Structural transformations of Ukraine’s economic sectors in the context of achieving the sustainable development goals

Abstract

The article explores the structural transformations of Ukraine’s economic sectors in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and implementing the provisions of the European Green Deal. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the directions of structural transformations of Ukraine’s economy in line with the SDGs, considering national specificities, wartime challenges, resource potential, and the country’s strategic course toward European integration.

The article presents a strategic vision for the reform of Ukraine’s key economic sectors based on their environmental, social, and economic potential. The study justifies the need for a comprehensive approach to managing structural transformations, which requires adapting national policy to wartime realities, global environmental threats, and integration with the EU. The main barriers to sustainable development across sectors are identified, including environmental degradation, energy dependency, technological lag, institutional inefficiency, the consequences of war, and low innovation capacity. It was revealed that the most significant constraints include financing deficits, weak managerial decisions, and low awareness among businesses and society of the importance of transitioning to a sustainable development model. Priority areas for transformation are identified across five key sectors: energy, agriculture, industry and transport, the social sphere, and education and science.

The article substantiates the interconnection between the sectoral structure of the economy and its capacity to ensure progress in achieving the SDGs. In particular, the importance of introducing a circular economy, greening of production, development of renewable energy sources, green urban planning, and institutional support for innovation is emphasized. A detailed table is presented, demonstrating the linkages between types of economic activity and mechanisms for achieving the SDGs, encompassing tools of environmental analysis, green investment, eco-standards implementation, and socially oriented strategies. The prospects of sectoral transformation are summarized as a foundation for Ukraine’s European integration and the implementation of ESG management principles. It is concluded that achieving the SDGs requires not only technical modernization but also a value-based transformation of economic development strategies.