LEGAL REGULATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND UPBRINGING

Abstract

The article examines the legal framework for the regulation of environmental education and upbringing in Ukraine in the context of current social and environmental challenges caused by the armed conflict and the State’s aspirations for European integration. The author provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of environmental education, focusing on its key role in shaping the environmental awareness of citizens as a component of national security and long-term sustainable development. The study analyzes the national legislation governing environmental education and its compliance with European standards; identifies the main obstacles that complicate the integration of environmental education into curricula, in particular in the context of military challenges and limited resources through distance learning. The author also considers the international experience of EU countries, where environmental education is an obligatory element of the educational process at the level of public policy, contributing to the formation of environmentally responsible behavior of citizens. The article provides a detailed analysis of the components of the multi-level system of environmental education, which includes educational institutions, mass media, and public organizations that play a decisive role in shaping a conscious attitude toward nature. Emphasis is placed on the importance of enhancing civic participation and developing legal mechanisms that stimulate environmental literacy as an integral part of Ukraine’s national environmental strategy. The author also seeks to draw public attention to the need for revising approaches to environmental education, particularly to ensure its integration into all levels of education and to create prerequisites for the development of new environmental professions – such as urban ecologist, ecorecycler, climate risk insurance specialist, eco-auditor, lawyer in international environmental law, and others. Attention should also be given to postgraduate environmental education for professionals in various fields, as it contributes to updating knowledge and implementing environmental approaches across different sectors of the economy.