Economic situation in Russia
Russia has world's eleventh largest economy, which following the recession has continued to grow since 2017. A major setback on the Russian economy between 2015 and 2016 were the Western sanctions imposed for the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and Crimea and a significant fall in oil prices by 70 percent which has drastically reduced Russian revenues from oil exports. As a result of this, Russian economy has decreased by 3.7 percent in 2015, which called for an action more reliable economy. Consequently, Russian banks have decreased their dependency on foreign debt, and new policies have been introduced, for instance saving revenues from oil exports in the National Welfare Fund for future investment, instead of spending \citep{report}.
In 2018, Russian GDP is seen increasing by 1.7 percent. However, GDP expansion forecast is approximately 1.5- 2 percent, which is according to the World back below the average which is about 3 percent. Russia is therefore in need of structural reforms, since its infrastructure is weak and calls for restoration of education system and combat corruption and poverty \cite{rate}.
Russia was shaped and to this day is influenced by the period of industrialization. Russian economy significantly grew between 1890 and 1910, mainly as a result of increased export of natural resources as well as development of the Trans- Siberian Railway. However, a growth in economy triggered a growth in population which Russia failed to accommodate to. Consequently, living conditions worsened and Russia was forced to rely on the machinery and technology of other countries to maintain the growth of the country. The negative side of this was Russia facing pressure from the outside markets and global economic fluctuations \cite{industrialisation}.
On the international stage, Russia ratified Kyoto Protocol in October 2004, however by 2012 announced that it will not be able to make cuts in greenhouse gas emissions since it is considered ineffective. Instead Russia volunteered to cut down emissions from fossil fuels by 15-20 percent by 2020 \cite{pact}. Russia has also signed but not ratified Paris Agreement, claiming to be supporting climate cooperation despite US withdrawing from the agreement \cite{agreement}.
Main economic indicators \cite{indicators}
Main economic indicators of Russia indicates a large population country with a lower Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than compared countries.
The balance of trade can be a misleading indicator of a country's economic situation, since it only display the difference between the monetary value of a nation's exports and imports over a certain period of time. It does not necessary mean that the net export is in balance with the rest of the economy. The growth rate of GDP, which typically considered by economists to be the most important measure of the economy's current health, is however growing which indicates a positive trend of the economy. The unemployment rate is not notably high. The Inflation is higher than compared countries, which correlates to the higher interest rate. The level of inflation however, does not compensate the notably higher interest rate and the conclusion is thereby that capital and thereby investment is expensive in Russia. The high interest rate could also indicating that executing authorities believe that the economy is on the top of an economic cycle. This is not an optimal starting point for doing large investment of any kind in the country.
Most polluting sectors?
Before 1990, most of the air pollution originated from industries. Since then the the production has declined in the same phase as the usage of vehicles has increased drastically. Emission from vehicle is thereby now the most common pollution of the air in Russian cities \cite{pollution}. More than 200 cities exceeds the pollution limits today \cite{problems}.