Green economy as the main way of development of society

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Introduction Currently, the problem of greening the economy and rational use of natural resources is coming to the fore. Since the industrial revolution, society has been using an economic model that implies the predatory use of natural resources, a high anthropogenic load on the Earth’s biosphere. With his economic activity, a person changes natural landscapes, some animal species disappear. More and more often, scientific and political circles are talking about changing the economic model of development, about the need to transition to a new economy, an economy based on the principles of rational use of human resources, principles that would create well-being for all, and not for individual groups of the population, principles that allow for the sustainable development of society. This model of economic development is called the green economy. The term “green economy” was proposed in 1989 by environmental economists David Pierce, Edward Barbier, Emil Markand in his work “A plan for a green economy”. The term was reborn in 2008, when the global economy entered the phase of one of the most serious crises since the Great Depression in the United States. It was during this period that UNEP proposed the development of “green incentive packages” to provide analysis and policy support for investments in green sectors and industries that intensively pollute the environment.[32] But what is a green economy? There is no single interpretation of this term. Since 2008, it has undergone several interpretations: from “economic activities related to the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services that lead to improving people’s well-being in the long term, at the same time, without exposing future generations to significant environmental risks and reducing the shortage of environmental resources” to “an economy that focuses on using opportunities to simultaneously promote economic and environmental goals”.[33] Whatever the interpretation of the term “green economy”, its main goal is to ensure economic growth that improves the quality of the environment and social integration. The following main directions of implementation of this economic model of development are distinguished (Figure 1). The main directions of the implementation of the green economy Clean energy and clean technologies, including recycling Agricultural energy, including the use of biomass and other types of renewable energy sources Sustainable agriculture, including organic agriculture Ecosystem infrastructure Reduction of emissions due to deforestation and forest degradation Sustainable cities, including planning, transport and green construction Figure 1. The main directions of the implementation of the green economy Source: compiled by the authors according to: UNEPCOM. Russian National Committee for supportting UNEP. Global green new deal. Available from: http://greeneconomy.kg/theory/ponyatie-i-sushhnost-zelenoy-ekonomiki/ (accessed: 05.07.2021). Let’s take a closer look at three of these directions. Results and discussion One of the most important areas is the development of clean energy and clean technologies. Clean energy is understood as a promising branch of energy that involves the use of unconventional (renewable and practically inexhaustible) energy sources, which include: solar radiation, kinetic wind energy, water movement in rivers, heat of the earth’s surface, biofuels and others. Analyzing the data, we note that oil consumption increased by 0.9 million barrels per day. This is due to the growth of consumption in China, Iran, India, Algeria and Russia. A decrease in consumption is noted in Mexico, Italy, Pakistan and other countries. The growth of gas exports is noted in the United States, Russia, Australia, Algeria, and a decrease - in Indonesia. The growth of imports is in China, Great Britain, France, Spain, and Italy. As for the production and consumption of coal, its consumption in the world decreased by 0.6% in 2019. As a result, the share of coal in primary energy has decreased to 27%, which is the lowest value in the last 16 years. Coal consumption is increasing in developing economies. So, the growth is observed in China, Indonesia, Vietnam. According to analysts, a steady increase is observed in the consumption of energy obtained from renewable sources. The consumption of energy received from hydroelectric power plants increased by 0.8%, and the consumption of energy received from nuclear power plants increased by 3.2%.[34] Table 2 Fuel shares of primary energy and contributions to growth in 2019[35] Energy source Consumption, exajoules Annual сhange, exajoules Share of primary energy Point change in share from 2018, % Oil 193.0 1.6 33.1% -0.2 Gas 141.5 2.08 24.2% 0.2 Coal 157.9 -0.9 27.0% -0.5 Renewables 29.0 3.2 5.0% 0.5 Hydro 37.6 0.3 6.4% -0.0 Nuclear 24.9 0.8 4.3% 0.1 Total 583.9 7.7 According to some experts, “the industry is becoming more ‘green,’ despite the opposition of the countries exporting hydrocarbons.”[36] Many companies invest in renewable energy sources. Many, such as Statoil, are diversifying their business.[37] At the same time, there are changes in the energy policy of entire states. For example, in the United States, a plan was developed according to which the American energy sector will get rid of carbon emissions by 2035, by 2050 it is planned that the country will become carbon neutral.[38] The proposed plan will give an additional boost to growth. Analysts expect an increase in the share prices of companies related to solar energy. South Korea plans to become a carbon neutral economy by 2050, and China by 2060.[39] The second equally important area of implementation of the concept of green economy is agricultural energy, including the use of biomass and other types of renewable energy sources. It should be noted that biomass has been used for human energy production for a long time. Every year, up to 83 billion tons of biomass are produced on Earth, from which people process 9 billion tons no more than 15-20% is used for food production [1]. One of the distinctive features of biomass is its self-creation. The following forms of biomass can be used for energy purposes (Figure 2). Source: compiled by the authors according to: Alter 2020. Biomass as an energy source. Available from: https://alter220.ru/bio/biomassa-kak-istochnik-energii.html (accessed: 05.07.2021). Technologies of biomass processing Pyrolysis Gasification Cogeneration Biochemical processes Figure 3. Technologies of biomass processing Source: compiled by the authors according to: Alter 2020. Biomass as an energy source. Available from: https://alter220.ru/bio/biomassa-kak-istochnik-energii.html (accessed: 05.07.2021). According to experts, in some countries, the use of biomass for energy purposes can account for up to 50% of total consumption. At the same time, it is expected that by 2025, the global consumption of biomass can reach 85 KW/h of electricity and 250 kW/h of thermal energy [1]. Currently, various technologies for processing biomass have been developed and are being implemented (Figure 3). The third direction of the development of the green economy is the development of sustainable agriculture, including organic agriculture. As noted by A.A. Askarov and A.A. Askarova, the modern system of agricultural production has led to negative consequences, among which they distinguish [2]: - soil erosion; - poisoning of the natural environment with the remnants of mineral fertilizers; - violation of the natural mechanisms of biological balance. The processes caused by these phenomena slow down the development of ecosystems. Modern society meets its emerging needs at the expense of future generations. And as A.A. Askarov and A.A. Askarova note, “modern agricultural production has become, along with other spheres of human activity, a serious threat to achieving the goals of the global program of the world community” [2]. As a result, there is a transition to completely different principles of conducting activities in agriculture. First of all, environmental aspects are taken into account. This, in turn, contributed to the emergence of organic agriculture. The main indicators characterizing the development of organic farming in the world are presented in Table 3. Table 3 Organic agriculture: key Indicators and top countries in 2019[40] Indicator Word Top countries Countries with organic activities 187 Organic agricultural land 72.3 million hectares Australia, Argentina, Spain Organic share of total agricultural land 1.5% Liechtenstein, Austria Wild collection and further non-agricultural arias 35.1 million hectares Finland, Zambia, Namibia Producers 3.1 million producers India, Uganda, Ethiopia Organic market 106.4 billion euro US, Germany, France Per capita consumption 14 euro Denmark, Switzerland, Luxemburg Number of countries with organic regulation 108 countries According to many experts, sustainable agriculture will be aimed at achieving three main groups of goals:[41] - economic; - social; - environmental. The first group includes achieving economic security, economic viability, increasing value added, striving for minimal investments, and others. The second group of goals consists of creating good working conditions, ensuring food supplies, meeting local needs, creating gender balance, instilling respect for local culture, and ensuring product safety. The third group is based on: ensuring the balance of the system, ensuring no chemical pollution, increasing soil fertility, ensuring biological diversity, conservation of natural resources. The implementation of all three groups of goals is aimed at creating such agricultural production that does not have an adverse impact on animals. Conclusion Thus, summing up, we can draw the following main conclusions. First, the society understands the need to change the existing model of economic development. If we continue to adhere to the model used, humanity may simply perish. Secondly, it is necessary to develop in detail the ways of transition to a new economic model of development. Thirdly, it is necessary to remember that the results of the efforts that are being applied today will affect future generations.

About the authors

Andrey N. Zharov

Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)

Author for correspondence.
Email: zharov-an@rudn.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4068-609X

Candidate of Economic Science, Docent of the Department of Technosphere Safety, Agrarian and Technological Institute

6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation

Konstantin V. Isaev

Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)

Email: isaev-kv@rudn.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8828-8237

senior lecturer, Department of Environmental Monitoring and Forecasting, Institute of Environmental Engineering

6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow, 117198, Russian Federation

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