PROBLEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY OF RUSSIA IN THE LIGHT OF THE “GREEN” GROWTH CONCEPT

Abstract

A number of key aspects of environmental safety of Russia and some other countries have been considered in the paper. It is shown that the reasons of many environmental issues to a significant degree had an anthropogenic origin. Taking into account environmental situation in the Russian Federation ecological safety becomes the most significant component of the national security in connection with the necessity of ensuring human health and well-being, as well as accounting of environmental aspects in the country's economic policy when economic development and environmental issues can no longer be considered separately. A special importance for providing ecological safety of the country gains necessity to consider the ongoing climate change along with full value accounting of natural capital in the system of Russia's national accounts. The article also touches upon the main aspects of "green economy" and "green growth" concepts that represent a fundamental idea of modern sustainable development, as well as a set of measures proposed within the "green" growth strategy that might be adjusted to the national context of the Russian Federation. Wide application of environmentally safe and resource-efficient technologies, low-waste and wasteless production, re-use and recycling of wastes and materials as a source of raw materials in the economy are terms of ecological security of Russia. The authors have also analyzed the experience of ensuring environmental safety of some member-countries of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in the light of "green economy" concept and considered possibilities for applying that experience for ensuring environmental safety of Russia on the basis of comprehensive integration of environmental observations in to the economic policy of the country. The article also contains recommendations on the alignment of legislative base of the country with "green" economy requirements.