Circular economy development in the context of war: Global challenges

Abstract

The problem of resource scarcity is one of the most pressing in the world, and therefore conserving them through the introduction of a circular economy is an important factor in human development. The full-scale war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has had a significant impact on Europe’s energy balance, and the importance of implementing a circular economy has grown even more. The study aims to investigate the impact of the war on the implementation of resource efficiency programs in Ukraine and the European Union. The methods used in the research process include analysis, synthesis, and statistical research. In addition, the method of open-source intelligence and the method of remote online survey were used as part of the empirical research. As a result, the dynamics of harmful emissions into the atmosphere and water resources of Ukraine from 2015 to 2022 were determined, which revealed a pronounced downward trend. The actual production of clean energy, the dynamics of fossil fuel use and the amount of carbon emissions in the European Union were also analyzed, which showed positive development. In the process, data on relocated Ukrainian enterprises that were moved away from the combat line to safer regions was used. The survey received qualified responses from the heads of large Ukrainian industries on the current situation with the implementation of measures to introduce a circular economy, the dynamics of financing these processes in recent years, and the impact of digitalization of production processes on business efficiency during full-scale hostilities. The respondents’ answers were mostly positive about the existing measures and prospects. The practical significance of the study is to highlight the priorities of Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction in the context of the circular economy concept.