Green Policy - Threats and Opportunities for Rural Youth

Abstract

Currently, implementing “green” transformation of all spheres is actively pursued. One of the most important steps in this direction is to involve young people in the climate policy, as they constitute the basis for future economy. The purpose of this study is to identify main trends of the “green economy” as a source of development of rural areas and create new opportunities there to enhance inflow of the young. The research methodology is based on a theoretical analysis of main trends in climate change and their influence on the economy. The empirical side of the study is based on a sociological survey of young people in ten regions of the Siberian Federal District, conducted in 2021 through an online survey. The number of respondents totaled 5,000 people. The research tools included a block of questions aimed at identifying young people’s view on responsible production and consumption. It was revealed that today’s youth places great emphasis on environmental issues, highlighting “environmental thinking, “lean manufacturing” and “customer orientation”. Taking into account that agricultural field is the most sensitive to climate change, both the government and real sector of the economy should take significant steps to integrate ESG-factors in fiduciary duties of entrepreneurs, educational institutions and future experts. The government and investment sector fund the increasing number of “green” project initiatives, thus creating new opportunities for young people to pursue a career in this sphere.