Environmental safety as an element of single-industry towns’ sustainable development in the Arctic region

Abstract

Maintaining a certain level of environmental safety is one of the most important goals in exploring the Arctic region, taking into account its intensified industrial development. This study offers an approach to achieving environmental safety of industrial single-industry towns of the Arctic region of Russia. In order to implement an environmental safety strategy insingle-industry towns (with the Murmansk Region discussed as an example) and tailor it to the changing conditions, we have proposed a system of indicators reflecting the goals of preserving and restoring the ecosystem of single-industry towns of the Murmansk Region, taking into account the severe conditions and high vulnerability of the Arctic nature. The indicators were determined using the Balanced Scorecard system which components were adapted in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Strategy of Ecological Security of the Russian Federation in view of the unique features that Arctic single-industry towns have. When choosing the methodology of the study, we have found and analyzed the indicators of sustainable development, including environmental safety, proposed by international communities or organizations, such as UN Commission, World Bank, OECD European Commission, World Wildlife Fund, etc. The strategic map we have constructed allows to reconcile the interests of different stakeholders and can be used as a basis for decision-making at various levels of governance (industrial enterprises, regional and municipal authorities, local communities, and others).