PECULIARITIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CONTEXT OFSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Environmental audit has evolved from a simple compliance monitoring instrument into a comprehensive management platform that integrates sustainable development principles across private and public sectors. This research examines the legal, methodological, and organizational features of conducting environmental audits in Ukraine and leading international jurisdictions, analyzing current trends and regulatory evolution in this field. The study demonstrates that environmental audit serves as a critical bridge between regulatory frameworks and corporate management mechanisms, facilitating systematic assessment of environmental impacts while promoting conscious environmental responsibility among enterprises. In the context of post-war reconstruction following Russian aggression, Ukraine faces unprecedented challenges in harmonizing its national environmental audit system with international standards, particularly European Union directives and the European Green Deal principles. Through comparative analysis of environmental audit systems in Ukraine, European Union countries (EMAS scheme), and the United States (EPA framework), the research reveals significant disparities in regulatory approaches. While European practices emphasize voluntary participation with substantial financial incentives, Ukraine maintains a predominantly mandatory system for nine specific circumstances, including privatization, bankruptcy proceedings, permit applications, and licensing of environmentally hazardous facilities. The study identifies critical barriers to environmental audit implementation in Ukraine, including limited budgetary financing, insufficient financial incentives, low environmental awareness levels, inadequate monitoring data accessibility, and a severe shortage of qualified auditors. International best practices demonstrate significant economic benefits from environmental audit implementation, including direct cost savings through reduced raw material consumption, improved waste management efficiency, energy conservation, and decreased regulatory penalties. Organizations participating in EMAS report substantial financial returns. The research proposes comprehensive recommendations for strengthening Ukraine's environmental audit system, including establishment of a Ukrainian EMAS version adapted to national characteristics, enhanced tax and financial incentive mechanisms, expanded mandatory audit requirements for high environmental risk private enterprises, improved transparency through public access to audit conclusions, and harmonization with European standards to ensure investment attractiveness. These measures would facilitate not only environmental improvement but also enhance Ukrainian economic competitiveness within the global transition toward sustainable development. The study concludes that convergence of national legislation with international standards represents the only viable pathway to ensure investor confidence, strengthen environmental security, and promote innovative development of the Ukrainian economy under European integration conditions. The proposed framework offers practical solutions for transforming environmental audit from a regulatory burden into a strategic tool for sustainable economic growth and environmental protection.