Scientific publications

The aim of the article is to study the experience of the implementation of environmental projects within Russia-EU CBC Programmes 2014–2020 and their best practices. The case of the Kolarctic CBC Programme is scrutinized to evaluate the results of the project activities on the Russian side and to identify the most successful practices of using green technologies and solutions for tackling local environmental problems. On the basis of the survey, the best environmental practices and ways of replicating them were identified. The assessment was conducted using quantitative (structured questionnaire surveys) and qualitative (in-depth interviews and expert surveys) analysis methods, and the data collected were treated through triangulation. New technologies and engineering solutions were the most effectively applied in environmental education, resource conservation, energy efficiency, development of ecotourism, and establishment of protected areas. All the green developments were tested by northern climatic conditions, as the projects were implemented in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Regions and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, which belong to the Arctic zone. The experience gained through cross-border cooperation and the engineering solutions that have been developed and implemented in the environmental projects of the Kolarctic CBC Programme will help address local environmental challenges in other regions of the Russian Arctic more quickly. Extensive use of best practices is in line with the tasks of environmental protection and ensuring the environmental safety of the Russian Arctic zone outlined in the “Basic Principles of the Russian Federation State Policy in the Arctic until 2035”. Their implementation contributes to the development of a green economy in Russian regions and will help preserve the northern nature.