Journal
УКР   ENG
Socio-Economic Problems
of the Modern Period of Ukraine
   



Collection SEPSPU -- sep2026.02.017

Repository of Institute of Regional Research UDC 332.146.2:502.131.1:711.432; JEL R11, Q56, Q58,O33
Babets, I. H., Zhabynets, O. Y., & Sukhyy, O. O. (2026). Zabezpechennya ekolohichno zbalansovanoho rozvytku ahlomeratsiy v umovakh «podviynoho perekhodu» [Ensuring environmentally balanced development of agglomerations in the context of the twin transition]. In Sotsial'no-ekonomichni problemy suchasnoho periodu Ukrayiny [Socio-Economic Problems of the Modern Period of Ukraine]: Vol. 178 (2) (pp. 17-24). DOI: https://doi.org/10.36818/2071-4653-2026-2-2 [in Ukrainian].
Sources: 16

Authors



Babets Iryna Heorhiyivna

Doctor of Economics, Professor

Professor of the Department of international economic relations of the Central Ukrainian National Technical University; Senior Researcher of the Department of spatial development of the Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine

Contacts: irina.babets@ukr.net

Webpages:



Zhabynets Olha Yosyfivna

Ph.D. of Economics, Associate Professor

Senior Researcher of the Department of spatial development of the Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of NAS of Ukraine

Contacts: olza@ukr.net, (+38067)38-88-233

Webpages:



Sukhyy Oleh Orestovych

Ph.D. of Economics, Associate Professor

Associate Professor of the Department of translation studies and contrastive linguistics named after Hryhoriy Kochur of the Faculty of Foreign Languages of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv

Contacts: oleh.sukhy@gmail.com

Webpages:

Resume

The article examines the specific features of ensuring the environmentally balanced development of agglomerations in the context of the twin transition. It analyzes Ukraine’s position in the 2024 Global Innovation Index, particularly in terms of sustainable environmental development and the advancement of information and communication technologies (ICT). The article emphasizes that the integration of ICT into environmental initiatives and the development of green entrepreneurship can facilitate a transition to a higher level of sustainable environmental development. This, in turn, will enhance the implementation of ICT, including digital technologies, within enterprises and promote their innovative development in line with current trends in the global innovation landscape. The study highlights the necessity for businesses to simultaneously implement both digital technologies and environmentally sustainable solutions based on ESG principles. The authors argue that Ukraine is currently forming the institutional foundations for the implementation of ESG principles in the practical activities of enterprises, particularly in large companies and those export-oriented toward the EU market. The article emphasizes that digital transformation and the active use of artificial intelligence, especially in the environmental sphere, create both opportunities and risks for the environment. The water, carbon, and energy footprints of artificial intelligence are analyzed. The growing volume of electronic waste is found to intensify the negative impact of the economy and society digitalization on natural ecosystems. The main strategic priorities and implementation pathways for digital and environmental transformation within agglomerations are outlined. The article emphasizes that agglomerations represent the areas where the conflict between economic growth and environmental security is manifested most acutely, as the high concentration of industry, transport flows, and population creates excessive anthropogenic pressure on the environment. In such conditions, the transition to a model of environmentally balanced development is no longer just a theoretical idea but becomes a strategic need for the preservation of urban ecosystems. The legislative framework for ensuring environmentally balanced development is analyzed. Greenhouse gas emissions trading is revealed to be a crucial instrument in both combating climate change and reducing industrial pollution. The study emphasizes that legislative support plays a key role in implementing sustainable development principles. It should not only regulate environmental management through the establishment of restrictions and standards but also facilitate effective legal mechanisms aimed at encouraging green investments, energy-efficient technologies, and rational land use. The authors argue that the regulatory and legal framework for environmentally balanced development in agglomerations extends beyond the administrative boundaries of individual cities and depends on the state environmental policy as a whole. A number of institutional measures are proposed to reduce industrial pollution, ensure stable financing of environmental protection activities, and stimulate the development of green entrepreneurship, including within agglomerations.

Keywords:

agglomerations, environmentally balanced development, twin transition, environmental transformation, digital transformation, ESG principles

References

    
  1. Melnyk, M. I. (Ed.) (2025). Instytutsiyni problemy ta vyklyky funktsionuvannya ahlomeratsiy v Ukrayini [Institutional problems and challenges of functioning of agglomerations in Ukraine]: Scientific report. Lviv: Dolishniy Institute of Regional Research of the NAS of Ukraine. [in Ukrainian]. Retrieved from http://ird.gov.ua/irdp/p20250031.pdf [in Ukrainian].
  2. Borshchevskyy, V. V., Datskiv, R. M., & Stetsko, Ya. O. (2024). Perspektyvy rozvytku ahlomeratsiy u povoyenniy ekonomitsi Ukrayiny: instytutsiynyy kontekst [Prospects for the development of agglomerations in the Ukraine’s post-war economy: institutional context]. Rehional’na ekonomika – Regional Economy, 113(3), 52-61. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36818/1562-0905-2024-3-4 [in Ukrainian].
  3. Babets, I. H., & Zhabynets, O. Yo. (2025). Zabezpechennya ekolohichno zbalansovanoho rozvytku ahlomeratsiy: stan, dosvid ta perspektyvy dlya L’vivs’koyi ahlomeratsiy [Ensuring environmentally balanced development of agglomerations: status, experience and prospects for the Lviv agglomeration]. Biznes Inform – Business Inform, 12, 160-168. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32983/2222-4459-2025-12-160-168 [in Ukrainian].
  4. Leshchukh, I. V. (2025). Stratehichni priorytety pidvyshchennya ekonomichnoho potentsialu ahlomeratsiy v umovakh prostorovoyi transformatsiyi ekonomiky Ukrayiny [Strategic priorities for enhancing the economic potential of agglomerations in the context of spatial economic transformation of Ukraine]. Stalyy rozvytok ekonomiky – Sustainable development of the economy, 4(55), 550-555. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2308-1988/2025-55-74 [in Ukrainian].
  5. Krysovatyy, A. I., Maksymova, I. I., & Kurylyak, V. Ye. (2024). Klimatychno-neytral’na ekonomika: hlobal’na viziya ta tsyfrovi mekhanizmy dosyahnennya [Climate-neutral economy: global vision and digital mechanisms of achievement]. Ternopil: ZUNU. [in Ukrainian].
  6. Maksymova, I. (2024). Kontsept staloyi dydzhytalizatsiyi yak bazys zelenoho-tsyfrovoho perekhodu do klimatychno-neyytral’noiyi ekonomiky [The concept of sustainable digitalization as a basis for a green-digital transition to a climate-neutral economy]. Ekonomichni horyzonty – Economic Horizons, 2-3(28), 235-248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31499/2616-5236.3(28).2024.310264 [in Ukrainian].
  7. Varvashenko, V. (2025). Stratehichna konfihuratsyia rozvytku «zelenoyi» ekonomiky krayin YeS vidpovidno do vyklykiv tsyfrovizatsiyi: naukovo-praktychni aspekty [Strategic configuration of the development of the EU «green» economy in response to digitalisation challenges: scientific and practical aspects]. In Ekonomichnyy analiz [Economic Analysis]: Vol. 35(4) (pp. 202-221). DOI: https://doi.org/10.35774/econa2025.04.202 [in Ukrainian].
  8. Kraus, N., & Kraus, K. (2025). Synerhetychni efekty funktsional’noyi vzayemodiyi ekonomiky biorostu i «zelenoyi» ekonomiky v umovakh tsyfrovizatsiyi ta ekolohizatsiyi [Synergistic effects of functional interaction of the biogrowth economy and the «green» economy in the conditions of digitalization and ecologization]. Zhurnal yevropeys’koyi ekonomiky – Journal of European Economics, 24(1)(92), 76-87. Retrieved from https://jeej.wunu.edu.ua/index.php/ukjee/article/view/1848/1791 [in Ukrainian].
  9. Dutta, S., Lanvin, B., Rivera, L., Wunsch-Vincent, L., & Wunsch-Vincent, S. (Eds.) (2024). Global Innovation Index 2024: Unlocking the Promise of Social Entrepreneurship. Geneva:WIPO. Retrieved from https://www.wipo.int/web-publications/global-innovation-index-2024/assets/67729/2000%20Global%20Innovation%20Index%202024_WEB3lite.pdf, DOI: https://doi.org/10.34667/tind.50062
  10. Pro skhvalennya Zmin do Metodychnykh rekomendatsiy shchodo orhanizatsiyi korporatyvnoho upravlinnya v bankakh Ukrayiny [On approval of amendments to the Methodological recommendations on the organization of corporate governance in banks of Ukraine] (2026). Resolution of the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine, dated 2026, Feb 03, 31-rsh. LIGA360: Website. Retrieved from https://ips.ligazakon.net/document/view/PB26019?an=1&ed=2026_02_03 [in Ukrainian].
  11. Voucher Program for Digital Transformation of Ukrainian Companies (2026, Jan 21). IT Ukraine Association: Website. Retrieved from https://itukraine.org.ua/en/voucher-program-for-digital-transformation-of-ukrainian-companies
  12. Li, P., Yang, J., A. Islam, M., & Ren, S. (2025). Making AI Less «Thirsty»: Uncovering and Addressing the Secret Water Footprint of AI Models. arXiv: Website. Retrieved from https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.03271, DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2304.03271
  13. Environmental impact of AI (2026, Jan 19). Iceberg Data Lab: Website. Retrieved from https://www.icebergdatalab.com/news/industry_and_law/the-environmental-impact-of-ai
  14. A New Circular Vision for Electronics: Time for a Global Reboot (2019). Geneva: World Economic Forum. Retrieved from https://wedocs.unep.org/items/fb7e0bd6-3ce6-47bb-a448-3f43cd745e38
  15. Niranjan, A., Schmidt, N., & Joyner, E. (2026, Apr 17). US tech firms successfully lobbied the EU to keep data center emissions secret. The Guardian: Website. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/17/microsoft-us-tech-firms-lobbied-eu-secrecy-rules-datacentre-emissions
  16. Hryhorenko, Yu. (2026, Apr 08). Pershi misyatsi CBAM vzhe nehatyvno vplynuly na ukrayins’ku metalurhiyu [The first months of CBAM have already had a negative impact on the Ukraines’ metallurgy]. GMK center: Website. Retrieved from https://gmk.center/ua/posts/pershi-misyaci-zastosuvannya-cbam-vzhe-negativno-vplinuli-na-ukrainsku-metalurgiju [in Ukrainian].


Web-master P. Popadyuk