Climate policy and social sciences: HSE University of St. Petersburg researchers presented a project at an environmental forum.

Centre for Comparative Governance Studies Research interns, Polina Mironova and Stanislav Nesgovorov, presented the results of their research at the conference "Sustainable Development: New Generation Scientific Ideas" at the St. Petersburg International Environmental Forum. We explain the discussion and what it was like to present for the first time outside the university.

Стажеры-исследователи Несговоров Станислав и Полина Миронова

The St. Petersburg International Environmental Forum "Ecology of the Big City" is one of the country's key environmental conferences and exhibitions, annually bringing together industry leaders, experts, and business representatives. The environmental agenda of Russia's regions is becoming increasingly relevant: accumulated experience and innovative solutions are making a tangible contribution to achieving sustainable development goals at both the local and national levels. The common environmental challenges of Russian and international cities opens opportunities for international dialogue and cooperation. The forum brought together those who shape environmental policy today and those who will shape it tomorrow.
Research interns at the Center for Comparative Studies of Authority and Governance, Polina Mironova and Stanislav Nesgovorov, participated in the forum as part of the conference "Sustainable Development: Scientific Ideas of the New Generation." In their presentation, they presented the results of a study conducted as part of the international academic cooperation project "The Role of Regional and Interregional Associations in Environmental Regulation and Standard-Setting in Russia and India"—the result of joint work by the entire Center team. The researchers offered an analysis of climate policy through the lens of multilevel governance and also touched on the classic problems and risks of interdepartmental cooperation in the Russian governance system.
For Polina and Stanislav, the forum marked their first foray outside the confines of their familiar academic environment. Previously, both had presented primarily at student conferences and at HSE—and the scale of the venue immediately made itself felt. "This, of course, has a completely different format—less academic, more businesslike," the researchers note. 
The atmosphere of lively dialogue was particularly memorable. The moderator and experts closely followed each presentation, asking clarifying questions—there was no sense of a presentation "going nowhere." The audience was no less active. This engagement, according to the participants, largely determined the value of the event.
The research topic emerged as part of the Center's work on an international academic collaboration project. The presentation was based on the results of two expeditions to Indian states conducted in 2024—material that fits well with the logic of vertical and horizontal coordination in multi-level governance systems. At the same time, the researchers addressed the Russian context: the development and implementation of regional climate change adaptation plans. As Polina and Stanislav note, "it's increasingly important not only to calculate the mathematical implications of climate risks, but also to consider the broader context—the role of organizations, the ability of authorities to develop climate policy, and the engagement of local communities."
According to the researchers, participating in a forum of this scale is both about developing skills and shifting perspectives. "It feels like you're directly promoting science among businesses and government," they say. The opportunity to see what colleagues from other fields are doing, understand the boundaries of the research field, and identify new directions for development—all of this makes such platforms valuable not only for careers but also for the research itself. The global challenges facing the environmental agenda are gradually transforming academic observers into engaged experts—those whose conclusions and recommendations, based on empirical data, have a real impact on decision-making.
For Polina and Stanislav, the St. Petersburg International Environmental Forum became a shining example of how HSE opens up a space beyond the classroom for its students and interns. The opportunity to present the results of their own research at a major interdisciplinary venue, engage in dialogue with experts and practitioners, and feel more than just an observer but a full-fledged participant in a professional community—all of this becomes part of the educational journey at the university.