Covenant of Mayors: Ukrainian official from Zhytomyr City Council becomes first Climate Manager Star 2025

Polina Murashevska, Head of the Department of Ecology and Natural Resources of Zhytomyr City Council, was recognised as the winner of the Climate Manager Star 2025 national competition organised by the Covenant of Mayors – East (CoM East), the initiative announced on 17 December. 

The Climate Manager Star award was introduced by CoM East in 2025 to recognise municipalities and professionals demonstrating leadership in climate governance, strategic planning and the implementation of climate action at the local level. The competition highlights practical approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation, aligned with national priorities and Ukraine’s European integration pathway.

Over the past two years, Polina Murashevska and her team have led the development of the Environmental Strategy of the Zhytomyr community to 2050. The strategy sets long-term objectives for the city, including climate change adaptation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and the integration of climate considerations into municipal decision-making. The work combines analytical assessment, governance reforms and the practical implementation of climate measures at the local level.

Covenant of Mayors East (CoM East) is an EU-funded project aimed at introducing the EU climate and energy initiative to the Eastern Partnership countries. CoM East supports local authorities in implementing sustainable energy policies, improving the security of energy supply, and facilitates their contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation. 

CoM East is part of the larger Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative, the world’s largest movement for local climate and energy actions, which brings together thousands of local governments voluntarily committed to implementing EU climate and energy objectives. Launched in the European Union in 2008, the CoM has since expanded to other regions all over the world. 

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