LOCAL LEVEL GOVERNANCE: PATTERNS, TRENDS, AND RISKS OF DECENTRALIZATION INITIATIVES IN THE FACE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

The paradigm of decentralisation, as an intrinsic component of transformational processes within the system of public administration, is acquiring increasing heuristic and praxis-oriented significance in the context of rethinking subsidiarity and the fiscal self-determination of subnational actors.Given the intensification of polycentric tendencies and the discursive multivariance of governance models, the necessity of a comprehensive explication of the influence exerted by the devolution of authority on the institutional architecture of local self-government becomes increasingly pronounced, with particular reference to the territorial communities of Ukraine as a heuristic sample for empirical inquiry.The methodological framework of the study incorporates an interdisciplinary approach, encompassing comparative analysis of international practices, both quantitative and qualitative evaluative methods, as well as empirical instruments of sociological reflection.The study substantiates that decentralization in the context of eco-changes involves expanding the powers of local self-government bodies in the areas of natural resource management, environmental protection, implementation of environmental initiatives, environmental monitoring, and control.It has been proven that decentralization is conceptually significant in the context of sustainable local development against the backdrop of eco-change, contributing to a more effective response to local problems and the integration of sustainable practices.The empirical findings of the study demonstrate that the implementation of decentralisation mechanisms is accompanied by a cumulative increase in the budgetary selfsufficiency of territorial communities, correlating with enhanced managerial rationality and procedural transparency.Simultaneously, several systemic dysfunctions have been identified, including disproportionate resource allocation and a pronounced deficit in the administrative competence of local leadership, which impede the effective contextualisation of decentralisation within local governance frameworks.The practical significance of the study lies in the formulation of conceptually grounded recommendations for the optimisation of intermunicipal equalisation mechanisms, the augmentation of managerial capacity among local elites, and the institutionalisation of digital instruments within the realm of public administration.The findings offer a substantive foundation for the further conceptualisation of sustainable development policies and the dynamisation of the local self-government system in the context of post-industrial societal transformations.