Balkan Green Energy News, the media partner of the 2025 Just Transition Young Voices Awards, is publishing the three winning articles. The Energy Community Secretariat organized the contest in collaboration with Bankwatch, CAN Europe, the CLEW Network, and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office. The aim is to promote young adults set to shape the climate, energy, and social landscape in the years ahead in the Energy Community region. 

Author: Kateryna Pereloma

Kyiv, the heart of Ukraine, is a city renowned for its golden domes, cultural depth, and enduring spirit. In recent years, especially since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the people of Kyiv have faced extraordinary challenges. But amid the destruction and uncertainty, a new kind of rebuilding has taken root – one that is greener, smarter, and focused on long-term sustainability.

When the war disrupted supply chains, energy infrastructure, and food systems, communities across Kyiv were forced to adapt quickly. What began as survival soon evolved into innovation. As energy security became a national priority, citizens and officials in Ukraine’s capital started reimagining what a more self-reliant and sustainable city could look like.

One of the most visible changes has been the rise of solar energy. While Ukraine had been developing renewables before the war as well, the conflict accelerated the adoption of decentralized energy sources.

In many neighborhoods, especially those affected by blackouts and grid instability, residents pooled resources to install rooftop solar panels, solar-powered water heaters, and even small-scale battery storage systems. Tenants’ associations in apartment buildings began using crowdfunding platforms to raise money for green energy upgrades. My neighbor, for example, spearheaded a project in our building to install solar panels that now help power our elevator and joint lighting systems.

Solar energy became lifeline for schools, hospitals, critical infrastructure

Schools and hospitals also embraced solar as a lifeline. Through international aid and local initiatives, dozens of Kyiv’s critical infrastructure facilities have been outfitted with renewable energy systems.

This isn’t just about environmentalism – it’s about resilience. When the power goes out during missile attacks or rolling blackouts, these systems keep vital services running. The city’s shift to green energy has become a form of defense as much as it is a commitment to sustainability.

Waste management has also undergone a transformation. Before 2022, recycling in Kyiv was limited and often inconsistent. But since the war began, grassroots recycling programs have surged. Volunteer-led sorting centers appeared in districts like Obolon, Podil, and Solomianskyi, where residents bring plastics, paper, electronics, and batteries.

These centers often operate out of garages, schoolyards, or community centers – and they’re staffed by locals determined to reduce waste and pollution. The Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine, a nonprofit that started as a small awareness campaign, has grown into a national network promoting sustainable consumption and waste reduction in cities like Kyiv.

Modernizing Kyiv’s subway system is priority

Public transportation is another area where the city has made strides. Although metro stations are damaged and they doubled as bomb shelters during attacks, Kyiv’s subway system remains one of the greenest forms of transport in the region. The city government, recognizing its importance, has prioritized its modernization.

The number of cyclists is rising, and so is the length of bike lines

Electric buses are being introduced, and there are pilot projects for low-emission zones in the city center.

The number of bicycle commuters has also increased significantly since fuel prices soared and road conditions became more unpredictable. I started biking to work last year, and I’ve noticed more bike lanes being marked, as well as more people making the same choice – not only for convenience but for the environment.

Local communities farming strawberries between buildings

Food systems are shifting, too. With imports disrupted and many large-scale farms in occupied or war-damaged areas, Kyiv residents began to grow food in unexpected places. Urban gardening took off in parks, on balconies, and even in underground shelters.

In our district, we turned a neglected courtyard into a communal garden with tomatoes, herbs, and strawberries. It’s not a large-scale solution, but it brings people together, reduces dependence on long supply chains, and fosters a deeper connection to the land.

Green startups popping up throughout Ukraine’s capital city

Crucially, these changes are being supported by a growing culture of green entrepreneurship.

Startups focused on eco-construction, sustainable packaging, and electric mobility are popping up throughout the city. One standout example is a Kyiv-based company that makes biodegradable packaging from hemp – a plant widely grown in Ukraine.

Another startup, EcoFactor, retrofits older buildings to improve their energy efficiency, employing many internally displaced people in the process. These green businesses don’t just support the environment; they offer livelihoods and hope amid uncertainty.

Youth and students are looking toward a sustainable post-war future

Perhaps most inspiring is the role of young people in this transition. Ukrainian youth have always been politically and socially active, but the war has heightened their sense of responsibility.

Environmental clubs in Kyiv universities are organizing climate literacy workshops, cleanup events, and public advocacy campaigns – even during air raid alerts. I recently attended a student-led event called Green Rebuild, where architecture and engineering students presented ideas for post-war reconstruction using sustainable materials and passive design principles.

It struck me that the generation growing up during war is also the one leading us toward a cleaner, more conscious future.

Even amid destruction, there can be creation

Our shift toward a green local economy isn’t linear or perfect. There are still challenges with funding, access to technology, and bureaucratic delays. And yet, what’s happening here is remarkable: a city under siege is laying the foundations for a sustainable future. We are proving that even amid destruction, there can be creation – that rebuilding a nation can also mean rethinking how we live, produce, and share.

In Kyiv today, sustainability is not just a political goal or a global trend – it’s a grassroots reality. It’s neighbors coming together to plant gardens, fix solar panels, sort recyclables, and imagine better ways of living. It’s resilience not only in the face of war, but in the face of climate change, inequality, and old ways of doing things.

The capital city’s story is still unfolding. But as we rebuild, we are building green – not because it’s fashionable, but because it’s essential. And in doing so, we’re showing the world that even in the darkest moments, there is light – and sometimes, that light comes from solar panels on a Kyiv rooftop.