Quality of Life in Large Cities of the Vologda Oblast: Environmental Aspects (In Russ.)

The increasing scale of anthropogenic impact on nature and active urbanization are increasingly exacerbating the problem of environmental protection, a prerequisite for the existence of society. Environmental problems are particularly acute in large cities, where key elements such as population, economy, and nature interact. This highlights the need for high-quality production of goods and services and a favorable environmental situation, which significantly determine people's quality of life. In this regard, the aim of this article is to analyze the environmental factor affecting quality of life in large cities. The study focused on the major cities of Vologda Oblast – Vologda and Cherepovets. The study utilized general scientific methods as well as cartographic methods and a questionnaire survey of residents of large cities. The scientific novelty of this work lies in the integration of these research approaches, which allowed for an analysis of perceptions and an assessment of the environmental situation, as well as proposals for improving the quali-ty of life of residents in their areas of residence, taking into account the respondents' wishes. The study results showed that residents of the regional center perceive a poor environmental situation as a less obvious problem. The problem of declining air quality, water pollution, and increasing municipal solid waste generation persists in major cities of the Vologda Oblast. It was found that low citizen engagement in this process is also a barrier to complete waste sorting. Improving residents' quality of life through the lens of environmental factors requires raising public awareness and environmental literacy, creating the necessary infrastructure, and encouraging citizens to be responsible stewards of nature. The findings may be useful to government agencies in developing projects and programs aimed at increasing public engagement in addressing environmental issues and improving state environmental policy guidelines for waste sorting.