«Relative decoupling» of the growth dilemma: retrospective assessment, trends and challenges

Abstract

The article discusses the challenge of achieving the economic growth necessary to rebuild the global economy from the COVID-19 pandemic and to pervasive isolation in the face of environmental constraints. Significant climatic changes taking place on Earth, associated primarily with anthropogenic impact, predetermine the need for the transformation of economic systems, as well as adaptation of the population to new conditions. The relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and the technological capabilities of a modern economy, as determined by the Kaia identity, requires the development of an integrated environmental and economic policy aimed at increasing energy efficiency and saving resources, and their growth rate should outstrip the rate of economic growth (“relative decoupling”). At the global level, many countries have already committed themselves to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the problem remains extremely urgent, and environmental requirements are beginning to determine the economic and political situation in the world. For our country, the urgency of the problem is determined by the importance of the extractive industry in the structure of the economy, the share of fuel and raw materials in exports, as well as a high degree of wear and tear of fixed assets. Which warn of negative trends in this area. It is concluded that the available biocapacity is insufficient to reduce the negative impact on the Russian environment; it is necessary to intensify efforts to reduce the carbon footprint in the entire economic system, to stimulate environmental investments and comprehensive environmental modernization