Environment Issues in Russia and the Eurasian Republics

​Environmental Issues of Russia and
the Eurasian Republics

​Objectives/Goals

Vocabulary

• Describe the causes and effects of environmental problems the people in this region face

• Describe the role of the Arctic Council in mediating disputes in the Arctic

• Hypothesize possible future challenges and solutions for environmental issues in this region

• Carbon Sink

• Depletion

• Nuclear Waste

• Vehicle Emissions

• Smelting

Essential Question: What are the causes and effects of modern environmental issues in Russia and the Eurasian Republics? 

Open Ended

Where in the World is Comet?

(Location and Country)

Clue 1: If you lived in this country, you might call it Sakartvelo.

Clue 2: The current president of this country is Mikheil Kavelashvili.

Clue 3: This location's name translates into "The Lord's Fortress".

Clue 4: This location was dedicated to the sun goddess and Christianity.

Clue 5: This location has a large hall called Tamaris Darbazi.

Where is Comet?

​Air Pollution

• Urban Areas have more air pollution than rural areas

  • Factory and Power Plant waste creates Smog (a layer of air mixed with poisonous gases that cause reduced visibility)

  • Vehicle Emissions (the substance released into the air when fuel is burnt) is a major environmental issue in cities such as Moscow. 

• Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are in the world's top 12 most polluted countries.

  • The Siberian city of Norilsk has the world’s worst sulfur dioxide pollution from nickel production factories. 

• Fixing the Problem

  • Russia : environmentally friendly vehicles, factory incentives to lower pollution

  • Central Asia: Fuel Taxes to reduce traffic, underground mining

​Water Pollution and Scarcity

• Water Scarcity: the lack of water in certain regions

  • Overuse of Irrigation

    • Fertile Soil but arid and semi-arid location make irrigation inefficient

  • Competition for Water Resources (agriculture, industry, and residential)

  • Fertilizer and Pesticide Runoff

  • Oil Spills (Taiga and Tundra) from Pipelines and drilling led to air and water pollution (high levels of Mercury)

  • Lake Baikal:one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world and has become one of the most polluted lakes in the world

    • Factory waste and illegal fishing have caused major damages to the ecosystem.  

  • Soviet Union nuclear waste dumps into rivers

    • Dams along the Volga River have trapped contaminated water in the area that provides fresh drinking water for Moscow. 

​The Aral Sea

• Industrial Needs and Commercial Farming Irrigation led to a demand for the resources of the Aral Sea

• Impact on the Region

  • Destroyed Fishing Communities

  • Destroyed Port Cities for Trade and Travel

  • Dust Storms of salt, fertilizer, and dirt harm humans

​Depletion of Natural Resources

• Drilling and Mining of Natural gas and oil

• Deforestation leads to Carbon Sinks: areas that absorb more carbon from the atmosphere then they release

• Climate change leads to rising temperatures, melting permafrost that has a major impact on ecosystems and communities

  • Permafrost melting releases methane and poisonous gases

​Arctic Council

• The Artic Council is an example of a supranatational organization focused on protecting the Artic. 

• 8 countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweeden and the United States

• 6 Indigenous Arctic Communities: Aleut, Inuit, Saami, and others.

• Goals:

  • Environmental protection and sustainable development.

  • gGatheredresearch and data about issues facing the Arctic.

  • Meetings have stopped while Russia and Ukraine are at war

​Nuclear Waste

• 1949-1987 Soviet Union launched 600 nuclear tests, creating nuclear waste (the by-product of nuclear power plants and weapons)

  • Some nuclear waste was dumped in seas or buried underground

  Russia and the Eurasian Republics rely on Nuclear Power plants for energy

​Chernobyl

​Youtube Video

Open Ended

What is one thing that Scientiest in this region are doing to improve this region?