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Review Article

War in Ukraine: the case for environmental peacebuilding and reparations

Open ORCID profile in a new windowNataliia Slobodian†Nataliia Slobodian††

Dr Nataliia Slobodian joined the Politics and IR team of Canterbury Christ Church University in October 2022; she is supported by the Researchers at Risk programmes established by the British Academy with Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics) with the support of the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Previously Natalia was Head of the Department of Climate Change at the energy company DTEK, and head of the Corporate think tank SE NPC Ukrenergo. She has more than 10 years of experience as a senior researcher and lecturer at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. Dr Slobodian is a Habilitated Doctor of Human Sciences, and has authored a number of publications including ‘The United States and Russian Federation in the Persian Gulf: Allies or Competitors’, ‘Russia’s Energy Policy as an Instrument of Influence in Europe’, and ‘Energy Diplomacy: Action Plan’.

Open ORCID profile in a new windowhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-0650-1606

Abstract

Russia’s current large-scale unprovoked invasion of Ukraine demonstrates that the environment matters, even though it is considered a secondary issue during conflicts. The war has dire consequences for people and nature, in both Ukraine and other European states. The Ukrainian case is viewed as a global system transformation factor: it has seen transboundary effects throughout the regions and the world. Of growing importance is the need to investigate the main principles and approaches in respect of environmental peacebuilding. We argue that this current war against Ukraine has proved that the world needs new approaches to sustainable peacebuilding, including environmental reparation and justice, and we propose a possible reparation mechanism through the world’s first Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Keywords

War against Ukraineenvironmental damagehuman costenvironmental peacebuildingsustainable peaceenvironmental reparationCarbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
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Women’s leadership in environmental peacebuilding: converging nature, climate, and peace

Ievgeniia Kopytsia, Natalia Slobodian

This article examines the role of female leadership in environmental peacebuilding, focusing on the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. It explores how women have been disproportionately affected by war, yet have emerged as key figures in addressing environmentally related challenges and promoting sustainable peace. Drawing on recent data and case studies, it argues that women’s increased participation is reshaping approaches to post-conflict recovery and sustainable reconstruction. The study highlights how women-led efforts in renewable energy innovation, energy transition, environmental restoration, green recovery, policy advocacy, and industrial sector participation contribute to both immediate recovery and long-term ecological resilience. By analysing these contributions, the commentary demonstrates the critical importance of integrating gender equality perspectives into environmental peacebuilding strategies and offers insights for policymakers engaged in post-conflict reconstruction efforts globally.

10.5871/jba/013.a20
30 May 2025

Review article

Normal View Dyslexic View

War in Ukraine: the case for environmental peacebuilding and reparations

Open ORCID profile in a new windowNataliia Slobodian†Nataliia Slobodian††

Dr Nataliia Slobodian joined the Politics and IR team of Canterbury Christ Church University in October 2022; she is supported by the Researchers at Risk programmes established by the British Academy with Cara (Council for At-Risk Academics) with the support of the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Previously Natalia was Head of the Department of Climate Change at the energy company DTEK, and head of the Corporate think tank SE NPC Ukrenergo. She has more than 10 years of experience as a senior researcher and lecturer at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. Dr Slobodian is a Habilitated Doctor of Human Sciences, and has authored a number of publications including ‘The United States and Russian Federation in the Persian Gulf: Allies or Competitors’, ‘Russia’s Energy Policy as an Instrument of Influence in Europe’, and ‘Energy Diplomacy: Action Plan’.

Open ORCID profile in a new windowhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-0650-1606