Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Ukraine: Country Report

This report, commissioned by the Stockholm Environment Institute and conducted by ACT Global, analyzes public perceptions in Ukraine regarding climate change, environmental protection, and the green transition. Based on a survey of 1,000 individuals, it finds high levels of perceived personal impact from climate change, particularly regarding health, and strong public support for renewable energy development and waste management. While a majority of the population engages in some form of environmental protection, barriers such as financial costs and a perception that such actions are not common persist. The report also evaluates the perceived efficiency of various actors, noting that volunteers and youth are viewed as the most effective contributors to environmental protection.

• Public confidence in understanding climate change is strongly linked to education and age. While 61% of respondents rate their knowledge as 'good' or 'very good', this is most pronounced among PhD holders (41% 'very good') and those aged 45-54 (39% 'very good'). Conversely, only 11% of those aged 16-24 feel their understanding is 'very good'.
• A significant majority of the Ukrainian public (77%) reports that climate change personally affects them or their immediate social circle. The most cited impacts are adverse health effects (89%), disruptions to daily life due to local weather changes (79%), and economic impacts (42%). Women are more likely than men to report negative health impacts (93% vs 83% among those recognizing impacts).
• Deforestation is the most widely recognized human-driven cause of climate change, cited by 96% of capital, 90% of rural, and 89% of urban residents. In contrast, non-energy-efficient practices are the least acknowledged root cause, cited by 58% to 63% of respondents depending on their residence.
• The public identifies improving waste management as the top priority for environmental protection, followed by permanent access to clean water and sanitation, and reducing transport emissions. Daily environmental challenges vary by region: 67% of capital residents report health issues from poor air quality, while 58% of rural residents report improper waste management in their neighborhoods.
• Volunteers, youth, and activists are perceived as both the most important (PoI=3.88/5) and most efficient (PoE=3.98/5) actors in environmental protection. Religious institutions are viewed as the least important (PoI=2.44/5) and least efficient (PoE=2.75/5). Local governments are seen as more efficient than the central government.
• Personal engagement in environmental protection is high, with 66% of respondents participating in activities. Participation is highest among PhD holders (77%), women (72%), and capital residents (71%). The most effective individual actions are perceived to be recycling and waste reduction, followed by sustainable transportation.
• Barriers to individual environmental engagement include the perception that such activities are 'not a common practice' (52%), financial costs (47%), and a lack of time (44%). For those not adopting renewable energy, the primary barrier is cost (63%).
• There is strong public support for renewable energy and energy independence. 85% of respondents are likely to support wind and solar energy development, and 59% express high concern regarding dependence on foreign energy sources. The most supported approach to achieving independence is the development of the solar and wind power industries (83%).
• Public support for thematic initiatives is highest for renewable energy development (overall support 4.44/5) and corporate sustainability initiatives (4.25/5), while NGO projects receive the lowest relative support (3.41/5). The most preferred way to contribute is by adopting eco-friendly practices (81%).

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2025). Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Ukraine: Country Report. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-ukraine-eng.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Ukraine: Country Report. 2025. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-ukraine-eng.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Ukraine: Country Report |date=May 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-ukraine-eng.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2025public, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Public Readiness and Willingness to Support Initiatives for a Green Transition in Ukraine: Country Report}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/publicperceptionstudy-ukraine-eng.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }