A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF RUSSIAN RATINGS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AMONG COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE RUSSIAN ARCTIC: METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS

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Darya N. Veselova1, 2, 3

1Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia, daria-voronchikhina@mail.ru, ORCID 0000-0002-6674-0357

2University under the IPA EurAsEc, Saint Petersburg, Russia

3North-West Institute of Management of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Saint Petersburg, Russia

 

Abstract. Major extractive companies operate extensively in the Arctic, with their activities potentially affecting the environment and local communities. Against this background, corporate social and environmental responsibility is becoming increasingly important, and a range of rating systems has been developed to assess corporate performance in these areas. However, the results produced by different rating systems often vary considerably. This study examines existing rating systems for assessing the corporate social and environmental responsibility of companies operating in the Arctic and develops recommendations for improving their methodologies. The study employs document analysis, comparative analysis, and case studies. It examines the methodologies of six corporate social and environmental responsibility rating systems, identifying their key strengths and limitations, and analyzes the ratings assigned to Russian metals producers operating in the Arctic in 2024–2025. The analysis demonstrates substantial variation in company ratings across different systems, attributable to differences in assessment methodologies, including the indicators used, scoring scales, and weighting of criteria. Based on these findings, the study identifies 11 key principles for the development and application of rating methodologies and formulates recommendations for improving the assessment of companies operating in the Arctic, with the aim of increasing the reliability and validity of rating results. The scientific contribution of the study lies in identifying methodological limitations in existing ratings of Arctic companies and proposing approaches that account for regional specificities and incorporate an opt-in participation model, thereby improving the objectivity of assessments and expanding opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate. The practical significance of the findings lies in their potential application by rating agencies to improve their methodologies, by companies to improve their corporate social and environmental responsibility policies, and by public authorities to develop targeted support measures for responsible businesses. Future research will focus on developing a proprietary rating methodology for assessing the corporate social and environmental responsibility of companies operating in the Arctic.

Keywords: corporate social responsibility, Russian Arctic, Russian business, environmental safety, ESG, ratings

Acknowledgments: This study was funded by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 25-28-00975, https://rscf.ru/en/project/25-28-00975/.

For citation: Veselova D. N. A critical assessment of Russian ratings of corporate social and environmental responsibility among companies operating in the Russian Arctic: Methodological aspects. Sever i rynok: formirovanie ekonomicheskogo poryadka  [The North and the Market: Forming the Economic Order], 2026, no. 3, pp. 149–163. doi:10.37614/2220-802X.3.2026.93.010.

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