Legal Aspects of Ecosystem Protection in the Context of Growing Urbanisation

The purpose of the study was to identify ways to improve the effectiveness of legal mechanisms for protecting urban ecosystems in the context of growing urbanisation and to develop recommendations for improving environmental legislation, considering international experience, current environmental challenges. The study was based on a systematic analysis of international and national legislation, a study of practical experience in implementing environmentally friendly solutions, and an assessment of the effectiveness of environmental control mechanisms in the EU, including Lithuania, Ukraine. The study found that modern cities, occupying only 3% of the earth's surface, are responsible for producing 50% of global waste, about 70% of greenhouse gas emissions and 75% of energy and natural resource consumption. It was found that in some large EU agglomerations, such as Milan and Paris, the level of nitrogen dioxide air pollution often exceeds the established limits, and about 90% of urban residents are exposed to polluted air. An analysis of demographic transformations has shown that Ukraine's population could decline by 21-31% by 2052, with the demographic burden ratio increasing from 50 to 70 dependents per 100 people of working age. A comparative analysis of the environmental policies of Ukraine and Lithuania has revealed significant differences in approaches to protecting urban ecosystems. Lithuania has already made significant progress in implementing European environmental standards, while Ukraine's implementation of similar policies remains less advanced. A study of successful practices in European cities has shown that in Germany, the annual increase in the area of green roofs is 13.5 million m2, and in Copenhagen, 200,000 m2 of green roofs were created in 2010-2011 alone.