As part of the UniCities project, the activities of the Green Transformation and Climate Neutrality Center of the ISTU and UHMI, an important online lecture was held on “Irreversible Change or Possibility of Adaptation? Analysis of Climate Change Trends”, organized in cooperation with the European Business Association (EBA).

The event became a part of UniCities’ integral educational mission to disseminate knowledge among the academic community, business, and the public, to promote the adaptive capacity of cities, and to support sustainable development in the new climate conditions.

The speaker of the lecture was a well-known climatologist and meteorologist, Vira Balabukh, PhD in Geography, Head of the Department of Applied Meteorology and Climatology at the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Institute, as well as an expert at UniCities and the Green Transformation and Climate Neutrality Center of the ISTU. She has more than 30 years of experience in climate research, which has allowed her to present complex topics in an accessible and professional manner.

The lecture focused on global and regional climate trends, including rising temperatures, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and degradation of natural systems. Particular attention was paid to the implications of these changes for Ukraine: the impact on cities and communities, various sectors of the economy (agriculture, energy), water resources, public health, and the threat to food security.

One of the central topics was the search for approaches to adaptation. According to the lecturer, society still has a chance to prepare for irreversible changes by reducing damage and increasing the resilience of infrastructure and ecosystems.

This lecture shows that it is important to combine science, education, and practical experience to increase the resilience of cities and communities. The UniCities project and its partners actively support such initiatives by promoting the development of climate adaptation competencies among students, educators, local governments, and businesses.

Through collaboration with leading experts such as Vira Balabukh, UniCities helps to build a critical understanding of the challenges and the search for the best solutions!