Activists compiled a ranking of deputies who harm the environment the most

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk topped the anti-ranking of people's deputies whose legislative activity, according to public and environmental organizations, does the most harm to the environment. This is evidenced by the results of an analysis by the public initiative “Holka,” whose information partner is Hlavkom.

Second place in the anti-ranking was shared by four Servant of the People MPs — Ihor Fris, Ihor Marchuk, Oleksandr Haidu, and Tetiana Hryshchenko.

The anti-ranking was compiled ahead of the seventh anniversary of the Verkhovna Rada's work. Its authors analyzed the lawmakers' legislative initiatives and took into account expert assessments from environmental public organizations, including WWF-Ukraine, Greenpeace Ukraine, the Center for Environmental Initiatives “Ecodia,” the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, and “Teren.”

The list includes both bills that are still under consideration by parliament and initiatives that have already been adopted.

infographic: “Holka”

Holka head Iryna Fedoriv explained Stefanchuk’s leading position mainly by his draft of the new Civil Code, which is currently being prepared for second reading. According to her, the four deputies who shared second place cannot compare, in terms of the potential negative impact of their initiatives, with that document.

Fedoriv asserts that adoption of the new Civil Code could effectively nullify the judicial practice already formed by the Supreme Court. The draft sparked significant resistance: the petition against it gathered more than 25 thousand signatures, and MPs submitted over 15 thousand amendments. The Ministry of Justice also recommended removing the ninth book of the draft, which, according to environmentalists' assessment, contains the most environmentally harmful provisions.

At the same time, Holka notes that changes to the current Civil Code began last year with the so‑called “Ihor Mazepa law,” which was submitted by people's deputy Ihor Fris.

Among the most harmful legislative initiatives, representatives of the organization Ecology — Law — People also named the draft law “On the timber market.” Executive Director of the organization Olena Kravchenko emphasized that attempts by parliamentarians to weaken such a nature-protection mechanism as environmental impact assessment have a systemic character.

Another initiative that raised concerns among environmentalists was draft law No. 15431 by people's deputy Ihor Marchuk. The authors of the anti-ranking call the project one for “VIP safaris” on wild animals.

Representatives of WWF-Ukraine believe that the proposed changes to the rules for running hunting management could weaken existing mechanisms for protecting wildlife. In particular, the draft provides for the use of certain technical devices during hunting and expands hunting opportunities in periods important for population reproduction.

WWF-Ukraine urged the Verkhovna Rada not to support the legislative initiative, and its authors to withdraw it due to possible risks to biodiversity and species that require special protection.

Recall that Hlavkom previously reported on the mass “blooming” of the Dnipro and the threats it conceals. A biologist explained that the change in water color is linked to the mass reproduction of cyanobacteria, which is favored by high water temperature and excess nutrients. This phenomenon can worsen water quality and pose a danger to aquatic ecosystems.