THE ROLE OF ESG PRINCIPLES IN SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT

DOI 10.32651/265-124

Issue № 5, 2026, article № 17, pages 124-129

Section: Social problems of rural territories

Language: Russian

Original language title: РОЛЬ ESG-ПРИНЦИПОВ В УСТОЙЧИВОМ РАЗВИТИИ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ

Keywords: ESG-ПРИНЦИПЫ, ESG PRINCIPLES, RURAL AREAS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE, AND INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT

Abstract: This research examines the conditions and factors that determine the successful implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles in strategic planning for sustainable rural development. It focuses on the effectiveness of modern tools at agro-industrial enterprises. Particular attention is paid to assessing their real impact on key development aspects of the regions where the company operates: socioeconomic (quality of life, employment, infrastructure) and environmental (resource conservation, reducing the burden on ecosystems). The study aims to identify specific mechanisms through which a corporate ESG agenda can drive positive change in rural areas. The goal of the study is a comprehensive assessment of the role of ESG principles as a factor in ensuring sustainable rural development. The study's methodological basis is formed by general scientific methods: logical, comparative, and statistical analysis, which allowed for an assessment of the state of rural development and the identification of key issues. The analysis identified key conditions for implementation and an assessment of the effectiveness of ESG principles in the context of sustainable rural development. Examples of successful applications of these principles in agricultural enterprises across the country and at the regional level, using the Irkutsk Region as an example, are provided. The results and conclusions obtained have practical significance and can be applied by large agricultural organizations in formulating sustainable development strategies, as well as by state and municipal authorities in developing programs to support and regulate rural development. The main conclusion of the study is that the ESG agenda is becoming a critical element of the long-term strategy of agricultural holdings, contributing not only to the growth of their investment attractiveness and the minimization of reputational risks, but also to the direct transformation of rural areas, which are the primary target and key resource for the country's sustainable development.

Authors: Kornilova Darima Dylyk-Nimaevna, SHobdoeva Nadezhda Valerevna, Naidanova Erzhena Batozhargalovna, Polianskaia Natalia Mikhailovna