On 22 October 2025, Dr. Ievgeniia Kopytsia, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development and Environmental Law at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University and MSCA4Ukraine Research Fellow at the University of Genoa delivered a special invited lecture at Toyo University in Tokyo, Japan.
The event was hosted by Dr. ZHOU Yuan, LL.D., an associate professor of European legal history and history of legal thought at the Faculty and the Graduate School of Law, Toyo University, and brought together undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students interested in climate policy, energy security, and the legal dimensions of contemporary global crises.
The lecture, titled “Net Zero is Peace? Beyond Apocalypse Crisis”, explored the deep interconnections between fossil fuel dependency, geopolitical instability, democratic backsliding, environmental degradation, and the prospects for sustainable peace. Using case studies from Ukraine’s full-scale war, global energy markets, and international climate diplomacy, Dr. Kopytsia invited students to rethink net-zero transitions not just as an environmental necessity, but as a peacebuilding strategy for the 21st century.
Themes Discussed: From Energy Dependency to Green Reconstruction
Dr. Kopytsia traced the legacy of fossil fuels as a driver of conflict and instability—from Africa’s extractive conflicts to Russia’s weaponisation of energy. She illustrated how the global economy’s dependence on oil and gas continues to finance aggression and fuel democratic erosion.
Drawing on her research for MSCA4Ukraine, Dr. Kopytsia presented new findings on:
- the climate and environmental damage caused by Russia’s invasion,
- Ukraine’s unprecedented shift toward decentralised renewable energy during wartime,
- global contradictions in fossil fuel subsidies and LNG trade,
- and the emerging vision of green recovery as a catalyst for resilience, justice, and long-term peace.
A core message of the lecture was that energy transition is not a luxury—neither for Ukraine, nor for the world. Instead, it is a condition for societal safety, democratic stability, and sustainable post-conflict reconstruction.
Student Reflections: “Inspiring”, “Eye-opening”, “Global in perspective”
Students shared detailed written reflections following the lecture. Their comments highlight the depth of engagement and the relevance of Dr. Kopytsia’s research to contemporary global challenges:
- “I understood for the first time how climate policy and war can be directly connected.”
- “The data on fossil fuel financing and democratic backsliding was very shocking.”
- “It was inspiring to see how Ukraine is developing renewable solutions even during war.”
- “This lecture changed how I understand energy security.”
- “A powerful reminder that net zero is also about justice and peace.”
- “It made me want to learn more about reconstruction law and green transitions.”
Many students emphasised that the lecture broadened their understanding of climate change as a multidimensional issue involving law, politics, economics, and human rights.
Academic Cooperation and Future Exchange
The visit strengthened academic ties between Toyo University and institutions engaged in MSCA4Ukraine. Dr. Zhou expressed appreciation for the contribution to Toyo University’s Public Law programme and highlighted the value of integrating Ukraine’s experience into global discussions on climate governance and peacebuilding.
Opportunities for future collaboration, including joint seminars, student exchanges, and comparative research on climate law, were discussed following the lecture.
About the Lecturer
Dr. Ievgeniia Kopytsia is an MSCA4Ukraine Research Fellow at the University of Genoa (Italy), Associate Professor at Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University (Ukraine), and Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development and Environmental Law. Her research focuses on climate law, environmental governance, green reconstruction, and the role of net-zero transitions in strengthening security and resilience.
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