LIFE SAFETY AND CIVIL PROTECTION AS DETERMINANTS OF ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the most pressing environmental challenges of the twenty-first century and their specific implications for Ukraine under conditions of climate change, war, and intensive industrial activity. It outlines the global acceleration of climate processes, manifested in rising average temperatures, extreme weather events, prolonged droughts, and large-scale floods, which threaten agricultural productivity and food security. Particular attention is paid to the ecological consequences of military actions in Ukraine, including the destruction of hydrotechnical facilities, mass pollution of water resources with heavy metals and toxic substances, and widespread forest fires destroying hundreds of thousands of hectares of ecosystems. These factors not only reduce biodiversity but also create severe risks for human health, drinking water safety, and air quality in major urban centers. The article explores the intersection of environmental degradation with occupational safety and public health, demonstrating how polluted air, unsafe working conditions, and exposure to toxic emissions increase rates of chronic and professional diseases. At the economic level, the study emphasizes multibillion annual losses related to recovery from natural and technogenic disasters, the decline in investment attractiveness of polluted regions, and the growing need for modernization of production facilities. The analysis also synthesizes scientific approaches to ecological risk management, comparing national monitoring systems, local industrial strategies, and complex models combining green economy with labor safety. Legislative frameworks and practical initiatives implemented in Ukraine are reviewed, including environmental protection acts, occupational safety regulations, and ISO 14001 standards. Based on this foundation, the article argues for integrating sustainable development principles, renewable energy, closed-loop technologies, and environmental education into state policies and corporate governance. It concludes that only a holistic strategy, linking monitoring, disaster preparedness, ecosystem restoration, and international cooperation, can ensure long-term ecological security, strengthen economic resilience, and safeguard human well-being.