POSITION OF RUSSIA IN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RATINGS

International environmental ratings have recently become an important tool for assessing the progress of countries in implementing environmental policies and sustainable development goals. Numerous international organizations and networks, universities, research teams and commercial companies are developing environmental ratings. Basing on the analysis of the compiled database the classification of integrated environmental ratings was elaborated and 8 thematic groups were identified. The international ratings were grouped into three categories, reflecting the position of our country. Russia occupies a leading position just in a few ratings based on the Environmental Efficiency index, the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, Environmental Democracy index. Russia occupies a satisfactory position in the ratings compiled on the basis of the index of Adjusted Net Savings, Pollution index, Grееndex (green index), Prosperity index, Water Stress, etc. Russia has low position in the ratings based on the Climate Change Performance index, Environmental Vulnerability index, Climate Risk. Russia lags behind many OECD and BRICS countries in the movement towards a “green” economy (as in the ratings of the Global Green Economy index, Low Carbon Economy index, Global Cleantech Innovation index, etc.). The analysis of the rank of Russia in the environmental ratings revealed a number of methodological factors that affect its position and, at the same time, do not always provide for the objective specification of the environmental situation. Basing on the assessment of Russia›s position in international ratings, the strengths and weaknesses of the environmental development of our country are summarized.