National forum ‘Water in Industry and Agriculture during War and Climate Crisis’.

The event brought together over 400 experts, representatives of state bodies and communities, practitioners from all over Ukraine, the United States, Israel, the Netherlands and Austria.

With the participation of members of the Ukrainian Parliament, heads of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, the United Nations Environment Programme, the State Water Agency of Ukraine, regional state administrations, and relevant scientific institutions, issues related to water supply for the population, industry, and agriculture in the context of war and the ongoing climate crisis were discussed over two days.

In his speech Leonid Bytsyura focused the audience's attention on the main priorities for reforming the water sector, overcoming the consequences of military aggression, and opportunities for modernising the water supply and sanitation system in Ukraine.

Leonid Bytsyura: ‘The water supply forecasts for our country are quite alarming. The actions of the occupiers have significantly exacerbated Ukraine's water problems. The ongoing climate crisis is already leading to significant changes in the housing, utilities, industrial and agricultural sectors. It must be acknowledged that even before the war, the state of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure, huge water losses, the economy's excessive water consumption and outdated technologies were already causing concern among environmental experts. Ukraine has fallen catastrophically behind its European neighbours in terms of technology. However, as global practice shows, nothing is impossible. Even countries with extreme water scarcity are capable, with determination and hard work, of solving their water supply problems and even achieving a water surplus!

In his presentation, the speaker pointed out to the audience possible solutions to the water crisis through the use of advanced management and organisational models, the introduction of scientific and practical developments, including the application of a number of modern technologies of national and foreign origin.