ESG investment in critical infrastructure during the post-war recovery period of Ukraine

Abstract

The problem of investment is one of the urgent issues for our country. Ensuring investment in critical infrastructure objects in conditions of hostilities and against the backdrop of the destruction of this infrastructure is associated not so much with economic growth as with the current survival of the country , burdened by continuous military actions. The need for more dynamic development of investment processes aimed at attracting ESG investments in critical infrastructure has been emphasized. The aim of the article is to explore the prospects of ESG investment in critical infrastructure during the post-war recovery period of Ukraine. It has been established that the ESG concept is a modern trend in the investment space that needs to be considered and implemented in practice. The importance of implementing ESG criteria has significantly increased in recent decades and is expected to grow even faster in the near future. Most infrastructure funds view ESG as a driving force that enhances the value and stability of portfolio companies against the backdrop of constant global changes. To benefit from the opportunities provided by ESG investment, it is necessary to consider ESG criteria (environmental, social, and governance) at every stage of the investment life cycle. ESG is increasingly becoming a requirement for investment compliance. It has been established that ESG investment, as the implementation of the ESG concept, contributes to positive changes in society, preserves the environment, etc. However, in the case of the urgent need for rapid and effective post-war recovery of critical infrastructure in Ukraine, it will significantly complicate the process since compliance with ESG criteria, which could be ignored earlier, will have to be followed. The need to change the regulatory framework regarding the inclusion of ESG investment specifics and to transform approaches to investment in the domestic business community is mentioned because the international business community seeks to invest its capital in enterprises and territories that meet ESG criteria. For Ukraine, transformation aimed at meeting the requirements for ESG investment is both a challenge and a necessity for integration into global investment processes.