Sustainable Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation

Abstract

The Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) has a significant economic potential. Today, it is being developed mainly through the use of the mineral resources available in the region. The chapter analyzes opportunities and limitations in implementation of large projects for the extraction and processing of natural resources in the AZRF and assesses the versatile impact of those projects on sustainable development of the territories in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. It provides a general assessment of the economic potential of the region and the prospects of its development, evaluation of the potential volume of the added value, tax revenues from the projects, and considers infrastructure restrictions (transport, communication, and port infrastructure). Active economic development of the Arctic zone and growth of the cargo base of the Northern Sea Route make especially relevant the issues of sustainable development of the Arctic zone territory, including the need for development of the social infrastructure, intensification of maritime navigation, and careful attitude to the environment. The analysis, estimates, and forecasts in this chapter were made by the authors on the basis of open data and public strategic documents.KeywordsArctic zone of the Russian FederationNorthern Sea Routesustainable developmenteconomic potentialadded valuetax revenuesmaritime navigation