Bronte Wells
Russia has been facing severe environmental issues, with the country's Natural Resources Ministry naming 35 cities and towns with dangerously high air pollution levels. The country's air pollution is largely attributed to industrial activity and vehicular traffic, with over 200 cities exceeding pollution limits. The Krasnoyarsk region has the highest air pollution level, with the city of Norilsk being the worst offender, releasing 1,787,000 tons of pollutants into the air. Other major cities like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Volgograd also experience high concentrations of air pollution. Water pollution is also a serious concern, with 75% of surface water and 50% of all water in Russia contaminated. The country's soil degradation, nuclear waste storage, and deforestation further contribute to its environmental challenges.
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What You'll Learn
Norilsk, Russia's most polluted city
Norilsk, a closed city in the Krasnoyarsk Krai region of Russia, is often regarded as the country's most polluted city. Located about 180 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Norilsk is also one of Russia's coldest cities, with average temperatures reaching -10°C.
The city's pollution is largely attributed to heavy industry, with a nickel factory in the south, a copper factory in the north, and the Nadezhda metallurgical plant 12km to the east. In 2017, Norilsk produced 1.798 million tons of carbon pollutants, almost six times more than Russia's second-most polluted city, Cherepovets. Norilsk Nickel, the main employer in this industrial city, has been accused of being responsible for the pollution. The company is one of Russia's leading producers of non-ferrous and platinum-group metals.
Norilsk's air pollution is of particular concern, with sulphur dioxide levels in the air exceeding safe thresholds by a significant margin. In 2007, sulphur dioxide concentrations were reported to be up to 40 times higher than the limit. According to Greenpeace, Norilsk Nickel's Polar Division is the world's largest man-made source of sulphur dioxide pollution. The health impacts of this pollution are significant, with mortality from respiratory diseases in Norilsk notably higher than the Russian average, especially among children.
Despite efforts to improve the situation, environmental concerns persist. In June 2016, Norilsk Nickel shut down its nickel factory, which emitted 350,000 tons of sulphur dioxide annually. However, other plants in the city and the Murmansk region have taken on the factory's operations, and pollution continues to be an issue. In 2020, a spill from an NTEK power plant released 20,000 tons of diesel fuel, causing severe damage to the local ecosystem.
The city's pollution has led to unusual phenomena, such as the nearby Daldykan River turning bright red due to contamination from a Norilsk Nickel-owned smelting plant. The company has acknowledged environmental issues as its biggest problem and has pledged investments to modernise manufacturing and reduce emissions.
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Industrial pollution in the Russian Arctic
One of the most well-known examples of industrial pollution in the Russian Arctic is Norilsk, a city beyond the Arctic Circle in the Krasnoyarsk region. Norilsk has been called Russia's most polluted city and was even declared one of the top 10 most polluted places in the world by the Blacksmith Institute in 2007. The city is home to a nickel factory in the south, a copper factory in the north, and the Nadezhda metallurgical plant 12km to the east, resulting in heavy industrial pollution. Norilsk Nickel, the main employer in Norilsk, has shut down some of its factories in an attempt to improve the environmental situation, but other plants have taken on the operations, and the health effects of pollution are predicted to linger.
Another area of concern in the Russian Arctic is the Monchegorsk region, where forests are completely or partially burned as far as 40km south of the plant, and the soil is poisoned with heavy metals. The water sources in this region are also polluted, with the Hauki-lampi-joki river in the Pechenga basin being classified as "extremely dirty" due to high levels of nickel and manganese compounds. The Pechora River basin is also affected, with oil products polluting the water, particularly above the city of Naryan-Mar.
The Murmansk region, the Komi Republic, and the Arkhangelsk region are also facing significant industrial pollution issues. Mining operations in Vorkuta and Usinsk in the Komi Republic experienced the world's worst land-based oil spill in 1994. The Deputatsky deposit in Yakutia is another environmental hotspot, with iron and manganese contamination still occurring despite the cessation of operations in 1997.
The Russian government has made some efforts to address these issues, with President Vladimir Putin threatening increased environmental fines during a 2010 visit to Norilsk. However, the current policies have largely failed to address the decades-long environmental problems in the Russian Arctic, and the implementation of new large-scale industrial projects could lead to further deterioration.
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Inefficient energy usage and fossil fuels
Russia, like most countries, relies heavily on fossil fuels as its primary energy source. Fossil fuels—coal, oil, and gas—are a major source of air pollution and are responsible for about three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change and has detrimental effects on human health, causing millions of premature deaths annually.
Russia's energy mix, like that of other countries, is evolving as it strives to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and transition to low-carbon energy sources. Nuclear power and renewable technologies, such as hydropower, solar, and wind, are among the alternatives being explored. However, Russia's path toward energy transition faces challenges due to its large, established industries, some dating back to Soviet times, that have been operating for decades in regions like the Russian Arctic.
The Arctic region of Russia, also known as the Arctic Zone of Russia (AZRF), has become an environmental hotspot due to the destructive impact of these long-standing industrial activities. Norilsk, a city in the Arctic Circle in the Krasnoyarsk region, has been dubbed "Russia's most polluted city." It is home to numerous industrial sites, including the Norilsk Nickel company, which operates factories producing nickel, copper, and metallurgical products. In 2022, Norilsk emitted approximately 1,787,000 tons of pollutants into the air, with sulfur dioxide accounting for a significant portion.
The environmental consequences of these emissions are evident in the surrounding areas. The Daldykan River in Norilsk turned bright red due to a spillage, causing widespread concern. Additionally, forests in the Monchegorsk region have been partially or completely burned, and the soil has been poisoned with heavy metals. The Hauki-lampi-joki river in the Pechenga basin has also experienced increased pollution levels, with high concentrations of nickel and manganese compounds.
To address these issues, Russia has implemented initiatives to reduce emissions and mitigate accumulated environmental damage. For instance, Norilsk Nickel shut down one of its factories in an effort to improve the city's environmental reputation. However, the closure of a single factory may not be sufficient to address the scale of the problem. As such, Russia continues to face the challenge of balancing industrial development with the urgent need to protect the environment and public health.
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Water pollution
In 2018, it was reported that 35-60% of drinking water reserves in Russia failed to meet safety standards, with 11 million Russians lacking access to safe drinking water. Moscow, in particular, struggles with water contamination. Fifty-six percent of the city's water supply sources do not meet safety standards, and studies have shown pollution in both surface and groundwater. Samples of the Moskva River, which flows into the Volga River, revealed high levels of pollutants, including sulfur, oil, heavy metals, and aluminum.
Other areas with significant water pollution include the Caspian and Black Seas, the Sea of Azov, Lake Baikal, and the Volga and Dnepr rivers. The Sea of Azov, for example, suffers from salinization, overfishing, and industrial pollution. The Volga and Dnepr rivers experience acute eutrophication, which depletes the dissolved oxygen levels and disrupts natural life cycles.
The industrial regions of Krasnodar and Stavropol' territories, Rostov and Novosibirsk oblasts, and the Republic of Chechnya also face critical water pollution issues relative to the demand and availability of clean water. Poor water management standards and inefficient water treatment facilities have raised health concerns in these areas.
To address the widespread water pollution in Russia, a full-scale reform of the water industry and water security system is urgently needed. While a handful of Russian companies are taking steps to improve their wastewater quality, greater incentives and governmental regulations are required to curb toxic pollution effectively.
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Deforestation
Russia contains the largest area of natural forests in the world, covering 49% of its landmass and 815 million hectares, which is 23% of the planet's total forest area. Stretching from the Baltic Sea to the Sea of Japan, these forests encompass the last wild forests of Europe and a substantial portion of the vast wilderness of Siberia. However, Russia's forests are under threat due to rapid deforestation. From 2001 to 2021, Russia lost approximately 64 to 76 million hectares of tree cover, equivalent to an 8.4% to 10% decrease since 2000. In 2018 alone, Russia lost 5.6 million hectares of tree cover.
To address deforestation, the Federal Forestry Agency of Russia has implemented various measures. The 2013 Russian Roundwood Act introduced documentation requirements and penalties for non-compliance with regulations on Roundwood transportation and sales. In 2012, an eight-year plan, "The Development of Forestry 2013-2020," was introduced to reduce illegal logging and increase profits from the timber sector. The Criminal Code was updated in 2014 to include stricter penalties for illegal logging, transport, and sale, and an electronic recording system, the Uniform State Automated Information System (EGAIS), was launched in 2015.
Despite these efforts, deforestation in Russia continues, contributing to environmental damage beyond the loss of carbon-absorbing forests. The released carbon dioxide, smoke, and soot have contributed to rising temperatures, with the winter of 2019 being the warmest in 130 years. This has triggered forest fires along the Arctic Circle, which, in turn, contribute to the thawing of Arctic permafrost. As a result, the Arctic region of Russia is facing unprecedented environmental destruction, with industrial activities leaving behind man-made wastelands and severely polluted rivers.
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Frequently asked questions
Norilsk is considered Russia's most polluted city. It is home to the world's largest man-made source of sulfur dioxide pollution, and the air quality severely affects the local population's health.
Norilsk Nickel is the firm responsible for the city's pollution. The company controls one-third of the world's nickel deposits and is one of Russia's leading producers of non-ferrous and platinum-group metals.
In 2013, the company began investing in environmental measures, including the gradual closure of the nickel factory. In 2015, the company discussed plans to reduce emissions within safe thresholds. In June 2020, the company shut down its nickel factory.
The city's rates of mortality, cancer, lung disease, and respiratory diseases are higher than in other regions in Russia. Children living near the nickel and copper plants suffer from numerous respiratory diseases and are twice as likely to become ill.
Other polluted areas in Russia include the Russian Arctic, Monchegorsk, the Kola MMC, the Pechenga River basin, the Murmansk region, and major industrial and population centers such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and Volgograd.
