On October 26, 2010 under the instruction of Prime Minister of Ukraine Mr. Mykola Azarov the International Environmental Forum “Environment 2010” opened in Kiev. Mission of the Forum was to strengthen the partner relations between governmental authorities and local self-governing bodies, scientific-, pedagogic- and business circles, as well as public organizations for the benefit of the environment. Another principal aim of the Forum was the summation of the interregional and international cooperation experience aimed at development of the comprehensive recommendations for solving the environmental problems existing in Ukraine as well as at creation of ecological and economic conditions for sustainable development of our country.

The “Environment” project started in May, 2003, when Ukraine received the 5th Pan-European Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe”, held simultaneously with the First International Exhibition “Environment 2003”. Later on, in 2004, Second International Exhibition “Environment 2004” was organized together with the All-Ukrainian Environmental Conference.

In 2010 the Project was revived. Among the organizers of this year's event there were The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry for Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, State Ecological Academy of Postgraduate Education and Management, Ukrainian Centre for International exhibitions, conferences and forums, and the All-Ukrainian Environmental League.

Within the three days of the Forum numerous related events were organized and held: All-Ukrainian Ecological Conference “Balanced (sustainable) development of Ukraine – the priority of national policy”, International Scientific Conference “National Policy in the Context of European Integration of Ukraine”, 5th Forum of the Ukrainian Voluntary Ecological Organizations “Public participation in the national environmental policy formulation and implementation” and 6th Business Forum “Social responsibility of business as the basis for the Ukrainian environmental partnership”. The total area of this year's event made 3,000 sq. m, while the number of participants exceeded 3,340.

The Kherson Chamber of Commerce and Industry decided it necessary to speak about the projects and programs implemented in our region within the Chamber’s effective and diverse work for the benefit of the environment, of the regional ecological policy formation, of ecological culture and ecological education promotion for all social levels of the region.

Hence, on October, 26 President of the Kherson CCI Ms. Viktoriya Ostroumova presented her report under the title “Implementation of the Cleaner Production Programme at the enterprises of the Kherson region” within the section “Restructuring and greening of the economy – the priority of Ukraine's transition to a balanced (sustainable) development” (All-Ukrainian Ecological Conference “Balanced (sustainable) development of Ukraine – the priority of national policy”). Ms. Ostroumova described the current results of the Ukrainian and Norwegian programme “Cleaner Production and Energy efficiency” over the past four years. Her report arose keen interest among the scientific community and power officials, while the text of the report was included into the Conference information package.

Further to its participation in the Conference, the Kherson CCI formulated a proposal to approve the practice of Cleaner Production methodology implementation as an effective tool of sustainable development achievement in part of the country’s economy ecologization and to recommend the dissemination of the methodology among the industrial and municipal enterprises of Ukraine, to be included into the Resolutions of the International Ecological Forum “Environment 2010”.

The Third International Exhibition “Environment 2010” became an important and interesting practical component of the Forum. Being held on October, 26 – 28 it took the total area of 1,225 sq. m. 53 exhibitors from all over Ukraine and numerous international organizations presented new energy-efficient technologies, energy-saving equipment, environmental programs, etc.

In order to present current results and future plans of CPEE Programme dissemination in Ukraine within the “Environment 2010” exhibition the Kherson CCI in close collaboration with The Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and The Norwegian Society of Chartered Technical and Scientific Professionals – Tekna organized there a relevant exhibition stand. Among the honoured guests of the Kherson CCI’s stand there were First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Mr. Andrey Klyuyev, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Mr. Anatoliy Tolstoukhov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to Ukraine H.E. Mr. Olav Berstad, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine H.E. Mr. Pak Ro Byok, Advisor to Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Prof. Mr. Vitaliy Lvov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Sergey Skripchenko and others.

Aiming at further promotion of Cleaner Production methodology in Ukraine the Kherson CCI has developed and published a brochure entitled “Cleaner Production – Way to Energy Efficiency. Eco-friendly Economy”. 150 copies of the brochure were handed to the interested participants and visitors within the mentioned exhibition. In particular, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Mr. Andrey Klyuyev Particular revealed his interest in this publication.

Another project presented by the Kherson CCI in measures of both Forum and Exhibition events was the Second International Ecological Forum “Clean City. Clean River. Clean Planet” to be held in Kherson in terms November 18 – 19, 2010. Scientists, officials, educational- and business circles’ representatives revealed their interest towards the upcoming event.

As planned, the next International Ecological Forum “Environment” will be held in Kiev on April 19 – 22, 2011 under the title “Environment for Ukraine”. Its agenda will include the International Conference devoted to the 25th Anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, the International Scientific Conference “Natural, recreational and health-improving potential of Ukraine», 7th International Business Forum “Prospects of the “green growth” model implementation in Ukraine” and 4th Fourth International Exhibition “Environment 2011”.