Russian eco-policies are shaped by climate scepticism

Subject

The Russian government's environmental priorities.

Significance

The success of Russia's Ecology Year in 2017 was limited by budget shortages, controversy around waste management projects and official lack of concern about climate change. 'Foreign agent' legislation has forced many NGOs working on environmental matters to shut down or curtail their operations.

Impacts

• Official reticence on the 2017 discovery of high levels of ruthenium-106 near a Urals nuclear plant reflects acute political sensitivities.
• The Arctic is a focus for hydrocarbons development but few technologies exist to deal with oil spills in its waters.
• Reprocessing spent nuclear submarine fuel at Andreyeva Bay will take another ten years owing to damaged caskets.
• The import of spent nuclear fuel, legalised in 2001, is another potential risk to the environment.