Arctic 2035: Issue 2024 – 4 (20)

The article reveals the methodology and methods of the Polar Index project. The goal of the Polar Index project is to increase general interest in the topic of sustainable development — the concept of how companies or territories can develop harmoniously and balanced, thinking about the future and investing in it. Ratings encourage companies to more actively implement the principles of sustainable development in their activities, and territories — to build a policy for the maximum achievement of sustainable development goals. In addition, the publication of the Polar Index ratings encourages the openness of companies and territories, their readiness for dialogue with society and public presentation of their work. This ultimately benefits everyone who lives and works in the regions of the North — government agencies, businesses and, most importantly, residents of the Arctic. The author’s approaches to the development of a sustainable development model, to the development of the concept and principles of sustainable development are also revealed.

Dynamic economic development of the region entails an inevitable negative impact on its ecological state. The article describes the biological and non-biological resource state of the Arctic, substantiates the need to improve environmental safety and ensure the right balance between environmental protection and anthropogenic impact during the exploitation of the Arctic subsoil. It is noted that sustainable development is an important factor in reducing the severity of the conflict between the conservation of biodiversity and anthropogenic impact in the Arctic.

In the Russian Federation, state regulation and state support for projects related to renewable energy and the transition to low-carbon energy in the face of climate change, in particular beyond the Arctic Circle, is particularly relevant, as it is one of the directions for reducing the effects of climate change in general for the country and for the regions. As a result of the analysis of existing clusters, technoparks and industrial parks in high-tech industries the authors came to the conclusion that it is advisable to create new structures capable of carrying out large investment projects (related to the activation of the Northern Sea Route), as well as to allocate additional project financing for these purposes with the help of state and entrepreneurial funds, taking into account the specifics of production and configurations of integration structures. The necessity of forming an algorithm for the implementation of the mechanism for the formation of territorial «green» clusters in high-tech industries and their prospects in solving the problems of ensuring the economic and technological sovereignty of the country was also substantiated.

Theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of sustainable development continue to be actively discussed at various levels, its goals are promoted by the United Nations. The long history of development provides a large amount of information for discussion on issues of rational use of natural resources, maintaining a balance between the economy and the social sphere, developing modern infrastructure, ensuring a high quality of life in various territories, developing partnerships and interaction with the state. With regard to the Arctic region, issues of sustainable development are many times more important. At the same time, decision-makers, scientists and experts pay insufficient attention to the development and preservation of the cultural potential of the Arctic. It is necessary to identify points of active growth of non-resource capital, which will increase the competitiveness of the Arctic territory, including at the global level. The main actors in this process and investment objects can be Arctic museums.

In recent decades, tourism has been developing along the path of increasing the entertainment component in organizing tourist trips. Today, we see a return to serious types of tourism. Scientific and educational tourism (popular science tourism) is a direction that combines tourist travel with research, educational and cognitive activities. The article presents the successful experience of the Murmansk Region in developing this direction of tourism.

The Arctic territories are important for the Russian Federation not only from an economic but also from a geopolitical point of view. Therefore, a new institution of «supporting settlements» is being introduced in the Arctic zone of the Russia, and the Government of Russia, on behalf of the President, determined a list of them. The article discusses the main functions of support settlements, the criteria for classifying Arctic cities and towns as support settlements, and the differences between Arctic support settlements and others. It is proposed, due to the high importance of the support settlements of the Arctic zone in connection with their performance of significant federal functions, to provide them with a number of federal support measures that are not mediated by the regional level of decision-making.

The article reveals a topic of historical formation of indigenous peoples, including minorities, inhabiting the northern and eastern Eurasian territories of Russia, as well as the Arctic regions, within the modern borders of the Russian Federation. There is explained the term«indigenous peoples», its equivalents are given, and the problems of indigenous ethnics in the world are presented. The relationship between historical development of the indigenous peoples of northern and eastern Eurasia and their socio-economic and political relationships with the Russian government over a long period of their coexistence is outlined, the demographic status and reasons for changes in the number of a particular ethnic group are analyzed.

The paper is devoted to the study of the use of public-private partnership (PPP) in the implementation of the social component of the master plan of the Murmansk agglomeration. The possibilities of using PPPs for the effective development of the region’s social infrastructure, including housing construction, modernization of educational and medical institutions, as well as improvement of public utilities and transport networks, are being considered. The key challenges of the region, including the shortage of skilled workers and difficult climatic conditions, have been analyzed. Special attention is paid to the integration of the private sector into the process of sustainable socio-economic development, which can become a key factor in improving the quality of life of the population and increasing the competitiveness of the region.

The article is devoted to the description of the problems of reindeer herding in the Arctic regions of our country. An analysis of publications on the current situation with reindeer herding in Russia is conducted, interviews and assessments of representatives of regional and municipal authorities, reindeer herding cooperatives and farmers, experts are given, on the basis of which a forecast is made that northern reindeer herding in the country may disappear in 10–15 years.

The introduction of a paperless banking system is a significant transformation in the financial industry, with the aim of improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and promoting environmental sustainability. This program has garnered considerable attention in Russia, as it aligns with the global trend towards digitalization. Particularly relevant for banks operating in the Arctic region are the special environmental and logistical challenges that necessitate innovative banking and investment strategies. The connection between regulatory reform and technological advancement makes paperless banking a crucial innovation in today’s financial landscape, emphasizing compliance with regulations, security measures, and customer satisfaction.