Ukrainian Municipalities and Bavarian Partners Join Forces for Climate Resilient Recovery

As the war continues to affect Ukrainian communities, many local governments remain determined to rebuild, not only what was lost, but in a more sustainable and climate-resilient way. In support of these ambitions, the Ukrainian Climate Office (UCO) and the EU Covenant of Mayors East/Ukraine co-organised a study visit to Regensburg (19–21 May 2025), bringing together over 80 participants from Ukrainian municipalities and Bavarian institutions.

Hosted with the support of key Bavarian partners, including the University of Regensburg, BayFOR, Bayhost, the NGO Science at Risk Emergency Office, and the Bavarian Environment Agency (LfU), the visit focused on knowledge exchange, matchmaking, and opportunities to access EU funding for sustainable local projects.

The programme combined site visits, practical insights, and strategic dialogue around climate action in key sectors such as energy, waste, water, and wastewater management. Ukrainian and Bavarian participants engaged in cross-sectoral discussions on decarbonisation and municipal recovery, highlighting the importance of moving beyond fragmented pilot projects toward integrated, long-term strategies.

Highlights of the visit included:

• Site tours to innovative facilities such as Waldwasser, Firmengruppe Max Bögl, the Müllverwertung Zweckverband Schwandorf, InCampus, and Munich’s ASCEND project, showcasing applied climate-friendly technologies.
• Thematic excursions tailored for energy, waste, and water experts, offering first-hand exposure to renewable energy, energy storage, circular economy, and advanced water treatment solutions.
• Interactive workshops, moderated by BayFOR, that equipped participants with a clearer understanding of EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Interreg, and LIFE, and offered practical guidance on turning local ideas into fundable projects.

One of the most valuable outcomes of the visit was the formation of concrete partnerships and project ideas between Ukrainian and Bavarian stakeholders, from local governments to universities and private-sector innovators. The discussions highlighted the need for strategic, cross-sectoral collaboration as a foundation for green recovery and EU integration.

Participants included municipalities from across Ukraine, from Odesa to Zhytomyr, from Kherson to Lviv, showing impressive motivation and openness to learn, share, and co-create solutions for a more sustainable future.

Watch the video below for impressions from the study visit and hear directly from participants:

We extend our sincere thanks to all co-organisers, hosts, and participating municipalities for their commitment, insight, and energy. This exchange would not have been possible without your contributions.

Study visit was organized within Capacities for Climate Action (C4CA) project, which is implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and co-financed by the European Union.