Sustainable investment market: role and place in contemporary economic relations

Introduction. The current conditions of military and political instability are radically transforming the competitive environment of enterprises, creating new challenges for ensuring their competitiveness and sustainable functioning. Military conflicts, political crises and geopolitical tensions lead to the destruction of traditional supply chains, market volatility, and restricted access to resources and capital, which requires enterprises to develop fundamentally new adaptation and survival strategies. The purpose is to generalize theoretical foundations and provide a comprehensive assessment of sustainable investment as a mechanism for redistributing capital from environmentally harmful industries to low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially responsible sectors. Methods. Methodologically, the paper relies on a systemic approach, comparative and structural-functional analysis, and synthesis of international practices. The research draws on official materials from global, EU and U.S. regulatory acts, Chinese government initiatives, and open statistical databases. This combination ensures the reliability and representativeness of findings. Results. The results highlight that sustainable investments are not only a financial innovation but also a driver of structural transformation. They stimulate innovation, shape new standards of corporate responsibility, and generate significant changes in labor markets by creating “green jobs” while gradually phasing out employment in polluting industries. The analysis demonstrates the existence of three dominant models: the regulatory-driven European model, the market-driven U.S. model, and the state-coordinated Chinese model. Each reflects the specific institutional environment of these regions, but together they confirm the global institutionalization of sustainable finance. Conclusions. The study concludes that the sustainable investment market is evolving into a horizontal infrastructure integrated across all financial sectors. For Ukraine, still at an early stage of development, sustainable investment holds strategic significance for modernization, international integration, and economic resilience. The paper recommends adopting a national taxonomy harmonized with EU standards and establishing specialized legislation to enhance transparency, investor trust, and alignment with global sustainability goals.