Balance of Economic and Social Factors in Environmental Projects

With a more than significant interest in environmental issues in society and the widespread introduction of environmental themes in the social and educational space, a number of methodological and methodical problems remain unresolved. These problems are connected, on the one hand, with comparative assessments of environmental measures, taking into account both their ecological significance and economic viability, and, on the other hand, they relate to building a system of priorities in the presentation of material reflecting the realities of environmental policy in the study of ecology at different levels of education and in different subject areas. The article discusses methodological approaches and model ideas for assessing the viability of economic investments in environmental activities, taking into account both social and economic factors. Approaches to the description of the relationship of scientific and technological parameters with the formation of conditions for the economically profitable introduction of new technologies, when the need to solve environmental problems is a stimulating factor, have been considered, and the concept of an Economic and Environmental Barrier reflecting the level at which old technological solutions, although they satisfy technological requirements, but no longer meet environmental requirements is introduced. It is shown that, other things being equal, the economic component is to dominate over the environmental one when making decisions on financial investments in environmental projects. However, mobilizing public opinion in support of environmental initiatives can change attitudes towards assessing the economic viability of projects related to environmental protection. This especially applies to public funding of environmental initiatives, including in the field of environmental education. At the same time, an assumption is made about the significant dependence of the perception of scientific and popular scientific information on ecology on the level of social protection of the population and the level of its economic well-being. The authors suggest that the multifactorial nature of environmental parameters requires new approaches to environmental awareness-raising, causing a broader understanding of intersubject interaction with noxological and medical rehabilitation topics.