Resource efficiency and environmental impact assessment in the region by decoupling method

The conceptual model of decoupling points to an ideal goal when economic growth and human well-being will increase simultaneously with a slowdown in the rate of resource use and environmental degradation. In foreign practice, the decoupling methodology is used to measure progress towards sustainable development. The relevance of the decoupling method lies in the possibility of its use as a tool for assessing the environmental situation in relation to economic development. The purpose of the study is to identify the effect of decoupling in the ecological and economic activity of the Komi Republic. Тhe algorithm of decoupling analysis includes the definition of specific indicators of resource efficiency and the load of the polluting impact on the environment, the determination of indicators of resource decoupling and impact decoupling, the rate of change in the economic and environmental indicators, visualization of the calculated indicators. It is established that in the period 2007-2020, the change in the pace of economic development determined the existence of various types of interrelation between economic indicators, resource and environmental performance, estimated by the value of the de-coupling coefficient. This is manifested in the fact that under conditions of synchronously de-creasing trends in GRP and water resources use, there is no decoupling effect, while at the same time, reducing the negative load on the atmosphere at a higher rate than reducing GRP ensures the existence of relative decoupling. An analysis of the dynamics of indicators reflecting the effectiveness of measures taken to reduce resource intensity and improve environmental efficiency showed that the planned levels of regional indicators by 2020 have not been achieved in most of the target criteria. The factors that determine the unfavorable environmental situation in the region are identified. The main measures that reduce resource intensity and provide a favorable environment are considered.