The materials in this issue are dedicated to the sustainable development of the Arctic and the preservation of its unique natural environment. Both Russian experience and the efforts of foreign colleagues in this area are presented.
The article examines the development of the Russian Arctic as the most important strategic territory of the Russian Federation, where the Northern Sea Route (NSR) plays a key role. The article describes the history of creation, national significance and the main stages of development of the Northern Sea Route in Russia. Taking into account the relevance of "green development", the main problems and prospects for the development of the Northern Sea Route in accordance with the "green principles" are considered.
Distributed energy is a key direction in optimizing the economic mechanisms of energy supply ("northern delivery" of energy resources) for Arctic projects and reducing the energy intensity of the gross regional product in the complex socio-economic development of the Arctic zone of Russia. The distribution of the power of energy sources during their interaction in a common network allows for the adaptation of the energy sector to new technologies of flexible construction and intelligent control. With the increase in the volume of mining in the Arctic regions, the role of the energy industry is increasing to ensure reliability and environmental safety in the Arctic. The article discusses the sources of distributed generation in the regions of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and substantiates the directions for the development of distributed energy.
The relevance of the study is due to the growing interest in the problems of the legal framework for the management of industrial waste, including on the territory of the subjects of the Russian Federation that are part of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Regulatory and legal regulation in the field of industrial waste management in the context of their resource value is practically absent, which is a factor of negative impact on both the economy and the environment of the region. The purpose of the study is to identify the most significant gaps and formulate proposals for improving legislation in the target area of public relations.
The relevance of the study is due to the growing scientific interest in the problems of "greening" the economy and the development of "green" financing as a new trend in the functioning of the global financial system, including in relation to the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Today, the formation of a green economy in the Arctic is one of the most important trends in the socio-economic development of the region. The purpose of the study is to identify directions for the development of a green economy in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.
THE ROLE OF THE DECOMPOSITION OF ARCTIC METHANE HYDRATES IN CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE, AND THE NEED TO TAKE THESE RISKS INTO ACCOUNT IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN THE ARCTIC
Over the past 30 years, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere has increased
2.5 times and continues to grow exponentially. Since the lifetime of methane in the atmosphere is 12 years, its global warming potential (GWP) is 72 over a period of 20 years and 25 over a period of 100 years (the GWP of CО₂ over these periods is 1), and the rate of increase in its concentration in the atmosphere is 2 4 times higher than CО₂, then already at present the contribution of methane to the global greenhouse effect is, according to various estimates, from 20 to 40% in relation to the contribution of CО₂, and in the next few decades, parity can be achieved between them. The main source of methane input into the atmosphere is methane hydrates, and first of all, methane
hydrates of the shelf and continental territories of the Arctic. Due to the rise in temperature at high latitudes, methane hydrates are in an unstable state. There is a positive feedback between the rise in temperatures in the Arctic cryosphere and the decomposition of methane hydrates, that is, this process is self-accelerating.
Consequently, even a relatively weak impact on it, including an anthropogenic technogenic character, can significantly affect the planetary climate system. In the history of the Earth, there are periods when methane emissions into the atmosphere due to the large-scale decomposition of methane hydrates led to climate-related biospheric disasters (catastrophic Mesozoic and Cenozoic warming accompanied by global oceanic anoxic events; the last such rapid warming of about 8 ˚С, over several millennia, has been recorded at the boundary of the Paleocene and Eocene ≈ 55 million years ago; it is assumed that it was caused by the decomposition of almost all oceanic methane hydrates available at that time). At present, the reserves of methane hydrates are almost 10 times higher than those that were at the border of the Paleocene and Eocene. These estimates make it possible to assert with confidence that the Arctic today is not just a “kitchen of the weather”, but also a “kitchen of the global climate”. The task is to obtain additional information on the structure, state and gas composition of the permafrost zone of the Eastern Arctic - the largest source of methane on the planet, and to develop on its basis an optimal strategy for the development of the Arctic in order to avoid additional acceleration of the decomposition of methane hydrates during economic activities in the region.
In 2020, Russia adopted the Federal Law of 13.07.2020 No. 193-FZ «On State Support for Entrepreneurial Activities in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation». A number of provisions of the law deal with the support of indigenous peoples. Thus, the Government of Russia needs to approve a program of state support for the traditional economic activities of indigenous peoples carried out in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. This article examines the development of northern reindeer herding as a key activity of small peoples, contributing to the preservation of their culture and identity.
Russian Federation Arctic zone (RFAZ) is the most important region for hydrocarbon production and, at the same time, the most unstable for negative anthropogenic impact. The soil cover is most unstable due to low thickness and location on permafrost. By arctic soils pollution with oil and oil products, the measures of mechanical impact for topsoil are low effective, as well as biotechnologies are necessary.
The Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug is the largest gas production base in Russia, which determines the presence of an extensive network of pipeline transport in the region. The use of land for transport infrastructure and deforestation change the structure of land use and negatively affect the state of the natural landscapes of the territory. The article discusses the possibility of solving the indicated problems with the help of artificial reforestation as a factor in the implementation of the concept of a "green" economy in the Arctic regions of Russia.
Temperature changes in the Arctic are 2-2.5 times faster than on the planet as a whole, and the melting of permafrost leads to devastating consequences for local infrastructure and puts people's lives at risk. The transition to green technologies will avoid a catastrophe and ensure a decent quality of the environment. In this article, we will discuss the prospects of converting the truck fleet to environmentally friendly analogues in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation.
The main trends of wind power industry development in the world are examined in this article. The paper also reviews the certain aspects of foreign experience in the planning, design and operation of wind power systems in the Arctic regions. The author draws a conclusion about the possible expansion of wind energy use in the Russian Arctic.
The article analyzes the experience of Sweden in the development of a circular economy. A set of measures at the national and regional levels is being considered. Particular attention is paid to the Arctic regions. In contrast to other polar provinces, the population of northern Sweden is growing. The formation of a comfortable environment for humans is possible even in difficult northern climatic conditions. The application of the experience of the Swedish regions is of interest to the Russian Arctic.
The Arctic labor market is losing its appeal. There is a growing discrepancy between the contribution of the AZRF to the country's economy and the living and working conditions of workers. As a result, negative demographic and migration processes continue to develop, and personnel problems have worsened. In order to improve the situation with personnel in the Arctic, it is necessary to raise the price of labor, to raise living conditions to the average Russian. Any management programs and plans for the development of the Arctic should contain a "human component."
The need to use new approaches to the development of the Russian Arctic regions, as well as the need for integrated development, is not in doubt. This article discusses a new type of animal husbandry intended for introduction in the Arctic regions — musk-breeding and the problems that can be solved with its help are analyzed. The option of developing the musk-breeding, based on the cooperation of the state, business and the scientific community, is also being considered.
Preservation of the gene pool of aboriginal horses is one of the urgent problems of modern horse breeding. Local horse breeds are disappearing as the focus is on breeding, improving and popularizing the numerous farm breeds. In modern conditions, only those horse breeds that are economically effective and have high productivity survive [1]. It has been proved that the gene pool of aboriginal animals, if it is lost, cannot be restored by the methods of modern breeding. This is the unique value of aboriginal animals. Such a difficult fate overtook the Karelian horses, which until the 1980s inhabited the territory of the present Arctic zone (the Republic of Karelia, part of the Arkhangelsk region), as well as part of the Leningrad, Vologda regions, the central and southern regions of the modern Republic of Karelia, and were destroyed by endless wars, village mechanization, the extinction of villages, crossing with other breeds. Purpose of the study: preserving the memory of the Karelian horse, researching horses close to the "Karelian horse" type, restoring the population of these horses.
The article discusses the implementation experience and prospects for the development of projects in the field of environmental education in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, as well as their role in the process of sustainable development of the region.
