Sustainable Development and Green Growth in Regional Strategies: Stated Intentions and Financial Support

The subjects of the study are strategic plans for the socio-economic development of the regions of the North-Western Federal District (NWFD). The purpose of the work is to assess the ambitiousness of regional strategies to achieve the goals and objectives of the Sustainable Development Agenda in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution adopted on September 25, 2015 (regarding the environmental component). The article discusses strategic plans for the socio-economic development of the regions of the Northwestern Federal District, in terms of the environmental component of sustainable development. A comparative analysis of the positions of the regions in the available rankings is carried out, highlighting the role of the ecological component. The goals and objectives formulated in regional socio-economic development strategies are analyzed and compared with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The degree of compliance of regional goals and objectives with the Sustainable Development Goals has been revealed. The assessment of the financing of environmental programs from regional budgets is given. The conclusion is made about the low level of ambition of regional strategies in comparison with the Agenda in the field of sustainable development in terms of the environmental component. Environmental objectives in the formulation of regions only partially correspond to the essence of the SDGs. Substantially most of the environmental objectives of the SDGs are not reflected and disclosed in regional strategies, which, however, does not prevent the SDGs from being singled out separately in regional strategies, which are largely consonant with the current problems of regional development that require priority funding.