Problems of the Legal Bases of Environmental Safety in the Arctic

Abstract

Despite the large number of international legal rules and conventions, the problem of Arctic environmental safety consists of a complex political, legal and economic issues. Arctic environmental safety has not yet been adequately regulated in Russian federal legislation, state plans and programs, including the state budget. Further studies are needed to develop a legislative framework for a qualitatively new model of balanced solutions to problems of environmental conservation, resource management and socio-economic development for present and future generations. The main areas are: the priority of environmental safety, equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of natural resources, analysis and evaluation of the negative impact on the environment, improving the efficiency of taxation to encourage investment in environmental protection, transparency and accessibility of information on the environment. An important element is the participation of civil society, governments and business communities in the preparation, negotiation, decision making and implementation of sustainable development in the Arctic which must be based on environmental safety.