Climate Change and Challenges to Sustainable Development in the Russian Arctic

Climatic Change. 2023. Vol. 176. Article 39.

Stepanov I.A., Makarov I.A., Makarova E.A., Smolovik E.

The Arctic region is one of the most exposed to the global climate change. Russia accounts for more than a half of the whole Arctic territory and population and allocates most of the economic activity of the region. From the Soviet time till now, the Arctic region also accounts for a substantial share of Russia’s wealth. The article analyzes often ambiguous knowledge on climate change implications for the long-term economic development of the Russian Arctic. Based on the review of the key policy documents issued in Russia and ongoing and planned development programs, the study aspires to contribute more clarity on Russia’s standing the Arctic region. We aim to analyze the convergence of Russian climate and Arctic policies boosting the synergies between each other. The paper discovers, among other issues, the climate change adaptation priorities in policy areas aimed at minimizing net costs of climate change. While policies rhetorically aim at contributing to resilient and sustainable growth in the Russian North, they remain under-developed in accounting for multiple climate-related risks. Our analysis suggests that a comprehensive framework of Arctic policy measures should be centered around climate change as a core factor underlying the future of the region and should encompass two main policy dimensions: (a) strengthening the knowledge base on climate change, the adjunct risks and emerging opportunities in the region, (b) developing the system for climate change risk management and resilience building ensuring that regional diversity, climatic and socioeconomic features of various locations are taken into serious account.

Keywords: устойчивое развитие, климатическая политика, Российская Арктика, climate policy, Russian Arctic, sustainable development, арктическая политика, адаптация к изменению климата, Arctic policy, climate change adaptation, resilience building

Publication based on the results of: Development of methods for long-term analysis of the relationship of socio-economic development of Russia, climate change, measures of state climate policy abroad and within the country (2022)