On July 2, 2024, in Kremenchuk, Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe and Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine presented the Dnipro River Integrated Vision — an extensive study highlighting the Dnipro River's significance and the urgent need for its preservation and restoration.
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The Dnipro River Integrated Vision combines research, scenarios, and ideas for planners, policymakers, experts, and the public to encourage collaboration and dialogue about the river's future, even despite the ongoing war.
The teams have been studying three potential scenarios of the Dnipro River’s future:
- Back to 2021: Restore the Dnipro River to its state in 2021 by reconstructing demolished bridges and dams. This scenario includes ecological developments, accessible embankments, cultural heritage preservation, and improved water quality through updated treatment technology.
- Redesign Damaged Flows: Adopt eco-friendly redesigns where structures and flows are damaged or outdated. This site-specific approach addresses different needs and results based on the river's conditions.
- Back to Nature: Return the river to its natural historical flow by removing reservoirs and hydropower stations. This scenario enhances flora and fauna, supports new natural parks and protected zones, strengthens cultural identity, and reduces industrial and household pollution.
Greenpeace CEE and Ro3kvit currently view Scenario 2 as the most promising for the future of Ukraine and the Dnipro River.
Some outcomes of The Dnipro River Integrated Vision were the base for integrated projects mentioned in the General Water Resources Management Plan of Ukraine, which Ukraine submitted to the European Commission.
An important outcome of the project is the energy modelling of the city of Kremenchuk, which revealed the enormous potential for energy efficiency and local production of solar energy of the residential and social buildings in Ukraine.
Fulco Treffers, team lead of the Dnipro River Integrated Vision and founder of Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine says, “The River shows us a lot of unused potential. The technical focus of the Dnipro River is too narrow. It must be completed by natural, cultural and social viewpoint into an integrated balance.”
Hristo Panchev, energy expert and the project coordinator, Greenpeace CEE, states: “The green transformation of Ukraine has the potential to solve several major challenges at once: to make the country stronger and more energy independent; to reduce the use of fossil fuels, so to mitigate and better adapt to climate change; to modernize its economy and become more competitive, relying on cheap and abundant renewable energy when others are still stuck in old dependencies. And to keep the Dnipro River a clean and pure source of life. We don’t have to look for potential in the energy that we can take out from the Dnipro River. Instead, the real potential is in the energy we can save, and unload the river. Only an extensive green transformation and energy decentralization will make Ukraine more competitive in times of peace, and more resilient in war or climate crisis.”
Anton Korchagin, a Ro3kvit urban planner says, “The Dnipro River is both a lifeline and a challenge, embodying Ukraine's past, present, and future. Our research about the history — both beautiful and tragic — is the base for next steps in the dialogue. Our vision integrates various layers — social, cultural, natural, and economic — to develop a resilient, climate-friendly future for Ukraine.”
The project was initiated by Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, and realised jointly with Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine.
The Dnipro River Integrated Vision aligns with three key Sustainable Development Goals: Clean Water and Sanitation, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action. This project showcases the river's untapped potential and proposes innovative solutions for its future.
The report is available in English and Ukrainian. And has an interactive website to tell the story of the Dnipro River across Ukrainian cities and people connected to the river.
Read the full report by the link
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hxZu-hlfwQwWV0YQ2gkdPQb5Iho4T84Z/view
Visit the interactive website
https://dniproriver.greenpeace.ua/en/
About Greenpeace:
Greenpeace is a global environmental organisation that promotes green recovery, sustainable planning, and innovative solutions to address environmental issues and ensure a healthy and just future for all. After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Greenpeace began developing a series of initiatives for the green reconstruction of damaged hospitals and schools in Ukraine. Greenpeace insists that energy decentralisation and green technologies are the best way to rebuild Ukraine.
https://www.greenreconstruction.com/
About Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine:
Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine is a coalition of over 100 professionals from Ukraine and beyond who unite to create knowledge and methodologies for rebuilding Ukraine’s urban and rural areas and infrastructure. Through design and research, we address urgent needs and connect them to future strategies. Fuelled by studies on other (postwar) countries, we are developing future-oriented urban design methods, co-creative organisation and sustainable development.
Dnipro River Integrated Vision team: Fulco Treffers, Hristo Panchev, Svitlana Usychenko, Antoine Korchagin, Vaagn Mnatsakanian, Angel Bondov, Tim Van Epp, Niall Buckley
For additional media requests and questions, please contact:
Greenpeace
Veronika Kazina, Greenpeace CEE Project Coordinator
- Email: vkazina@greenpeace.org
- Phone: +38 063 873 46 61
Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine
Ganna Negatina, Ro3kvit Urban Coalition for Ukraine Communication Manager
- Email: ganna.negatina@ro3kvit.org
- Phone: +380 68 809 23 94
