ПОВЫШЕНИЕ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ УСТОЙЧИВОСТИ КОНЦЕССИОННЫХ ПРОЕКТОВ

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to study the question, to which extent the tasks of transition to sustainable urbanization through high-quality infrastructure investments are taken into account in the framework of concession agreements implemented in Russia. Analysis of the tender documentation for 70 announced tenders for concluding concession agreements showed that the criteria for competitive selection are, as a rule, economic indicators related to the volume of investments, financial obligations of the grantor and the time frame for the creation or reconstruction of the concession object. Environmental and social criteria when concluding concessions are used as long-term regulation parameters and target values for the performance indicators of the concessionaire, mainly in the utilities sector. The article substantiates the need for a transition to a sustainable-oriented approach to the implementation of concession agreements. The principle of project sustainability means that the project uses green technologies (use of energy obtained from renewable sources, environmentally friendly materials, innovative solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, waste, rational use of resources, etc.) and sustainable institutions (rules, contributing to the achievement of social and environmental sustainability). The role of the state in enhancing the environmental sustainability of concession agreements should be to build a system of incentives that will primarily contribute to the initiation of a green multiplier and a more complete provision of environmental and social risks of the project implementation at all stages of its life cycle. This will be facilitated by the inclusion of sustainability criteria in the tender documentation and the assessment of projects at the pre-project stage using the total cost of ownership (TCO) methodology, which takes into account the costs, including for the elimination of negative environmental and social consequences of the concession project implementation. The inclusion of criteria to ensure that environmental requirements are met throughout the supply chain throughout the life of a project will provide multiplier environmental benefits. This will require additional costs on the part of the grantor, but it will create market incentives for environmental innovation and attract additional private investment in quality infrastructure.