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AZIZ NIYAZI. SAUDI ARABIA, QATAR, NORWAY, RUSSIA AND GREEN ECONOMY // The article was written for the bulletin "Russia and the Moslem World."
Keywords: Qatar, Norway, Russia, Saudi Arabia, hydrocarbon economies, global index of green economy, sustainable development, renewable energy, air pollution, green economy, green spin doctoring, environmental safety, efficient use of resources.
Aziz Niyazi,
PhD(History), Senior Research Associate,
Centre for Central Asian, Caucasian and Volga-Urals Studies,
Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS
Abstract: In the article there is a comparative analysis of green economy development in the oil and gas extraction countries. On the basis of the global index of green economy (Global Green Economy Index) it's shown the real situation with adoption of innovative technologies in key branches of green economy in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Norway and Russia. Conclusions about efficiency of state policy in these countries in the field of achievement of global environmental safety goals are drawn.
The common clear definition of green economy doesn't exist, as well as its verified formula which could serve as a world standard. But this concept caught on, became clear therefore it is more often written without quotes, as well as terms - green technologists, green investments, green innovations, etc. international indexes among which the most developed is considered to be the global index of green economy allow to measure results of green development of the countries, their problems and prospects in this direction. Comparison of situations with green growth in Qatar and Saudi Arabia - hydrocarbonic states, Norway and Russia where the hydrocarbonic sector of their
economies remains significant allows to draw some conclusions on
environmental policy and the possible future of these countries.
* * *
Since 2010 the independent consulting company Dual Citizen LLC (USA) publishes progress reports on development of green economy worldwide. The last report submitted in 2016 covers 80 countries which are ranged according to Global Green Economy Index (GGEI). Ecological measurements of national economies development along with indicators of social and economic progress, estimation of environmental efficiency of certain sectors of economy, green investments and innovations, national leadership in the field of climate change are used in it. The GGEI index of 2016 is calculated on the basis of 32 indicators forming part of 24 basic groups of quantitative and qualitative indicators. They, in turn, are divided into 4 key groups allowing to define, how successfully the country copes with problems in creation of green economy and environmental problems in general.
The first group "Management and Climate Change" contains the indicators reflecting the climate reversal and efforts directed at response to negative changes in this sphere. Impact assessment of climate change is carried out on the basis of such indicators as emissions of CO2 per capita, per unit of GDP and per unit of primary energy consumption. The efficiency of policy of the country in the field of climate change is analyzed also by the frequency of participation in international ecological forums, undertaken obligations, statements of the heads of states concerning green economy and environmental protection, coverage of these issues in public media.
The second group "Sectors of Efficiency" reflects a condition of the most important sectors in green economy development: constructions, transport, energy, ecotourism, etc. By GGEI developers it is controlled how efficient use of resources in these
sectors allows to receive incremental capacity and at the same time to lower environmental load, to reduce power input and emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. In the sphere of construction, it is considered the modernization of buildings and constructions taking into account environmental requirements, in the transport sector data on CO2 emissions are used. In power industries it is accepted how green energy sector is in each country. The share of electrical power produced by means of renewable sources (RS) is miscalculated: hydroelectric power stations, geothermal stations and also the energy generated from the sun, wind, inflows, biomass, biofuel. It is analyzed information on resource efficiency, their recirculation in the sphere of waste recycling.
The third group "Markets and Investments" is based on the analysis of data on the state and private investments into green technologies: renewable energy sources, waste recycling, sewage treatment plants, non-waste industry, clean technology. Fiscal and political measures for appeal of national green projects and markets, their growth, participation of leading world companies corporations in them, investment promotion for sustainable development from various organizations and the public are taken into consideration.
The fourth group "Environment" is based generally on measurements of The Environmental Performance Index (EPI). It reflects environmental health and natural capital on indicators: agriculture, quality of water and air, biodiversity, fish resources and forestry.
The countries are ranged according to two ratings. Performance rating (GGEI performance rank) reflects the place which the country really deserves according to the index of green economy. The second rating classifies them to the extent of figurative green perception (GGEI perception rank) both by citizens of the state, and abroad. The surveys are conducted mainly among qualified specialists of diverse fields of economy and science, business community. Their opinion on the status and
prospects of green economy in any given country is considered along with desire and readiness of citizens to support ecological initiatives. The political leadership doesn't take part in polls. Country assessment according to the index of perception can show its appeal to green investments and also level of green public mood, but not in all cases.
Global Green Economy Index of (GGEI) 2016. The rating of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Norway and Russia in comparison with 80 countries
Rating (result) Country Index (overall score of 100%) Rating (perception) Index (overall score of 100%)
2 Norway 69,11 5 88,95
74 Russia 48,08 51 32,59
78 Qatar 36,33 57 31,79
80 Saudi Aabia 31,34 62 31,20
Norway in rating for 2016 showed great progress (the 2nd place), giving the first place to Sweden. Russia (the 74th place), Qatar (the 78th place) and Saudi Arabia (the 80th place) occupied positions at the end of rating.
Norway takes the 5th place in terms of perception of progress in green economy development that demonstrates ecological sustainability of national economy and the excellent prospect of green growth. It is obvious that it even surpassed expectations in this progress though constantly it appears in the top group of the leaders of the rating, makes progress in all four basic directions. This country with high degree of dependence on export of oil and gas serves as a fine example for sustainable development.
The state successfully solves interconnected social and ecological and economic problems. The highest-level leaders initiated a large number of programs and measures for advance of RS. Norway already receives more than 95% of electricity of
hydroelectric power stations. Priority instruments of counteraction to climatic changes are: reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases in the transport sector; development of low-carbon technologies in the industry; development of technologies of catching and storage of CO2; decrease in emissions of greenhouse gases in maritime industry. Economic mechanisms are essential to emission limitation of greenhouse gases. The carbon tax in Norway as an instrument of environmental policy began to work in 1991 for consumption of fuel and extraction of energy resources on the shelf. Besides, since 2008 the country is a participant of the European system of trade in quotas for emissions of greenhouse gases promoting decrease in expenses of participants during reduction of greenhouse emissions. Norway plans to stop felling of trees, to forbid auto sales of gas-operated and diesel fuel cars since 2025 and also to reach the neutral level of carbon emission due to combustion of organic fuel, continuing to extract and export at the same time considerable volumes of oil and gas to other countries, first of all to the EU.
Absolutely opposite picture is observed in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In the report on the index of green economy it is noted that high dependence of Qatar and Saudi Arabia on production and export of fossil fuel negatively affects their indicator of GGEI. At the same time, as is seen from this document, the index not always reflects a real technological contribution of the country to sustainable development. The example of Qatar shows that his GGEI grew considerably after the regular annual Conference of the Parties of Framework Convention on Climate Change took place in Doha in November, 2012. Qatar was host party that added points to it in the estimating group "Govvernance and Climate Change" and also raised its brand according to the index of perception (57 points at real 78). In the meantime, this state remains extremely inefficient in elimination of high dependence on hydrocarbon resources and doesn't make any serious intentions and attempts to green economic growth. For example, it advances much more fast emerging eco- dangerous economies of India and China on
emissions of exhaust gases, is the worst leader in this indicator of all surveyed countries. From 2001 to 2015 transport emissions of CO2 increased in Qatar by 291% while in China for 191%, India for 137%. "While GDP of Qatar is one of the highest per capita in the world, there are no proofs that its authorities use huge income from oil and gas sectors for formation of lower carbon economy. Such situation is observed on GGEI indicators: extremely high emissions of greenhouse gases per capita; a zero contribution to renewable energy sources in generation of electric power; any of the largest Qatar companies doesn't participate in development of standards of corporate ecological sustainability; a number of the worst indicators of quality of air among the examined 80 countries" - come to a conclusion experts of Dual Citizen LLC.
Not less serious concern, it is noted in the report, is caused by the situation in Saudi Arabia which took the last place in the rating of 80 countries. It doesn't show almost any real signs of reorientation to a model of green growth in economy; carbon emissions per capita in this country are one of the highest in the world; the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production is insignificant, putting into operation of their new capacities is minimized.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia get more points in the rating of perception rather than in measurements of real achievements. The disparity for Qatar in 21 points and Saudi Arabia in 18 points is more likely connected not only with incongruity of public expectations in the sphere of ecological modernization and real economic policy but with effective green public relations. Participation in the international ecological forums, their sponsoring, organization and holding in their countries, loud declarations and statements, promulgation of commitment to sustainable development goals strengthens green reputation that in turn generates the overvaluation of experts about green economy development in a number of countries. Idealized perceptions help to gain political weight on the international scene, to attract investments, high western technologies and innovations
which aren't always used for sustainable development. Their green contribution to manufacturing sectors can actually be much less than it seems.
The report of GGEI of 2016 gave Russia the real 74th place and supposed 51st position. The gap in 23 points shows that in the Russian Federation there were laid great hopes on promoting the mechanisms of green economy among the public and experts, that is a pressing issue, requires policy making. During the covered period of the research of 2014-2015 because of the known difficulties in national economy any essential development of elements of green growth wasn't observed. Rates of natural resources depletion remained almost at the same level, insignificant recession of their growth in individual industries was connected with falling economy of recent years. Levels of uncontrollable fish capture and deforestation decreased, but in general reduction of biodiversity was observed. For the last decade decrease in emissions in transport sector was noted. Essential development of renewable energy sources, green innovations and investments didn't happen.
Since preparation of the last research of Dual Citizen LLC of 2016 the practical situation hasn't changed cardinally though a number of large Russian companies and corporations took certain steps for ecological protection of the territories and the population in areas of their activity. Industrial emission abatement was mainly connected with re-engineering in metallurgy and other sectors. The companies removed outdated "dirty" technologies, closed enterprises, moving loading on more effective assets with smaller emissions. It is important that that time the institutional and legal groundwork for green sectors of economy and environmental protection began to be laid. In "The strategy of scientific and technological development of Russia" approved in 2016, the ecological direction was defined as priority. 2017 was announced as a "Year of ecology," specific problems of transition to sustainable development to mid-term and long-term outlook were set for the government. First of all there is the strategic objective of
achievement of cardinal reduction of emissions of harmful substances in the atmosphere, aquatic disposal and into the soil first of all due to technological re-equipment of the industry. There are indicated aims and time limits of accumulation of resource-saving technologies, effective recycling, development of renewable energy sources. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Russian Federation plans investment in development of RES till 2035 equal to 53 billion dollars.
The increasing implementation of capacities of RES has to play an important role in reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in Russia. By 2020 it is planned to reduce the volume of emissions of GHG to the level of 75% volume of emissions in 1990. To achieve the goal, it is almost not required to take further steps which are beyond the policy on decrease of energy intensity of economy. By 2030 its reduction is planned for 44% in comparison with 2005. Within the Paris climate agreement of 2015 for the purpose of achievement of bigger volume of emission abatement Russia claims to consider volumes of absorption of emissions by forests. Russian forests make 25% of world forest resources and annually absorb up to 500 million tons of CO2.
Our country has huge resource potential, acts as the ecological donor of the world, providing nearly 10 percent of biospheric stability. We still have a reliable social-and-ecological margin of safety. There is a hope that the upcoming greening of the Russian economy will give good results: it will promote its diversification, improvement of quality of people's life, the solution of global climatic problems, will up-grade the status of Russia on the international scene.
Of course, as a fine example of green progress and human development is Norway - the country of very responsible attitude to living conditions of the population, to own and global ecological challenges. A situation in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, on the contrary, is extremely unsatisfactory by the level of environment load and rational use of natural resources. Efforts on introduction of high technologies in basic industries of green economy are minimum.
The situation is more deplorable in the group of indicators of "sectors of efficiency" especially on indicators of air pollution, water use, emissions of greenhouse gases, development of RES, efficiency of resource use on the basis of recycling. Healthy hydrocarbonic economies of these countries remain the main pollutants of the atmosphere on the Arabian Peninsula. Judging by weakness of affairs in the field of development of own RES Qatar and Saudi Arabia with great probability are expected by a role of chronically lagging in the begun rush of power technologies, it is possible with far-reaching consequences in social and economic development. All that is lacking is to be surprised to carelessness and sluggishness of their authorities.
References
1 The Global Green Economy Index. GGEI 2016. Measuring National Performance in the Green Economy / Jeremy Tamanini, Dual Citizen LLC, 5-th Edition - September 2016. The report is available at: [Electronic resource] / / URL: https://dualcitizeninc.com/GGEI-2016.pdf / (Access data: 12.05.2018.)
2. See: Global Metrics for the Environment. The Environmental Performance Index (ranks countries' performance on high-priority environmental issues). 2016 report. Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy; Yale University Yale Data Driven Environmental Group, Yale University Yale-NUS College; Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University. In collaboration with the World Economic Forum. With support from Samuel Family Foundation, McCall MacBain Foundation. New Haven, CT: Yale University. 2016. [Electronic resource] // URL: http://epi2016.yale.edu/ reports/2016-report (Access data: 01.05.2018.) For a number of the countries under their climatic conditions natural fishery or insignificant forest territories don't play an essential role with the calculations of characteristics of environmental policy. If they don't reach the liminal importance determining the overall environmental efficiency, then instead of them the weight of other indicators increases proportionally. For more on categories and measurements of the index of environmental efficiency see: Niyazi A.Sh. Russia - Central Asia in ecological measurements//Russia and the Muslim world. Scientific information bulleting / RAS. INION. Center of scientific information studies on global and regional issues. - M, 2017. № 7. P. 20-26.
3. The table is made on the basis of: The Global Green Economy Index. GGEI 2016. P. 11-12.
4 Climatic agenda 2030. Results of the Climate Conference in Paris 2015 r. Obligations review of member-states. http://russiancouncil.ru/climate2030 (access data: 04.07.2018).
51 Yulia Krasilnikova Norway will become a country of zero net emission by 2030. https://hightech.fm/2016/06/10/norway_zero_emissions. (Access data: 02.06.2018.)
6. The Global Green Economy Index 2016. P. 18.
7. Ibid., P. 50.
8. Ibid., P. 51.
9 Ibid., P. 51. For more on environmental health in Russia see: http://epi.yale.edu/country/russia (Access data: 15.02.2018.)
10. Project concepts of the federal law "On Volume control of Greenhouse Gases Emissions" is in the planning stage. Questions on support of projects on emission abatement (first of all programs of energy saving) and also the initiatives in the forest sector increasing absorption of greenhouse gases are considered. These measures are planned to be supported through tax remissions and the credits and also decreasing coefficients for depreciation of the equipment. The project has to be ready by the middle of 2019.
11. About the strategy of science and technology development of the Russian Federation. See: URL: http://docs.cntd.ru/document/420384257 (Access data: 26.01.2017.)
12. Climatic agenda 2030. Results of the Climate Conference in Paris 2015 r. Obligations review of member-states http://russiancouncil.ru/climate2030 (Access data: 04.07.2018.)
13. Ibid.
OLGA BIBIKOVA. ATTITUDES TOWARDS ISLAM IN HUNGARY // The article was written for the bulletin "Russia and the Moslem World."
Olga Bibikova,
PhD(History),
Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS
Keywords: Hungary, European Union, Islam, refugees, Islamophobia.
Abstract: Hungary holds first place in anti-Islamic sentiments in Europe, despite the fact that there are very few Muslims living there. In 2016, about 400,000 refugees passed through the territory of that country, part of whom the European Council is trying to
