Forming a comfortable urban environment: environmental aspect

Formation of comfortable urban environment is one of the key guidelines for city development. Special attention should be given to the formation and development of comfortable urban environment in the cities of Russia. When choosing a place of residence for the population, intangible factors are becoming increasingly important, one of which is the ecological component of the city. For effective work of the authorities and implementation of urban improvement programs, it is necessary to involve local residents in the process of urban environment development, which is enshrined in national, federal and regional projects. The study is aimed at identifying territorial features characteristic of environmental indicators of formation of comfortable urban environment in Vologda and Petrozavodsk, and practices of environmental participation of citizens. The scientifi c novelty lies in the analysis of objective environmental indicators combined with subjectively perceived environmental condition of the environment and pro-environmental activity of the population. The scientifi c literature was summarized and the importance of interaction between the authorities and the local community was confi rmed. We concluded that Vologda and Petrozavodsk belong to the cities with favorable urban environment. We revealed that the majority of the population is ready to participate in local practices of territory improvement. People are aware of personal responsibility for the state of ecology of their locality. They are willing to participate, for example, in such environmental practices as sorting household waste. The study also found that despite the presence of a number of problems, local residents do not want and do not plan to move out of their towns in the coming years. Stabilization and improvement of the environmental situation, creation of favorable living conditions, improvement of the level of environmental outlook and culture of citizens form a comfortable and quality urban environment and atmosphere in the society.