N. N. Yashalova , D. A. Ruban. Environmental and Economic Prerequisites for Russiaʼs Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy

UDК 33:574(470+571)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.117.029.202104.746-767

Abstract

Introduction. Environmental and climatic problems of the Russian Federation have attracted considerable attention from scientists, politicians, as well as the general public. Human activities are a major cause of pollution and global warming, which necessitates the search for a new way of economic development reducing the adverse impact on the environment. The authors consider a low-carbon economy aimed at simultaneously solving economic, environmental, and climatic problems as such a guideline. Based on the research conducted the article identifies the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in which pilot projects for the transition of enterprises and cities to low-carbon development are most expedient to implement. The gained experience should be applied in other regions of the country in the future.

Materials and Methods. Data from the Federal State Statistics Service and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation on 20 most populated constituent entities of the country were analyzed. In order to identify the regions with the largest volumes of various types of pollution, the data ranking method was applied. The authors have also carried out an analysis of relative indicators of natural resource intensity associated with emission into the atmosphere, discharges of polluted wastewater, and production of municipal solid waste.

Results. The performed analysis has shown the heterogeneity of the environmental and economic development of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It has been concluded that among the regions considered, it is most expedient to implement pilot projects for low-carbon development in cities and in “polluting” industries located in the Kemerovo, Sverdlovsk, and Chelyabinsk Regions, as well as in the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study can be used in the development of environmental programs, as well as in the development of directions for mitigating the environmental impact in the most polluted regions of the country and in industries with high natural resource intensity.

Keywords: ecology, economy, region, population, enterprise, city, low-carbon economy, incentives

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Yashalova N.N., Ruban D.A. Environmental and Economic Prerequisites for Russiaʼs Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy. Regionology = Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2021; 29(4):746-767. doi: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.117.029.202104.746-767

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Submitted 05.05.2021; approved after reviewing 11.07.2021; accepted for publication 21.07.2021.

About the authors:

Natalia N. Yashalova, Head of the Department of Economics and Management, Cherepovets State University (5 Lunacharskogo Ave., Cherepovets 162600, Russian Federation), Dr. Sci. (Economics), Associate Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7279-3140, natalij2005@mail.ru

Dmitry A. Ruban, Researcher, K. G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management (The First Cossack University) (73 Zemlyanoy Val St., Moscow 109004, Russian Federation), Ph. D., Associate Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2847-645X, ruban-d@mail.ru

Contribution of the authors:

N. N. Yashalova – general structuring of the study; interpretation and analysis of statistical data; preparation of the text of the article; drawing conclusions; evaluation of the results of the study.

D. A. Ruban – preparation of the text of the article; drawing conclusions; critical analysis and revision of the text of the article.

The authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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