Economic Dimension of the Climate Challenge to Russia’s Sustainable Development

Abstract

The choice of an efficient response to climate challenge to Russia’s sustainable development is considered. The low-carbon economy paradigm is analyzed critically in terms of its ability to stabilize the climate situation (not to exceed the 2°C growth of the global air temperature by the end of the 21st century), improve the quality of life, and provide for sustainable economic development. It is argued that an efficient action strategy to reduce climate risks of socioeconomic development involves several interrelated groups of institutional, economic, and technological measures. The strategy priorities include: economic growth stimulation based on improved production efficiency using the best available resource use technologies; the reduction of hazardous economic impacts on human health and the environment (primarily emissions of hazardous, including carbon-containing, pollutants into the atmosphere); human health and ecosystems adaptation to and protection against the above impacts and their consequences, including those provoked by climate change; the alleviation of accumulated adverse effects; and the reduction of the current and future anthropogenic effects on environmental climate forcing factors.