Financial Journal

p. 11-28

Authors: Igor A. Yakovlev, Lyudmila S. Kabir, Svetlana I. Nikulina

The relevance of the research topic is determined by the need to respond to increased climate risks, which makes countries develop climate policies that can effectively meet sustainable development challenges and protect national economic interests. The transformation of climate policy causes the need to shift capital flows from “brown” economy sectors to “green” ones and integrate environmental factors into the process of making financial and investment decisions. At present, the EU is actively developing a climate finance system which will have an impact on the Russian economy. The article is aimed at outlining the changes in climate policies and financial strategies in the EU and Russia, influenced by the global climate agenda. It analyses the volumes and sources of climate finance mobilized by the EU, as well as regional support instruments in the transition period. The article determines the current changes in the Russian Federation’s climate policy. As a result of the research, the authors have come to the following conclusions. The EU is a vivid example of the fact that countries have long moved from climate change debates to the implementation of specific measures. The Russian Federation lags far behind the EU in terms of both mobilizing financial resources to ensure the transition to a low-carbon economy, and developing proven emission control instruments which help to stimulate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and fulfill the obligations under the Paris Agreement.

p. 44-50

Authors: Fu Zhihua, Cheng Yu

Green growth is not only an important way to build ecological civilization and promote economic transformation, but also the core essence of ensuring high-quality economic development in the new development stage. Optimization of tax system design is a key measure to release institutional dividend to promote green development. From the perspective of tax reform, this paper analyzes the current situation and the challenges of tax greening in China in recent years, and puts forward general thoughts and suggestions on how to promote green development at the new stage so as to create a two-wheel drive mechanism of carbon tax and environmental protection tax, lead the structural reform of China’s tax system, continuously improve tax regulation, and construct a green tax system with multiple taxes and means to cooperate with each other and to regulate it comprehensively and effectively.

p. 62-78

Authors: Rinat I. Rezvanov

The article examines the debt instruments of responsible financing, presented in world practice mainly in the form of green bonds, following the common principles of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). A brief description of each bond issue model is provided: green bonds, social bonds, sustainability bonds, sustainability-linked bonds, and climate transition bonds. For each of the models for issuing responsible bonds, issuing companies are given as examples, with a brief description of the corresponding target parameters. The article focuses on the special measures of federal monetary support to Russian regions introduced in 2021. Based on the adopted comparative typological research method, these measures are analyzed from the standpoint of correlation with the established principles of sustainable financing and accepted widespread (general) international practice. Moreover, attention is paid both to interbudgetaryfinancial instruments presented in the form of infrastructure loans and new infrastructure projects for the purposes of regional economic development, and to the forthcoming issue of infrastructure bonds by Russian financial development institutions (in particular, Dom.RF). It is emphasized that the states themselves, and not only the corporate sector, are becoming active participants in the markets for sustainable financing, realizing the goals of long-term infrastructure development and the implementation of regional economic policies combined with a sectoral approach based on the principles of green economy (exemplified by Germany). A conclusion is made about the possibility of implementing new federal instruments of regional economic support in the system of target principles of sustainable development (ESG criteria). To achieve such a result, a qualitatively deep structuring of the proposed Russian financial instruments for infrastructure development will be required. Above all, this relates to the inclusion in the responsible debt policy instrument methodology of such four core components of the ICMA’s green bond principles (GBP) as the Use of Proceeds (1), Process for Project Evaluation and Selection (2), Management of Proceeds (3), and Reporting (4).

p. 93-107

Authors: Victoria I. Bushukina

The purpose of the article is to study the theoretical and practical aspects of investment activities in the field of renewable energy in the world and in Russia. To achieve this goal, during the development of theoretical material, a systematic analysis of existing approaches to the assessment of financing mechanisms for renewable energy projects was carried out. Statistical and econometric research tools include correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis. The article examines the development of renewable energy, its benefits, and investments in the industry. The financial risks and barriers associated with financing renewable energy projects are considered. The development of the industry over the past 10 years is analyzed, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the electricity industry in general and on renewable energy in a number of countries. It is established that the world is shifting to the use of renewable energy sources, and in Russia they are not being given due attention. It is revealed that the existing thermal generation units in Russia are of great age and are to be decommissioned in the near future. The current state of renewable energy in Russia, measures to support it and the rate of its development are investigated. The technical potential of wind and solar power plants in the Russian Federation is considered within the aim of diversifying electricity production. The factors that negatively affect the development of the renewable energy industry are identified.

p. 125-138

Authors: Natalia S. Matveeva

The article analyzes the experience of legislative regulation of financial statement preparation by micro entities in the Commonwealth of Independent States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. The legislative acts of the countries, national accounting standards and financial reporting standards serve as the methodological basis for the analysis. For the purpose of this study the article identifies the criteria for categorizing an organization as a micro entity, analyzes the documents regulating the procedure for the preparation of financial statements, and compares the procedures for financial reports formation by micro entities in different countries. Micro entities are an important component of the country’s economy, affecting the level of employment, gross domestic product and other important indicators of the country’s development. In Russia, micro entities account for 96 percent of the small and medium-sized business sector, whose share in the gross domestic product was about 20.6 % in 2019 according to Federal State Statistics Service estimates and which created about 33 % of jobs. For comparison, in the OECD countries small and medium-sized businesses generate, on average, about 55 % of GDP and about 59.1 % of jobs, whereas in the EU countries the percentage is higher: 57.5 % of GDP, and 65 % of the employed. However, in order to support the development of micro entities, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the implementation of entrepreneurial activities, in particular through simplifying the procedure for the formation and submission of financial statements.