THE CONCEPT OF LEGAL REGULATION OF DIGITALIZATION OF STATE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to develop a system of theoretical, methodological, and practical foundations and recommendations for creating an effective mechanism of legal regulation of the digitalization of state environmental governance. The study identifies that the legal framework for digital transformation in the field of environmental management remains insufficiently researched and requires a systematic approach. For the first time, the content and correlation of the concepts “digitalization,” “digital transformation,” and “digital maturity” of state environmental governance are scientifically substantiated, and an original author’s interpretation of their distinction is proposed. It is argued that digitalization represents the process of transitioning to the use of digital technologies, digital transformation denotes a qualitatively new state of governance, and digital maturity reflects the level of readiness of the system for such changes.

The article examines the impact of digital technologies on the legal regulation of environmental relations and identifies new risks associated with the emergence of “digital environmental conflicts,” arising from both the ecological benefits and potential threats of digitalization. It reveals the peculiarities of legal regulation of environmental information in the digital economy, emphasizing the problems of legislative fragmentation and the absence of a unified system of accounting and monitoring standards. The author proposes the concept of establishing a next-generation state information system — a “digital twin of the environment,” which would integrate spatial data and results of state environmental monitoring.

In conclusion, the article substantiates a classification of the functions of state environmental governance according to the criterion of their digitalization potential and identifies key directions for improving legislation in this field. The research results can be applied in the development of national policy for digital environmental transformation and in drafting regulatory acts aimed at advancing e-environmental governance.

References

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