Khmelnytskyi hosts conference on pathways to climate neutrality

On 24 April 2026, Khmelnytskyi National University (KhNU) hosted the International scientific and practical conference "Reducing CO₂ Emissions in Ukrainian Cities: Pathways to Climate Neutrality" as part of the U_CAN project.

The hybrid event brought together researchers, local authorities, and representatives of partner institutions from Ukraine and abroad to exchange knowledge on sustainable urban mobility, CO₂ reduction strategies, and European Green Deal approaches relevant to Ukrainian cities. The conference was co-organised together with Khmelnytskyi City Council and fellow U_CAN consortium members: Leonid Yuzkov Khmelnytskyi University of Management and Law, Khmelnytskyi City Council, the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute", Technische Universität Dresden, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, and Aarhus University.

The conference was opened with welcoming speeches from KhNU Rector Serhii Matiukh, Vice-Rector for Research Oleh Syniuk, and Vice-Rectors for Academic Affairs Kateryna Skyba and Dmytro Vasylkivskyi, who underlined the relevance of climate action for Ukrainian cities and the significance of U_CAN as a platform combining scientific research, practical urban needs, and international expertise. The plenary session featured an overview of the project's goals and its connection to the broader European climate strategy, presented by U_CAN project coordinator Swati Kulashri from TU Dresden, followed by contributions from Frances Wise (Mobilities for EU) and Jonas Falbush (Mobility2Grid) on urban transport decarbonisation and electromobility solutions already tested in EU cities. Participants from pilot city Khmelnytskyi and invited city Lviv then discussed practical CO₂ reduction measures for Ukrainian cities, and the role of citizen engagement and digital tools in the green transition. Among the topics presented was KhNU's work on an automated traffic management system that aims to optimise traffic flow and reduce emissions using existing urban infrastructure.

The conference contributed to U_CAN's dissemination and stakeholder engagement objectives and helped strengthen ties between academia, municipalities, and international partners. More information is available on the KhNU website.