URBAN METABOLISM AS A BACKGROUND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIRCULAR CITIES IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The paper goal is to investigate the sustainability of Ukrainian cities from the perspective of urban metabolism model. Based on the study of the features and advantages of the concept of urban metabolism for the development of sustainable and circular cities, the authors applied and analyzed the integral indicators of resource consumption, waste production, economic functions of cities, and also analyzed the institutional capacities, plans and environmental policy measures of 14 regional centers of Ukraine. The scoring helps to determine the ratio of the urban metabolism indicators of the selected cities of Ukraine and to identify the main imbalances in the consumption and use of resources, as well as to identify the cities that require the activation of institutional support for sustainable development. The application of such method highlighted that the urban metabolism concept works and can be applied in conditions of insufficient data and statistical information, as it is now in Ukraine. In research result it is clear that Vinnytsia and Khmelnitskyi are the most sustainable among the selected cities from the perspective of circular economy. Rivne, Kharkiv and Dnipro are characterized by balanced flows, but have higher rates of resource consumption and waste production. Poltava, Odesa, Cherkasy and Sumy require significant environmental policy adjustments in relation to resource consumption and waste management. The capital of Ukraine, Kyiv occupies an average position among all cities, which is enhanced by significant economic and innovative development and high level of public environmental activity. The lowest level of anthropogenic pressure is observed in Chernivtsi.