The article examines the phenomenon of multidimensional challenges and threats as determinants of modern environmental law-making in Ukraine in the context of martial law, climate change, technological transformations and European integration. The author offers a new perspective on the correlation between the concepts of “challenge” and “threat”, justifying the need to distinguish between them in legal discourse and emphasizing the role of transformation of a threat into a challenge as a mechanism of legal response. Attention is focused on the fact that a threat is potentially destructive, while a challenge is an incentive for systemic adaptation and transformation of legal policy.

The analysis focuses on two key groups of factors that shape environmental lawmaking: existential threats (armed aggression, climate change, man-made disasters) and challenges to progressive development (European integration, digitalization, the concept of energy transition, the principle of intergenerational justice). The article substantiates the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the formation of a legal response, combining legal, environmental, social, technological and institutional dimensions.

Particular attention is paid to the phenomenon of extraordinary lawmaking in wartime. The latest legislative acts, institutional decisions and methods of assessing environmental damagecaused by armed aggression are studied. The author analyzes the risks of normative devaluation of environmental rights, reduction of public participation, decreased transparency of decisions, and legislative simplifications that may threaten the balance of the legal system.

In parallel, the author examines the processes of European integration as a strategic external vector of law-making transformation. It is emphasized that the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation to EU law under Title 27 “Environment, Climate Change and Civil Protection” is an important, but not the only dominant legal policy: emergency circumstances require an additional reactive component.

The conclusions show that the multidimensional nature of modern challenges requires an integrative approach to lawmaking, which includes strategic planning, regulatory flexibility, adherence to the principles of sustainable development and the ability to respond to crisis challenges.

Despite the difficult conditions, Ukraine has the potential to become a model for the development of an innovative model of environmental law that is in demand both in the European and global dimensions.

Bibliography

Authored books

1. Schrijver N, Sovereignty Over Natural Resources, Balancing Rights and Duties (Cambridge University Press 1997).

2. Malysheva N, Erofeev N, Petrina V, Jekologo-pravovye voprosy nauchno-tehnicheskogo progressa (Nauk. dumka 1993).

3. Muliarchuk Ye, Baumeister A, Karachentseva L, Kyselova O, Zhulai V, Kryza dovkillia: etychni ta ekzystentsiini vyklyky (Instytut filosofii imeni H. S. Skovorody NAN Ukrainy 2024) (in Ukrainian).

4. Sytnyk H, Derzhavne upravlinnia u sferi natsionalnoi bezpeky (kontseptualni ta orhanizatsiino-pravovi zasady): Pidruchnyk (NADU 2012) (in Ukrainian). Edited and translated books

5. Schmitt C, Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty (Trans. George Schwab, MIT Press 1985).

6. Koziubra M, ‘Vyklyky, yaki postaiut pered Ukrainoiu na shliakhu yii vstupu do Yevropeiskoho Soiuzu: konstytutsiino-pravovi aspekty’, Polityko-pravovi naslidky vstupu Ukrainy do Yevropeiskoho Soiuzu ta NATO (Krzysztof Eckhardt, Petro Stetsyuk ed, Bonus Liber 2024) 15–38 (in Ukrainian).

7. Sytnyk H, Orel M, Natsionalna bezpeka v konteksti yevropeiskoi intehratsii Ukrainy: pidruchnyk (H Sytnyka red, Mizhrehionalna Akademiia upravlinnia personalom 2021) (in Ukrainian).Journal articles

8. Gross O, ‘Chaos and Rules: Should Responses to Violent Crises Always Be Constitutional?’ [2003] 112 Yale Law Journal 1011–1134.

9. Haidu S, ‘Nadzvychaina pravotvorchist pry zdiisnenni politychnoi funktsii derzhavy v umovakh voiennoho stanu’ [2023] 34(73)3 Vcheni zapysky TNU imeni V. I. Vernadskoho. Seriia: yurydychni nauky 1–6 (in Ukrainian).

10. Kalashnikova L, ‘Spivvidnoshennia poniat “nevyznachenist”, “ryzyk”, “vyklyk”, “zahroza”, “nebezpeka” u konteksti sotsiolohii bezpeky zhyttiediialnosti’ [2017] 20(5) Naukovo-teoretychnyi almanakh Hrani 16–23 (in Ukrainian).

11. Kravchenko V, ‘Vyklyky i zahrozy Ukraini, yii ekonomitsi ta finansam u pershii tretyni ХХІ stolittia’ [2016] 10 Efektyvna ekonomika (accessed 27.08.2025) (in Ukrainian).

12. Kuznichenko S, ‘Teoretychni ta istorychni zasady formuvannia nadzvychainoho zakonodavstva v Ukraini’ [2010] 4 Naukovyi visnyk Lvivskoho derzhavnoho universytetu vnutrishnikh sprav 68–76 (in Ukrainian).

13. Malysheva N, ‘Voiennyi stan v Ukraini ta nadzvychaini pravovi rezhymy, pov’iazani z ekolohichnymy naslidkamy’ [2024] 15 Almanakh prava 104–111 (in Ukrainian).

14. Parkhomenko N, ‘Suchasna teoretyko-pravova paradyhma nadzvychainoi pravotvorchosti’ [2022] 3(47) Publichne pravo 88–94 (in Ukrainian).

15. Parkhomenko N, ‘Transformatsiia tsinnisnykh zasad prava ta pravotvorchoi diialnosti v umovakh voiennoho stanu’ [2023] 34 Pravova derzhava 42 (in Ukrainian).

16. Romanenko M, Krysinska D, Tymchenko I, ‘Analitychne doslidzhennia metodyk rozrakhunku zbytkiv dovkilliu vid voiennykh dii’ [2024] 3(54) Ekolohichni nauky: Naukovo-praktychnyi zhurnal 127–138 (in Ukrainian).

17. Slotiuk P, ‘Ekzystentsiini vyklyky dlia Ukrainy u viini z RF’ [2023] 26(6) Naukovo-teoretychnyi almanakh Hrani 109–121 (in Ukrainian).

18. Voropaieva T, ‘Naibilshi vyklyky, zahrozy ta nebezpeky dlia suchasnoho ukrainstva’ [2020] 27 Ukrainoznavchyi almanakh 50–58 (in Ukrainian). Conference papers

19. Aktualni problemy zemelnoho, ahrarnoho ta ekolohichnoho prava v umovakh suchasnykh vyklykiv i zahroz: materialy kruhloho stolu, prysviach. 100-richchiu z dnia narodzhennia d-ra yuryd. nauk, prof. Vovka Yu.O. (Pravo 2023) (in Ukrainian).

20. Malysheva N, Shemshuchenko Yu, ‘Pravove zabezpechennia ekolohichnoi bezpeky Ukrainy v konteksti novykh ekzystentsialnykh vyklykiv’, Konstytutsiia Ukrainy ta triada yevropeiskykh tsinnostei: pohliad u svitli yevrointehratsii: zbirnyk materialiv i tez mizhnarodnoi konferentsii z nahody Dnia Konstytutsii Ukrainy (Kyiv, 28 chervnia 2023 r.) (VAITE 2023) 125–133 (in Ukrainian).

21. Natsionalna bezpeka: zahrozy ta vyklyky: materialy vseukrainskoho naukovo-pedahohichnoho pidvyshchennia kvalifikatsii, 1 kvitnia – 12 travnia 2024 roku (Liha-Pres 2024) (in Ukrainian).

22. Prodovolcha ta ekolohichna bezpeka u voiennyi i pisliavoiennyi chasy: pravovi vyklyky dlia Ukrainy ta svitu. Tezy dopovidei mizhnarodnoi naukovo-praktychnoi onlain/oflain konferentsii (misto Kyiv, 16 veresnia 2022 r.) (FOP Yamchynskyi O. V. 2022) (in Ukrainian). Websites

23. A Guide to Emergency Powers and Their Use (December 5, 2018) (accessed 27.08.2025).

24. The Environmental Impact of the Conflict in Ukraine. A Preliminary Review (United Nations Environment Programme) (accessed 27.08.2025).

25. Hrushchenko Maksym, ‘Ekzystentsiini vyklyky pered Ukrainoiu. Demohrafiia’ (Deep State Ukraine 23 ver 2023) (accessed 27.08.2025) (in Ukrainian).

26. Mizhnarodni partnery dopomahatymut Ukraini otsiniuvaty shkodu dovkilliu, yaku nanosyt rf (20.03.2024) (accessed 27.08.2025) (in Ukrainian).

27. Ukraina ofitsiino rozpochala peremovyny pro vstup z YeS (Uriadovyi portal 25.06.2024) (accessed 27.08.2025) (in Ukrainian).