Russia Environment Profile 2012

Russian economic policy is focused on medium-term economic growth. Ecological concerns are entirely subordinated to growth efforts, despite a considerable legacy of environmental damage from the Soviet era. Accordingly, environmental concerns are only on the political agenda when they promise to deliver clear material short-term advantages (as they can be used to put pressure on unwanted investors).

The long-term political effort to reduce economic dependence on raw material production would also reduce negative environmental effects. But again, environmental concerns are hardly ever mentioned as a reason for this strategy. Administrative reforms under Vladimir Putin have weakened further the limited institutional base for environmental protection, in both state and NGO settings. When the focus of economic policy shifted increasingly to direct state control, and when additionally the international economic crisis put an end to the country’s economic boom, environmental concerns became even more sidelined.