Notion and Scope of the Concept of Green Economy in National Jurisdictions (in Terms of the Russian Federation)

Abstract

The article deals with the notion and scope of the concept of green economy widely discussed in legal science. The authors substantiate its relationship with the concept of sustainable development and identify the distinctive features of its implementation at the national level. With respect to Russian conditions, they prove the following main areas of building a green economy: waste management; construction, transport, industry; renewable energy sources; agriculture; use and protection of natural resources. The authors suggest the concept of guarantees of building a green economy, which is a list of conditions for its implementation and protection means, and substantiate three of these conditions (with respect to Russia): environmental digitalization; development of environmental entrepreneurship; preparation of the doctrinal (and in theory regulatorily approved) Concept of Russia’s Transition to a Green Economy, which should define the goals and objectives of this transition, criteria and indicators of the achievement of the goals of a green economy, stages of the transition, budgetary and other financing sources and amounts as well as a list of laws and bylaws ensuring this transition.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation is the main nature protection authority in Russia <https://www.mnr.gov.ru/> (accessed March 21, 2023).

2 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were formulated by the UN General Assembly in the Outcome Document "Transforming our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". They include 17 global goals and 169 relevant targets.

3 For example, with respect to forests, they are established in Order No. 21 of February 5, 1998 of the Federal Forestry Service of Russia. If we refer to criterion 1 (maintenance and preservation of the productive capacity of forests), its achievement is determined by several indicators (change in the share of the area of exploitable forests in relation to the total area of forest land (every 5 years), change in the share of the area of forests available for exploitation in relation to the area of land covered with forest, etc.).

4 Ref. par. 4 of Executive Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1912-r of July 14, 2021 "Goals and the Main Areas of Sustainable (Including Green) Development of the Russian Federation". In: Legal Reference System "Garant", accessed March 21, 2023.

5 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The European Green Deal. Brussels, 11.12.2019.

6 Tailings dams are systems of structures for the storage of waste from works in the area of subsoil use.

7 United Nations. Secretary-General's remarks on Climate Change [as delivered]. 10 September 2018 <https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2018-09-10/secretary-generals-remarks-climate-change-delivered> (accessed March 21, 2023).

8 ICT means information and communication technology

9 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The European Green Deal. Brussels, 11.12.2019.

10 Concept of Real Right Legislation Development. Recommended by the Presidium of the Presidential Council for Codification and Enhancement of Civil Legislation of the Russian Federation on March 18, 2009; Strategy for the Development of the Industry for the Processing, Utilization and Neutralization of Production and Consumption Waste for the Period up to 2030. Approved by Executive Order of the Government of the Russian Federation of January 25, 2018; Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 440 of April 1, 1996 "On the Concept of the Transition of the Russian Federation to Sustainable Development".

11 Concept of the Transition of the Republic of Kazakhstan to a Green Economy. Approved by Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 577 of May 30, 2013.

12 National Action Plan for the Development of the Green Economy in the Republic of Belarus until 2020. Approved by Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 1061 of December 21, 2016.

13 Concept of the Development of Russia's Digital Economy (April 2017) <http://fidp.ru/projects/concept> (accessed March 21, 2023).