Environmental Justice and Europeanization in Ukraine’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Policy Challenges and Opportunities

The environmental impact of war in Ukraine has created urgent challenges that intersect with its aspirations for European Union membership. This paper examines how the frameworks of environmental justice and Europeanization can guide Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction, emphasizing sustainable and equitable policy-making. The war has severely degraded ecosystems, contaminated water and soil, and disrupted biodiversity, posing significant risks to health, livelihoods, and regional stability. These challenges demand an approach that integrates environmental justice principles—equitable resource access, inclusion of marginalized groups, and accountability for harm—with EU-driven policy alignment. Through an analysis of key policy areas such as the EU Water Framework Directive, the EU Soil Strategy, and the Habitats Directive, this paper explores how Ukraine can navigate the dual priorities of recovery and EU compliance. Policy recommendations include localized water infrastructure rebuilding, soil remediation programs, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Each addresses the intersection of immediate reconstruction needs with the long-term policy goals of sustainability and EU integration. However, the paper also critically assesses the risks of prioritizing technocratic EU benchmarks over locally driven solutions. Balancing conditionality with the realities of resource scarcity, governance capacity, and stakeholder interests is essential for effective policy implementation. This analysis draws on resilience theory to argue for adaptive, participatory policies that can withstand future shocks while promoting social equity. By situating Ukraine’s environmental politics within a broader context of EU accession and post-conflict governance, this paper contributes to debates on how environmental policy can serve as a tool for rebuilding societies in crisis, offering lessons for other nations facing similar challenges.