U_CAN Project — A Step Toward Ukraine’s Carbon-Neutral Future
The U_CAN (Ukraine Towards Carbon Neutrality) project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, is a key initiative supporting sustainable development and decarbonisation in Ukrainian cities. The project focuses on implementing innovative solutions in six pilot cities: Lviv, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Vinnytsia.
U_CAN aligns with the EU’s Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality in 100 European cities by 2030. This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between Ukrainian communities, European partners, businesses, and citizens to develop and scale up environmentally sustainable solutions.
Each pilot city in the project focuses on a unique area of innovation:
Lviv is developing positive energy districts in line with the European Green Deal.
Kyiv is reducing transport-related emissions through modernization of transportation infrastructure.
Zhytomyr is exploring floating solar power plants and nature-based solutions.
Khmelnytskyi is implementing adaptive traffic management to reduce emissions.
Ivano-Frankivsk is introducing green technologies in public buildings.
Vinnytsia is designing a development concept for the Tyazhilivka River, aiming to restore its biodiversity.
The project supports Ukraine’s post-war recovery through sustainable development, the implementation of decarbonisation strategies, and the attraction of international investment. U_CAN showcases the potential for integrating climate-neutral solutions that can serve as a model for other cities across Europe.
The coordinator of U_CAN is Technische Universität Dresden (Germany), with additional partners including research institutions, municipalities, and businesses from Ukraine and Europe, specializing in sustainability, energy solutions, and urban innovation. The project actively collaborates with two other EU Mission Cities-funded initiatives: NetZeroCities and SUN4Ukraine.
Project Lead: Yurii Polianskyi
Contact email: yuriipolianskyi@city-institute.org