Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework

Elena V. Sapir; Radu Rasetarivelo

doi:10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196

JEL

O13 Q56 Q57

SUSTAINABLE DECOUPLING IN THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION FRAMEWORK Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework

АА Аа

Published in Theoretical economics · Pages 177–196 · Rubric: MODERN PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD ECONOMY

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196

Received: 24.02.2026 Accepted: 19.03.2026 Published: 31.03.2026

Authors

Elena V. Sapir

Radu Rasetarivelo

ORCID

Elena V. Sapir

Yaroslavl State University Yaroslavl

Radu Rasetarivelo

Yaroslavl State University Yaroslavl

ORCID

ABSTRACT

The study of sustainable decoupling as a target for modern environmental regulation stems from the global community’s renewed focus on climate change control and the reduction of air pollutant emissions in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Researchers are particularly interested in the interaction between sustainable decoupling and industrial decarbonization, which forms the core of modern global environmental policy. The purpose of this study is to uncover the essence of sustainable decoupling as a tripartite process that integrates welfare decoupling, environmental decoupling, and natural resource use into a single concept for a triple recovery of global economic growth. The research focuses on decoupling and decarbonization processes occurring in the global economy in the context of the need to achieve international consensus on the environmental regulation agenda; the research objective is to develop a theoretical model for the relationship between sustainable decoupling and environmental regulation tools and mechanisms. Based on the analysis conducted in this article, the findings demonstrate a profound relationship between sustainable decoupling and decarbonization, and five strategic levers for decarbonization are identified. These findings can be used in the development of environmental policy and environmental decision-making by national and international institutions. Further research is needed to explore the problems and contradictions between individual national actors in contemporary international environmental regulation; systematize and identify national interests and the most significant factors influencing the environmental policies of developing and lower-income countries; and propose the most effective tools for achieving decoupling and decarbonization for these groups of countries.

KEYWORDS

environmental regulation, decarbonization, sustainable decoupling, triple global crisis, greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, fossil fuels, Brundtland Commission, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement

Funding

The article was prepared as part of the research conducted under the scientific project VIP-017 of P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University (YarSU).

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GOST

Sapir E. V., Rasetarivelo R. P. Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework // . 2026. pp. 177-196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196. (Date of access 19.08.2026).

MLA

Elena V. Sapir, Rasetarivelo R. P.. "Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework." (2026): 177-196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196.

APA

Sapir E. V., Rasetarivelo R. P. (2026). Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework. , 177-196. https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196

Chicago

Elena V. Sapir, Rasetarivelo R. P.. "Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework." , no. (2026): 177-196. https://doi.org/10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196.

WIKI

{{cite journal | author = Sapir E. V., Rasetarivelo R. P. | title = Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework | journal = | year = 2026 | pages = 177-196 | doi = 10.52957/2221-3260-2026-3-177-196 }}

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SUSTAINABLE DECOUPLING IN THE MODERN ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION FRAMEWORK Sustainable decoupling in the modern environmental regulation framework

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