Prerequisites for the transition to sustainable development in the Russian Arctic

Environmental management in the Far North and in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (Arctic Zone) should rely on concepts and approaches that take into account the extremely challenging environmental and economic conditions of the area and would lead to more effective use of natural resources and higher living standards in the area. The concept of sustainable development could become a solution for dealing with the challenges of the Russian Arctic. This article discusses geographical prerequisites for the transition of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation to sustainable development. It identifies the challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve sustainable development of the Arctic as a macro-region. Due to the fact that this region is undergoing rapid transformation and due to its the geopolitical value, of relevance is the development of models for sustainable development in the Russian Arctic. Climate change is a crucial factor to be considered. The work to develop such model may require a review of the existing environmental monitoring system in the Arctic and beyond.