Sectoral Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Sakha Republic (Yakutia)

The article analyses sectoral greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Yakutia, which is the largest and the coldest region of Russia, specializing in mining and exploitation of natural resources. The data are broken down by primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of economy, with a focus on electric power industry, hearing energy generation, and transport; these sectors are the main emitters of greenhouse gases in the region. It has been validated that industrial growth is accompanied by an increase in GHG, but due to modernization of local energy and housing sectors, including a gradual transition to natural gas, the emissions growth rate in Yakutia is slowing down. Economy of scale is shown, including specific reduction in GHG emissions per capita in settlements of the Northern (Arctic) energy district. When settlement size exceeds 2,000 people GHG emissions increase due to economic activity of small and medium-sized businesses and a more developed social infrastructure, which ensures a higher quality of life. Availability of reserves to reduce GHG emissions through modernization of the region's energy sector, including fourth-generation district heating, is justified. Distribution of anthropogenic emissions by municipal districts of Yakutia is given. Significant territorial differentiation is governed by both climatic and economic factors.