Environmental innovations in the Northwestern Federal District: the field stage of the “Genius of the Place” project has been completed
The CYS team has completed the field stage of the study of environmental initiatives within the framework of the project “Genius of the Place". During the expeditions to Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Cherepovets, Pskov and Petrozavodsk, the researchers studied how local communities develop eco-friendly practices, interact with business and government, respond to challenges and create environmental innovations.
The data collection stage of the “Genius of the Place” project has been completed. The Center for Youth Studies implements it jointly with colleagues from the ANO ICSEI Leontief Center. CYS researchers Ekaterina Bemler, Elizaveta Kresnikova and Yana Khmelnitskaya conducted a series of expert interviews in Arkhangelsk, Cherepovets, Pskov, Vologda and Petrozavodsk.
Let us remind you that this year the focus of the research is related to ecology and environmental practices, we are studying how environmental practices are implemented in cities and what innovative technologies are used.
During the intense expedition route, the researchers confirmed the conclusions of the preliminary desk analysis, discussed with experts the issues of environmental management important for the regions and assessed the situation “on the ground”. It can be said that each city has its own socio-cultural environment, which determines the differences in the development of environmental initiatives. The first cities of the route, Cherepovets and Vologda, are in the process of transforming their administrative structures. These changes are shaping a new vector of urban development, and environmental initiatives are experiencing this period in different ways.
Центр молодежных исследований: Стажер-исследователь
We have discovered a large number of initiatives of very different origins and with unique development trajectories. The environmental agenda occupies a special place in Cherepovets due to the industrial importance of the city. Any changes are keenly felt by the environmental community. Activists are resorting to cooperation with eco-friendly businesses to survive these changes. The community itself is small, and the informants noted that the initiatives were aware of each other, but we noted a low percentage of collaborations.
In the cities studied, a significant indicator is the embeddedness of initiatives in the institutional environment. The amount of resources and opportunities for innovation depends on this. In Vologda, grassroots initiatives are turning to collaborations to continue operating under the economic constraints of recycling, and interregional links between initiatives and processers are developing. Opportunities are opening up for those whose activities coincide with the new vector of the region's development. In combination with business support, we examined a case study where the initiative implements large-scale activities not only in the region, but also throughout Russia.
In Arkhangelsk, the eco-community was strongly influenced by the protests in Shies. The issue of garbage and landfills occupies a separate place on the regional agenda. Here we found initiatives at different levels. These are large environmental movements that bring together activists and work in several areas, including environmental education, eco-sharing, recycling and other activities. Such multi-project associations actively involve citizens.
A specific feature is that the environmental agenda for the Arkhangelsk region is perceived as one of a whole single space. When people talk about the ecology of Arkhangelsk, they often mean the entire region. A special place is occupied by the problems of garbage, unauthorized landfills and the construction of recycling landfills. The eco-community is diverse. The activists know about each other, but there are few joint projects and collaborations yet. Among the related actors, we found youth centers, relevant government committees, schools, and other organizations.
The situation is different in Pskov. Environmental initiatives here have demonstrated a high degree of consolidation and willingness to cooperate. Despite the small size of the city, the initiatives are numerous and diverse. Ekaterina Bemler identified several key areas of their work.
Центр молодежных исследований: Младший научный сотрудник
Eco-education activities in schools are well developed. Environmentalists and eco-activists consider this method to be one of the most effective as children quickly perceive information and are ready to invest in the future of the planet. It is the children in Pskov who pass on knowledge about recycling and conscious consumption to their parents.
The next area is related to the collection and processing of recyclables. Pskov has one of the largest recycling collection centers among all the cities we visited. The center grew out of a civic initiative. There is also craft ecology, which is associated with the creation of recyclable goods, such as pouches, bags and shoppers. An innovative initiative is the Museum of Recyclables, which introduces visitors to the sorting results in an interactive form.
Pskov's environmental initiatives are based on the enthusiasm of residents and activists. Despite their main work, they devote their free time to environmental issues and invest their own funds. Due to this, the sphere is developing rapidly. People show an example of what contribution they can make through their own efforts, developing initiatives and receiving grants. It is important to note the professionalization of the community, some activists have experience working in eco-organizations or specialized education, which indicates the level of expertise.
The researcher notes that Pskov's initiatives face limitations. These are the difficulties in obtaining grants and the low level of support from regional and city authorities. Informants believe that it is difficult to convince people to adhere to eco-friendly practices. However, they are positive and assume that awareness will grow in the coming years due to education and the introduction of a sorting system at the state level.
Petrozavodsk is a city where green areas were originally part of the architectural design and have now become a tourist resource. Despite this, the city is experiencing economic difficulties, which is reflected in the environmental agenda. This is where one of the first initiatives of mobile recycling appeared. The logistics that the activists are building is respected because of the peculiarities of the republic's territory.
Центр молодежных исследований: Стажер-исследователь
In Petrozavodsk, environmental initiatives are working in several directions: forest protection measures and protest activities; collection of recyclables and their processing; educational work with a focus on museum activities.
Karelia is known for its forests, lakes and picturesque landscapes, so the residents of Petrozavodsk appreciate these natural resources very much, therefore they are ready to fight for their preservation. Since the 2010s, there have been many major protests and events in the city to save forests, one of the last major ones was a protest against cutting down trees in the Kurgan Forest Park, which caused a wide public outcry. Local residents are concerned about the large number of trout farms, which do not have the most favorable effect on the aquatic ecosystem. The city has been working on the introduction of recycling collection for more than 10 years. A mobile recycling point is operating in Petrozavodsk, as well as a project specializing in tetrapacking, and promotions, events, and clean-up days are being held. Environmental initiatives cooperate with each other and with government agencies within the framework of projects. This way two goals are achieved at once: collecting recyclables and helping vulnerable segments of the population. Eco-educational work is also actively conducted in schools and kindergartens, and measures are being taken to foster an ecological culture among the younger generation. Museum and exhibition activities are also one of the vectors of further development. Art, which has great power, is also capable of changing people's thinking, habits and practices to more environmentally friendly ones.
An understanding of the connection between ecology and the well-being of the population has become common to all cities. The higher the standard of living, the more time, resources and opportunities people have to pay attention to environmental issues. Much of what we saw was a revelation to us. We deeply admire the initiatives that are aimed at creating a "green" future for one’s own city and region. We thank our informants for their sincerity and willingness to share.
Now the team proceeds to the next stage – data processing and analysis. We will share interesting insights!
