Report - UNDP Russia

PREFACEThis is the 13 th National HumanDevelopment Report for the RussianFederation. Such reports, covering humandevelopment issues in various countries, areelaborated by groups of independent expertsand are published on the initiative of theUnited Nations Development Programme(UNDP) in many countries of the world.The 2009 National HumanDevelopment Report for Russia remains true tothe concept of previous national reports,prepared by various independent groups ofRussian experts with assistance and supportfrom the UNDP Representative Office inMoscow. Like its predecessors, the 2009 Reportis not a mere accounting of the country’s socialand economic progress in the past year, but athorough scientific and analytical case study.The focal point of this 2009 NationalHuman Development Report is the energysector and sustainable development. Russia isrich in both energy resources and humanresources, and the Report analyzes impact ofthe energy sector on national development andon the individuals who live in Russia. The sectormakes a vital contribution to the country’s mainsocial and economic parameters, and is of vitalimportance for national income and thebudget. In this respect, the global crisis hasdemonstrated the fragility of the economicgrowth, which Russia had enjoyed since theearly 2000s. The national economy is stillmarked by structural disproportions, anddominance of the export-oriented fuel &energy sector is the most obvious of them. TheReport shows the need for a change ofdirection towards the goal of energy efficiency,ending the country’s addiction to raw materialexports in favor of sustainable development,reduction of negative impact of the powersegment on human health and theenvironment, and broad use of power-savingtechnologies. The current crisis can be seen as awindow of opportunity for Russia to find andimplement new approaches to nationaldevelopment, and to transform its existingenergy sector into a high-tech asset for the 21stcentury, which no longer represents a burdenon the environment and public health.The authors have mostly used officialRussian statistical data provided by the FederalState Statistics Service, ministries and agencies.When several sources were available officialdata was preferred. Information taken fromother sources is accompanied by relevantreferences. Public survey data were also used insome instances.The Report was prepared in closecooperation and with active feedback fromstate institutions and civil society.7