Sustainable development and economic transition in Russia : what issues?, what agenda?

This paper describes the features and trends of this development and examines the region"s strategy for both long-term and short-term economic reforms and the role of environmental control in that strategy. The economic and environmental situation in the transition economies has not improved unambiguously since the move away from central planning. Economic indicators are still in the process of turning upward, and although emission levels of many pollutants have declined in recent years, the pollution intensity of the economy (emissions per unit of output) has increased in some countries and for some pollutants. Other indicators of environmental quality are also conflicting. The expectation is that, as the market reforms take place, the quality of the environment will improve in most respects, although a deterioration can be expected with regard to levels of ozone, NOx emissions, and solid waste. The short term, however, offers less sanguine environmental prospects. If viewed in terms of sustainable development, sustainability measures based on the total capital stock are not relevant for the transition phase. Preserving those components of the natural capital stock that are most important, and whose loss is irreversible, should be part of the sustainable development strategy during the transition phase. In selecting the assets to be protected in this way, it will be necessary to weigh the values of preservation against the costs thereof. Environmental policy reforms can also assist in the transition to a path of sustainable development; specific recommendations are to focus pollution reduction in environmental hot spots; help enterprises adopt low/no-cost strategies; increase the efficiency of public sector environmental allocations; seek innovative ways to regulate pollution and for financing environmental improvements; and support the activities of bone fide local NGOs. Includes references.