Exploring the Legal Dimensions of Environmental Policy within the Framework of Ukraine's Sustainable Development Strategy

Abstract

This article is devoted to the theoretical and practical analysis of the organizational and legal problems involved in the evolution and implementation of the environmental policy as integral part of the sustainable development strategy of Ukraine. This research is based on the international documents defining the goals of sustainable development and that are guidelines for harmonizing legal instruments in rationalizing natural resource use conforming the European Green laws. Based on the analysis of the current environmental legislation of Ukraine and its application, as well as inculcating the views of scientists, a conclusion is drawn about the need for prioritizing sectoral environmental reforms in the fields of biodiversity protection, curbing industrial pollution, waste management, emission monitoring and reporting, environmental control, and statutory responsibility. The grey areas of improving Ukraine's environmental policy ensuring effective, transparent and modern post-war reconstruction are identified as: strengthening control over compliance with standards and environmental regulations concerning natural resource management; improving the mechanism of payments for harming the environment; giving tax benefits and other financial incentives to environmentally innovative practices; encouraging the environmental audit and certification; pricing flexibly the ecological products; stimulating scientific temperament in solving environmental problems; and so on