Coal Region Development Strategy in the Context of Strategic Environmental Assessment

Abstract

The article presents the results of a strategic environmental analysis of the goals of socio-economic development of an average resource region. The research featured the case of Kuzbass as it moves on to technological regulation in the field of environmental protection. The author analyzed various methodological approaches to assessing the environmental component in strategic documents at the regional level. The analysis included sustainable development indicators, including integrated ones, as well as criteria and indicators of the environmental quality of the strategies. The study concentrated on the Strategy of Socio-Economic Development of the Kemerovo region (Kuzbass) up to 2035, which involved industrial and national strategies. The research objective was to identify the regional environmental component in the strategic document and to assess its potential for reducing the anthropogenic pressure on the environment in the context of increasing mining production. The Strategy proved to be based on the principles of continuity, balanced planning, and measurability of strategic environmental goals. However, the principles and mechanisms for achieving the strategic environmental goal require further clarification. The goal is to reduce the negative environmental impact of mining and other industries by switching to the best available technologies in accordance with the new industrial environmental policy of Russia.