Russian Environmental Policy - Essay Example

Introduction Environmental protection is one of the most actual problems of the contemporary humankind. Scientific and technical progress and strengthening of anthropogenic pressure upon environment inevitably lead to worsening of ecological situation. The majority of natural resources are exhausted, the environment becomes soiled, the natural communication between human beings and the nature is lost, physical and mental health of people worsens, there is never ending economic and political struggle for the raw markets, etc. The Russian Federation belongs to the countries with the worst ecological situation in the world. The pollution of the environment has reached here unprecedented scales. A number one environmental problem in the Russian Federation is environmental pollution. People's health continually worsens. The middle age of men for last years has made only 68 years. Each tenth child is born intellectually or physically defective owing to abnormalities at genetic level. In the majority of industrial regions of the country one third of inhabitants has various forms of immunologic deficiency. According to World Health Organization (WHO) standards people of the Russian Federation is on the verge of degeneration. A great deal of territory of the country are occupied with zones of ecological disaster and extreme ecological situations. Only some small part of inhabitants of towns and little villages has a possibility to breathe the air, which meet the requirements of quality standards. About 50 % of potable water consumed by the population does not answer any hygienic requirements. The list of similar data is extensive enough. The progress made by Russia in addressing the Soviet environmental legacy Until recently in Russia in general there was no state policy in the field of ecology. Russia inherited a legacy of environmental problems from the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991. 'The Soviet Union's emphasis on industrial production and blatant disregard for the environment has left Russia grappling with numerous environmental problems. Although numerous factories and heavy industry were shut down in the economic contraction that followed Russia's independence, the country still has an economy that is heavily reliant on extractive industries. Furthermore, Russia's ongoing transition to a market-based economy has meant that the government has been strongly disposed to promoting economic growth rather than environmental protection' (EIA, 2004). Such a situation becomes inadmissible during transition to market relations when ecological and economic interests come into conflict with each other. There is a necessity to bring to the norms of the ecological law of the Russian Federation for the conformity with the norms of international law. It assumes the development and acceptance by the Russian science and law the most effective international concepts and ideas in the field of environment protection. During the past decade, the disastrous effects of Soviet development and industrialization policies have come to light, raising awareness in Russia of the need to protect the environment and prevent future damage. It should be mentioned that Russia has made a progress in addressing the Soviet environmental legacy. According to last international summits among priority directions in the field of activity connected with an environment following three directions come to light: management of natural resources as a basis of eradication of poverty and steady social and economic development; maintenance of population with pure water and protection of water resources; preservation of a biodiversity. Following these directions, priority in universal scale, Russian Federation has worked the priority issues named in three Russian documents of a national level: The Russian State Ecological Doctrine; National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy; The federal targeted program Ecology and Natural Resources of Russia (2002-2010) From the point of view of prospect of foreign policy an environment protection for several years is the main aspect of relation between the European Union and Russia. Cooperation in environmental sphere is a key part of the General strategy of EU concerning Russia, which has been approved by heads of the states and the governments of EU in Cologne in June, 1999. In particular under the heading "Common challenges on the European continent" an environment is spoken as ''the common property of the people of Russia and the European Union. The sustainable use of natural resources, management of nuclear waste and the fight against air and water pollution, particularly across frontiers, are priorities in this area'' (The European Council, 1999). But it should be mentioned that unfortunately this progress is going relatively slowly. In total for 10 years during 1991-2000 in Russia actually from zero point have been created: System of the state ecological control and independent ecological examination. It was 332 thousand enterprises on the constant control in 1999; the developed legislative and normative base, on key parameters corresponding the best world standards. It has been passed more than 30 federal laws). It has been worked out the system of protection and promotion of interests of Russia in the international attitudes, where questions of preservation of the environment of steel not only dominating sphere of cooperation, but also the mechanism of pressure upon the separate countries. Moreover it has been originated the preconditions for cardinal change of functions and perception of especially protected natural territories, their transformations from earlier closed ranges for basic researches in a natural and necessary Later on in result of re-structuring of the Government in 2000 there has been increase of emissions and dumps of polluting substances - for the first time after 1990 - on the background of the slowed down economic growth. During the existence of independent state institution on the preservation of the environment it has been improvement both during economic decline, and during the growth of manufacture. Liquidation of the state nature protection institution in 2000 and easing of the ecological control have not rendered positive influence on rates of economic growth. The absence of the independent state control leads to annual losses of the federal and regional budget estimated in tens, if not hundreds billions roubles, the sum exceeding the charges spent for the department in hundreds times. The reduction and leaving of the staff from nature protection structures have already led to essential loss of positions of the country on international scene. Especially strongly these consequences affected in 2002 in connection with the Global summit of the United Nations on preservation of the environment and steady development. Without any objective preconditions ignoring of public opinion has created artificial disagreements between authority and the nature protection public. Reorganization of the ministry of natural resources not only did not keep functions of preservation of the environment, but also have actually disorganized the management in this area. Conclusion Thus it is possible to ascertain that the reorganization lead in May, 2000 already has led to serious negative ecological consequences, having defined the growth of all kinds of pollution in Russia at sharp reduction of the responsibility of infringers. The structural reorganization of the Ministry of natural resources lead by October, 2001, in particular, deprived public service on preservation of the environment its functions and powers, no less than financial independence may finish the history of the state preservation of the environment in Russia. In it the basic threat of ecological safety of the country at the present stage consists. We may agree with Shakleina (2005). who states that 'the dynamic international situation typical of our time and the rapid developments within Russia itself dictate the need for regular review of foreign policy guidelines and practical goals'. The main points of the new ecological concept of the Russian Federation should become a basis for constructive interaction of bodies of the government of the Russian Federation, institutions of local government, businessmen and public associations on making of the complex decisions on issues of balanced development of the economics together with the constant improvement of environment. These points should become a basis for the development of the long-term state policy providing steady economic development of the country at observance of ecological safety of society. References: EIA. (2004). Russia: Environmental Issues . Retrieved April 20, 2007, from http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/russenv. Shakleina (2005). Russian Foreign Policy in Transition: Concepts and Realities. Central European University Press The European Council. (1999). EU Common Strategy on Russia. Retrieved April 19, 2007, from http://www.delrus.cec.eu.int/en/p_244.htm Read More