Fixing the Unfixable? Geographic Barriers to Environmental Restoration in Russia’s Heavy Industry Regions

The long-term environmental damage from Russia's large-scale industries has caused serious environmental problems throughout Russia's heavy industry areas — including in the Arctic city of Norilsk and the Ural industrial belt — because of the way geography, climate and infrastructure combine to hinder remediation of damaged environments. Through an examination of existing literature on this subject, this article will analyze and document the ways in which geographic elements (geography) create barriers to environmental restoration, and develop proposals for policy responses to overcome those barriers. The research demonstrates that the extreme climate conditions of the north; the legacy of previous industrial activities; the difficulty of accessing many remote areas where environmental pollution exists; and inadequate compliance with regulations for environmental protection, have created a difficult set of circumstances that make it very difficult to implement successful remedial actions. As part of developing sustainable approaches to the cleanup of damaged environments, the authors recommend using additional regulatory requirements; upgrading the technology being used; increasing monitoring capabilities; and improving communication between local communities and government agencies.