STATE POLICY IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE: PROBLEMS AND WAYS TO IMPROVE

Abstract

The main provisions of Ukraine's state policy concerning environmental protection and geological heritage conservation are analyzed. The analysis identifies its gaps, shortcomings, and key issues and challenges the country faces in its implementation. It is shown that environmental protection and geological heritage conservation are core priorities of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine. These priorities are embedded in the State Environmental Policy developed by the Ministry (Law of Ukraine dated February 28, 2019, No. 2697-VIII "On the Basic Principles (Strategy) of the State Environmental Policy of Ukraine until 2030"). Special emphasis is placed on the priority directions for implementing state environmental policy under conditions of large-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation and anthropogenic changes caused by human economic activities – both direct and indirect impacts on nature (climate, soil, water bodies, etc.). It is demonstrated that hybrid threats, increasing anthropogenic pressure, and natural disasters necessitate improvements in state environmental policy, particularly in ensuring environmental safety, and underscore the importance of environmental protection and geological heritage conservation as vital elements of national security and sustainable development for the country as a whole. However, a dedicated regulatory document – "State Policy in the Field of Geological Heritage Conservation" – is currently absent despite other regulatory documents in this area. Given the devastating consequences of the armed aggression by the Russian Federation and the need to restore (where possible) the natural and landscape potential of our country, it is deemed appropriate to develop a specific document aimed at protecting, preserving, and promoting geological natural monuments and geological heritage as a whole.