Ecological Footprint of the Modern Economy and the Ways to Reduce It

This book is devoted to the systems rethinking of the role of the leading digital technologies and circular innovations to reduce the environmental footprint of the modern economy. The target audience of this book consists of scientists who explore environmental economics, energy economics, and sustainable development. In this book, they will find a consistent take on the impact of the economy on the environment from the perspective of a new scientific concept—the environmental footprint of the economy, described through the lens of the UN SDGs. This book is also useful for public agencies of energy and environmental economics and environmentally responsible enterprises. In this book, they will find applied recommendations on improving the efficiency of the use of high technologies and responsible innovations to reduce the environmental footprint of the modern economy.The book provides numerous real-world examples, case studies, and recommendations on unlocking the environmental potential of high technologies (Big Data, Ubiquitous Computing (UC), Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT)) and responsible innovations (ESG investments, environmental taxation, green jobs), which allow reaching net-zero emission and building a carbon-neutral circular economy. The interest in this book is also attributable to the fact that it takes into account the specifics of developed and less-developed countries. The book puts more focus on the real-life and case experience of Central Asia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Bruno S. Sergi  He is Full Professor at the University of Messina, Italy. His research and teaching interests tie to the broader topic of the economics of emerging markets. In addition, he is Co-director of the Lab for Entrepreneurship and Development (LEAD), a research lab based in Cambridge (USA) that aims to generate and share knowledge about entrepreneurship, development, and sustainability. Prof. Dr. Elena G. Popkova is Doctor of Economics; Founder and President of the Institute of Scientific Communications (Volgograd, Russia); Professor RUDN University, Moscow, Russia; Author of more than 150 publications in Scopus (h-index: 31); Editor of more than 50 books and a large number of special issues of international peer-reviewed scientific journals; Member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Economic Policy in Emerging Economies and the International Journal for Quality Research; Recipient of Highly Commended Paper Award for the journal On the Horizon for 2020 (Emerald); Honored Worker of science and high technologies of the Russian Federation; and Honored Professor of Osh State University (Osh, Kyrgyzstan). She is among Scopus top 2% of most cited scholars of the world in 2019-2021.Alexander A. Chursin – Dr. of Economics, PhD in Engineering, Professor, academic advisor of The Center of Management of The Industry of economics department of Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, Head of the Department of Applied Economy Studies of RUDN University, Advisor of PFUR Rectorate. He is a Scientific Council of Russian Academy of Sciences, Professional member of New-York Academy of Science, Professor of Academy of Military Sciences, member of three Dissertation Committees, etc. A. Chursin has been working in executive positions in industry and scientific educational institutions for more than 50 years. He led large projects of conversion in the defense industry of the USSR and the creation and development of innovative area within the CIS countries on the basis of developed with his participation «Interstate program of innovation cooperation of CIS member states for the period until 2020». He is an author of 24 patented inventions in the field of instrumentation and control system design. On the basis of the results of scientific activity A. Chursin has published over 200 articles and 30 monographs. In recent years, he engaged in research problems of management of production and organization competitiveness, digital economy and ensuring the successful performance of domestic products in the world markets. Julia V. Ragulina – Ph.D. (economics), professor, Head of the Chair of compliance and controlling at RUDN University (Russian Federation). She is the honored worker of science and technology of the Russian Federation and the honored worker of higher professional education. She is the author of more than 200 publications and a range of monographs on state control and audit, state and municipal management, and economics of municipal