Green infrastructure of Ukrainian cities in the context of the European Green Deal

Introduction. Increasing urbanisation, climate change and environmental challenges highlight the importance of a comparative assessment of the provision of green infrastructure in Ukrainian cities to improve the quality of the urban environment and the lives of citizens. A comparative assessment of the provision of green infrastructure in Ukraine's regional centres will help identify the level of green space development in each city, as well as their current problems and potential for further development. Such an analysis will enable local authorities and policy makers to take the necessary measures to improve the condition of green infrastructure and increase its accessibility to all city residents. The purpose of article. To determine the peculiarities of the formation and functioning of green infrastructure (GI) in the cities-regional centres of Ukraine, to compare the provision of the population with green areas in different administrative units of these cities. Research methods. To obtain statistical information on the population of each district of the city and the area of individual green areas, the method of statistical analysis and interpretation of remote sensing materials was used. For this purpose, satellite images from the Google Earth mapping service were used. Mathematical calculations were made in accordance with the generally accepted Green Index, which was defined as the ratio between the area of a district (city) and the number of its inhabitants. Main findings. The geographical analysis based on geodata and indices allowed us to assess the state of green areas in cities, identify the lack of green areas, and decide on the necessary measures to increase and improve green space. According to the results of the analysis, the cities with the most green infrastructure are Uzhhorod, Donetsk, Ternopil, Kropyvnytskyi, Rivne and Kharkiv, where the green indices are 136, 45, 39, 31, 29 26. This indicates that cities are actively working to preserve green areas and create comfortable environmental conditions for residents. On the other hand, in cities such as Luhansk (0.78), Sumy (2.73), Odesa (2.87), Mykolaiv (3.3), and Poltava (3.58), the area of green areas reaches catastrophic levels. They are more than 5 times behind the average European standards. The overall conclusion is that the state of green infrastructure in Ukrainian cities is diverse and requires attention at different levels. Cities that are leading the way in creating and maintaining green spaces show that it is possible and contribute to improving the quality of life of their residents. At the same time, cities with an insufficient amount of green space lag behind the standards, which can have a negative impact on health and the overall state of the urban environment. Scientific novelty and practical value. This study for the first time summarises the material on all regional centres of Ukraine regarding the provision of green infrastructure, calculates green indices, conducts spatial analysis and develops relevant recommendations.