Ecological Entrepreneurship as a Factor of Social and Economic Development of Regions

The article defines the possibilities of ecological entrepreneurship for the socio-economic development of Ukrainian regions, which forms a conscious and responsible consumption of natural resources with minimization of harmful impact on the environment, implementing ecological policy aimed at organic production, circular economy, and using alternative energy sources in economic activity. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the possibilities of developing ecological entrepreneurship to ensure the resilience of Ukraine’s regions. The study was conducted using theoretical and empirical methods: content analysis and synthesis of scientific literature — to study modern approaches to ecological entrepreneurship; system analysis — to estimate ecological entrepreneurship as a complex phenomenon that combines economic, social and environmental components; abstract and logical — to establish logical relationships between ecological entrepreneurship and sustainable development; statistical analysis — to evaluate the indicators of ecological entrepreneurship development in the regions; functional analysis — to analyze regulatory acts, analytical reports, and support programs for ecological entrepreneurship; benchmarking — to compare best practices of ecological entrepreneurship in different countries. The novelty of the study is a comprehensive analysis of the role of ecological entrepreneurship as a key factor in the socio-economic development of Ukrainian regions by identifying the interrelationships between entrepreneurship, environmental protection, and increasing the resilience of regional economies, considering the best European practices. The main environmental indicators of entrepreneurial activity are estimated, and the impact of military operations on the environment in the regions of Ukraine is determined. The types of ecological entrepreneurship are distinguished, and the possibilities of developing organic production as one of the priority directions for the recovery of entrepreneurial activity in the regions are substantiated. The successful practices of ecological entrepreneurship in Ukraine are analyzed, and directions of their development in various types of economic activity in the regions are determined in the article. The article summarizes foreign experience in various types of environmental entrepreneurship, which allowed us to confirm the hypothesis that it is promising to spread it to ensure the resilience of regional development in Ukraine. The instruments for promoting the development of ecological entrepreneurship in Ukraine are substantiated, including: certification and ecological labelling; energy saving and use of renewable energy sources; green innovations and technologies; waste management; investment in green projects; education and awareness raising; cooperation with local governments, wide involvement of regional stakeholders; development of digital platforms; promotion of eco-friendly products, etc. Сonclusions are made on promising areas for further researches in the field of environmental economics in the regions, namely, the recommendations for regional authorities, enterprises and investors to prioritize ecological entrepreneurship in renewed regional and local strategies of socio-economic development, considering their natural resource potential, economic specialization and environmental status, which will facilitate the regions’ adaptation to global environmental and economic challenges.