua/water/.

[192] Antonina Yerysheva (Civic Energy), interview with IRM researcher, 16 August 2018.

[193] Ibid.

[194] “Top Environmental Polluters in Ukraine Have Been Announced,” Ukrainian Pravda, 21 July 2006, https://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2006/07/21/3133304/.

[195] “Top Environmental Polluters in Dnipropetrovsk Region in 2007,” Ukrrudprom, 15 February 2008, http://www.ukrrudprom.com/digest/dfdsaqw150208.html.

[196] “Top Environmental Polluters Need to Be Known,” Sivershchyna, 7 February 2011, https://siver.com.ua/news/najbilshi_nashi_zabrudnjuvachi_jikh_varto_znati/2011-02-07-7066.

Commitments

  1. Infrastructure Data Portal

    UA0070, 2018, E-Government

  2. Open Standard for e-System

    UA0071, 2018, E-Government

  3. Ensuring Openness and Transparency of Selling Public Assets and Property

    UA0072, 2018, E-Government

  4. Transparency in Public Procurement (Prozorro)

    UA0073, 2018, E-Government

  5. Awarenss Raising About Social and Economic Development

    UA0074, 2018, Aid

  6. e-Calls for Proposals to Support CSOs

    UA0075, 2018, Civic Space

  7. Beneficial Ownership Registry

    UA0076, 2018, Beneficial Ownership

  8. Anti-Corruption Training

    UA0077, 2018, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  9. Publishing Environmental Information

    UA0078, 2018, E-Government

  10. Database of Natural Resources

    UA0079, 2018, E-Government

  11. Interactive Map of Mines

    UA0080, 2018, E-Government

  12. Priority Electronic Services

    UA0081, 2018, Citizenship and Immigration

  13. Online Platform for Executive Bodies and CSOs

    UA0082, 2018, Civic Space

  14. EITI Online Data

    UA0083, 2018, E-Government

  15. Electronic Resources for Education

    UA0084, 2018, E-Government

  16. Online Verification of Education Certificates

    UA0085, 2018, E-Government

  17. Free Access to National Repository for Academic Texts

    UA0086, 2018, E-Government

  18. Administrative Service Decentrilisation and Improvement

    UA0057, 2016, Capacity Building

  19. United State Portal Extension; Electronic Government Information Services Unification; Modern Tools for Electronic Identification

    UA0058, 2016, Capacity Building

  20. System for Entities Performing Government Functions

    UA0059, 2016, Capacity Building

  21. Free Urban Planning Documentation

    UA0060, 2016, E-Government

  22. Beneficial Ownership Verification System

    UA0061, 2016, Beneficial Ownership

  23. CoST Beneficial Ownership Standards

    UA0062, 2016, E-Government

  24. Transpartent Budget System

    UA0063, 2016,

  25. Starred commitment Open Public Procurement

    UA0064, 2016, Capacity Building

  26. Starred commitment Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

    UA0065, 2016, Extractive Industries

  27. Environmental Public Monitoring

    UA0066, 2016, Environment and Climate

  28. Community Policing System

    UA0067, 2016, Education

  29. Draft Law on Public Consultations

    UA0068, 2016, Legislation & Regulation

  30. Development of E-Democracy.

    UA0069, 2016, Money in Politics

  31. Improve Government Rules on CSO Involvement

    UA0031, 2014, E-Government

  32. Financing of Charities

    UA0032, 2014, Civic Space

  33. Not-For-Profit Status for CSOs

    UA0033, 2014, Civic Space

  34. Public Participation Law

    UA0034, 2014, E-Government

  35. Establishing Rules on Processing Official Information

    UA0035, 2014, E-Government

  36. Access to Urban Planning Documents

    UA0036, 2014, E-Government

  37. Starred commitment Access to Communist-Era Archives

    UA0037, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  38. Starred commitment Draft Law on Open Data

    UA0038, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  39. Starred commitment Supervisory Mechanism for the Right to Information

    UA0039, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  40. Compliance with EITI

    UA0040, 2014, Extractive Industries

  41. Monitoring of Infrastructure Projects

    UA0041, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  42. Adopt Regional Anti-Corruption Programmes

    UA0042, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  43. Corruption Risk Assessment Methodology

    UA0043, 2014, Anti-Corruption Institutions

  44. Starred commitment Asset Disclosure on a Single Web Portal

    UA0044, 2014, Asset Disclosure

  45. Law on Administrative Procedure

    UA0045, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  46. Law on Streamlining Payment of Administrative Fees

    UA0046, 2014, E-Government

  47. Administrative Services Portal

    UA0047, 2014, E-Government

  48. Draft Law on Decentralisation of Administrative Services

    UA0048, 2014, Legislation & Regulation

  49. Draft Law on Social Services

    UA0049, 2014, E-Government

  50. e-Government Laws

    UA0050, 2014, E-Government

  51. Electronic Readiness Assessment

    UA0051, 2014, E-Government

  52. Government Regulations on Open Data

    UA0052, 2014, E-Government

  53. Electronic Democracy Development Roadmap

    UA0053, 2014, E-Government

  54. Open Budget Initiatives

    UA0054, 2014, E-Government

  55. e-Petitions

    UA0055, 2014, E-Government

  56. e-Governance Training for Local Government

    UA0056, 2014, Capacity Building

  57. Laws on Public Participation

    UA0001, 2012, Civic Space

  58. Amendments to the Law on Community Associations

    UA0002, 2012, Civic Space

  59. Amendments to Resolutions on Collaboration with Civil Society

    UA0003, 2012, E-Government

  60. Training for Public Servants on Consultations

    UA0004, 2012, Capacity Building

  61. Harmonisation of Access to Information Laws

    UA0005, 2012, E-Government

  62. By-Laws on Access to Information

    UA0006, 2012, Legislation & Regulation

  63. Guidelines for Classifying Data

    UA0007, 2012, Public Participation

  64. Public Information Recording Systems

    UA0008, 2012, Records Management

  65. Law on Public Broadcasting

    UA0009, 2012, Civic Space

  66. Public Access to Information in State Registers

    UA0010, 2012, E-Government

  67. Starred commitment Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative

    UA0011, 2012, E-Government

  68. Law for Controlling Declarations of Public Servants

    UA0012, 2012, Asset Disclosure

  69. Public Declarations of Officials’ Assets

    UA0013, 2012, Asset Disclosure

  70. Guidelines on Conflicts of Interest

    UA0014, 2012, Conflicts of Interest

  71. Updated Anti-Corruption Laws

    UA0015, 2012, E-Government

  72. Regional Anti-Corruption Programmes

    UA0016, 2012, E-Government

  73. Law on Competitive e-Government Procurement

    UA0017, 2012, E-Government

  74. Starred commitment Administrative Services Reforms

    UA0018, 2012, E-Government

  75. Electronic Access to Administrative Services

    UA0019, 2012, E-Government

  76. Governmental Web Portal of Administrative Services

    UA0020, 2012, E-Government

  77. Administrative Services in a Digital Format

    UA0021, 2012,

  78. Starred commitment Regional Administrative Service Centres

    UA0022, 2012, Public Service Delivery

  79. Programme for Promotion of e-Government

    UA0023, 2012, E-Government

  80. Electronic Collaboration Between Executive Agencies

    UA0024, 2012,

  81. Web-Based Petitions System

    UA0025, 2012,

  82. One Stop Shop for e-Reporting

    UA0026, 2012, E-Government

  83. e-Region Pilot Project

    UA0027, 2012, E-Government

  84. Network of e-Government Practitioners

    UA0028, 2012, Public Participation

  85. Public Libraries as Bridges Towards e-Governance

    UA0029, 2012, E-Government

  86. e-Government Knowledge Management Portal

    UA0030, 2012,