Helena Joyce
Russia faces formidable environmental challenges due to decades of Soviet and post-Soviet environmental mismanagement, recurring economic crises, and the war in Ukraine. The country's air, water, and soil are heavily polluted, with over 200 cities exceeding pollution limits. Russia's energy sector relies heavily on polluting fossil fuels, and vehicle emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution. Water pollution is also a serious issue, with 75% of surface water and 50% of all water in Russia being polluted. The government has acknowledged the existence of these environmental problems, but addressing them will require socioeconomic, institutional, and cultural changes, as well as international engagement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution | 68% of energy is produced by fossil fuels; 80% of air pollution comes from vehicle emissions; 200 cities exceed pollution limits |
| Water pollution | 75% of surface water and 50% of all water is polluted; 92% of wastewater is not fully treated before being returned to waterways |
| Soil pollution | Soil degradation due to excessive use of agrochemicals; soil poisoned with heavy metals |
| Deforestation | 16 million hectares of forest lost each year; funding for park rangers lacking |
| Nuclear waste | Unsafe dumping of military nuclear waste into the Sea of Japan until 1993; liquid radioactive waste migrating slowly in Tomsk and Krasnoyarsk |
| Military activities | War in Ukraine causing pollution in the Caspian Sea; about 30% of protected areas in Ukraine affected by military activities |
| Industrial pollution | Norilsk Nickel is the largest nickel and palladium mining and smelting company, producing about 85% of Russian nickel and 70% of copper |
| Positive initiatives | Moscow attained clean air target set by WHO in 2019; St. Petersburg investing in electrified public transportation and cycle paths |
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What You'll Learn
Air pollution from vehicles and industry
Air pollution in Russia is a severe problem, threatening the health of millions of citizens and the safety of crops, water, and air. The transportation and industrial sectors are the major contributors to air pollution in the country.
The industrial sector was once the primary source of air pollution in Russia. However, the decline in industrial production has led to a reduction in emissions from these sources. Cities in Siberia and the Urals, where mining, chemical, and heavy industries are concentrated, are now the most polluted in Russia. Norilsk, for instance, has been listed as one of the most polluted places globally, with the Norilsk Nickel company being the leading source of pollution in the region. The company produces about 85% of Russia's nickel and cobalt, 70% of copper, and over 95% of platinum group metals. Despite modernizing its facilities, the level of atmospheric pollution in Norilsk is still ten times higher than the Russian average.
On the other hand, the number of motor vehicles on the roads has skyrocketed, and vehicle emissions now exceed industry emissions in most Russian cities. More than 80% of the country's air pollution comes from vehicle emissions, especially in European Russia, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg. Moscow, in particular, has been greatly affected by air pollution, with automobiles causing almost 90% of it. However, the city has taken steps to address this issue by banning vehicles that do not meet the Euro-3 emissions standard from the city center and installing electric vehicle charging stations. St. Petersburg is also investing in an electrified public transportation system and promoting cycling by introducing a cycle hire scheme and designating cycle paths.
Overall, over 200 cities in Russia exceed pollution limits, and this number is increasing as more vehicles appear on the roads. Air pollution is attributed to 17% of childhood and 10% of adult diseases, as well as a significant proportion of respiratory and endocrine diseases.
The Russian public is mostly unaware of the perturbing pollution statistics due to a lack of accurate and accessible monitoring systems in many regions.
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Water pollution from sewage and nuclear waste
Water pollution is a serious problem in Russia, with 75% of surface water and 50% of all water in the country now being polluted. Only 8% of wastewater is fully treated before being returned to waterways, and obsolete and inefficient water treatment facilities, as well as a lack of funding, have caused heavy pollution. Sewage and industrial waste are dumped directly into rivers, with the city of Vladivostok pumping raw sewage into its bay.
The Caspian Sea is one of the most affected bodies of water, being fouled by run-off from unchecked construction, untreated sewage, fertilizers, and pesticides, including carcinogens and DDT. Russia is the largest polluter of the Caspian Sea, with 10 billion cubic meters of wastewater coming down the Volga River alone. The Sea of Azov is also suffering from salinization, overfishing, and industrial pollution.
The Volga River itself is one of the most polluted rivers on the planet, with half of the water that is withdrawn from it returned as polluted discharge, accounting for 37% of the total volume of polluted material generated in Russia. The river does not meet the norms for drinking water and is unsuitable for fish farming or irrigation.
The Pechenga River basin is another example of a heavily polluted water source, with the level of pollution of the Hauki-lampi-joki river increasing from "dirty" to "extremely dirty" due to high levels of nickel and manganese compounds.
Nuclear waste has also contributed to water pollution in Russia. Unsafe dumping methods have been used to dispose of military nuclear waste, which was dumped into the Sea of Japan until 1993. The testing and production of nuclear weapons have also affected the environment, such as at the Mayak atomic weapons production plant near Chelyabinsk.
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Soil degradation and groundwater contamination
Military activities and armed conflicts have been identified as major sources of soil degradation and contamination. The use of various weaponry, armoured vehicles, and explosives results in the release of chemical compounds, metallic fragments, and fuel remnants that damage soil systems and lead to local and global pollution. For instance, the Norilsk Nickel company, which operates in the Arctic, has been identified as a significant contributor to air pollution, with its industrial sites emitting large amounts of sulfur dioxide, a hazardous substance. Similarly, the Monchegorsk region has experienced forest degradation and soil poisoning due to emissions from industrial sites, with high levels of sulfur dioxide, nickel, and copper detected.
Agricultural practices that emphasize high fertilizer and insecticide use have also contributed to widespread soil degradation. The Soviet regime's encouragement of farming in fragile and arid pasturelands, along with the provision of heavily subsidized agrochemicals, has resulted in excessive levels of nitrates in food samples. This has led to widespread soil degradation and groundwater contamination, which will likely persist despite efforts to reduce agrochemical subsidies.
Russia's military-industrial complexes and military bases have also caused extensive environmental degradation of nearby land and waterway systems. Military plutonium production sites, such as Chelyabinsk-65, Tomsk-7, and Krasnoyarsk-26, have contaminated Russian waterways with highly radioactive waste. This waste has migrated over long distances, posing risks to human health and the environment.
To address these challenges, Russia established a military ecological service in 1997 to monitor and remediate contamination caused by military activities. However, funding shortfalls may limit their efforts primarily to documentation, posting warnings, and fencing off hazardous areas. Additionally, inefficient logging practices and deforestation contribute to soil degradation, as they can lead to increased soil erosion and the loss of vital soil-stabilizing plant roots.
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Deforestation and forest fires
Russia has been facing severe environmental issues, including deforestation and forest fires. The country lost 5.6 million hectares of tree cover in 2018, second only to Brazil. The primary cause of deforestation in Russia is excessive logging, which is often illegal. The northwest and Far East parts of Russia are particularly affected by illegal logging, resulting in an estimated loss of $1 billion annually for the country. In addition to logging, pollution and fires also contribute to the loss of forests in Russia.
The Russian government has made efforts to preserve forests through the establishment of nature reserves and parks. However, the lack of funding for park rangers limits the effectiveness of these initiatives. Forest protection policies have been slow to implement, and inefficient logging practices result in significant waste, with 40% of harvested trees going unused.
Forest fires pose a significant threat to Russia's forests, particularly in the Arctic Circle. These fires have multiple causes, including heat and dry tundra conditions, and human activity. The Russian government has declared states of emergency in response to wildfires and dispatched the military to assist in firefighting efforts. However, local authorities have sometimes dismissed the severity of the wildfires, claiming that the economic cost of fighting them outweighs the benefits.
The burning of peatlands in the Arctic Circle is a significant consequence of forest fires. Peatlands are carbon-rich soils that store vast amounts of carbon. When these soils burn, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. The Arctic wildfires also contribute to the thawing of permafrost, which can lead to sudden ground collapse.
Russia's response to deforestation and forest fires has been criticized as lacklustre, reflecting the country's low commitment to addressing climate change. Instead, Russia continues to rely heavily on the oil and gas industry and has struggled to enforce green initiatives. The lack of accurate data on air pollution in many regions of Russia further complicates the issue, making it challenging to assess the true extent of the problem.
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Military activities and nuclear testing
Russia's military activities and occupation of Ukraine have had a devastating impact on the environment, causing widespread ecological damage and destruction. The conflict has resulted in the contamination of land, water, and air, posing risks of long-term environmental catastrophe and affecting both Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
One of the most significant concerns is the widespread chemical contamination of air, water, and soil caused by military emissions, shelling, and the destruction of infrastructure. This has led to the poisoning of water sources, rendering them unfit for human consumption and damaging aquatic ecosystems. Soils in affected areas are no longer suitable for agriculture due to the accumulation of pollutants, and the release of carcinogenic dust from destroyed buildings poses long-term health risks.
Wildfires caused by military activities have also contributed to air pollution and destroyed natural habitats. The conflict has disrupted conservation efforts and endangered local wildlife, pushing some species to the brink of extinction. In addition, the digging of trenches, fortifications, and large-scale military movements have led to landscape destruction and deforestation, further exacerbating the environmental impact.
The risk of nuclear accidents has increased due to the proximity of fighting to nuclear power plants, as seen with Russia's seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. This has evoked fears of disasters similar to Chernobyl and Fukushima. Russia's nuclear testing history has left a legacy of radioactive contamination, with the former Soviet region of Semipalatinsk being one of the most heavily contaminated sites, affecting the health of people in the region.
The war in Ukraine has also resulted in forced migration and the displacement of over 11 million people. Abandoned industrial sites and worn-out infrastructure pose additional environmental risks, such as the potential release of toxic waste into water sources. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam and the potential breach of unstable dams highlight the ongoing dangers of long-term environmental consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
The main sources of pollution in Russia are vehicle emissions, mining, chemical and heavy industries, inefficient energy usage, and the use of fossil fuels.
The effects of pollution in Russia include increased disease rates, waterborne diseases, respiratory issues, endocrine diseases, and environmental destruction.
Russia is implementing environmental programs, investing in electrified public transportation, and creating cycle paths. However, funding shortages and institutional challenges limit the effectiveness of these efforts.
