Russia Shredding What Putative Environmental Laws It Does Have
Business organizations are lobbying for many environmental provisions to be ditched, arguing that it would help mitigate the effects of Western sanctions and an economic crisis. “Things are changing,” environmental journalist Angelina Davydova told The Moscow Times. “Some specific environmental standards and laws are being rolled back.”
In particular, a law passed last month made it easier for businesses to embark on major construction projects in Specially Protected Natural Territories (OOPT), which cover some 12.5% of Russian territory. While an earlier version of the law was watered down after a public outcry and parliamentary opposition, the final version still looks set to usher in significant changes. “The law still permits building major objects (pipelines or highways) through federal OOPTN with no environmental review,” said Yulia Davydova, a spokesperson for environmental group Greenpeace’s Russian branch.
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The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) – an influential business lobby group – sent a letter in March to Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko, who oversees the environment, suggesting 43 regulatory changes. These included multi-year delays for companies obliged to install emission monitoring and control systems after the receipt of a government environmental permit. Greenpeace’s Davydova said 42 out of the 43 RSPP initiatives “weaken environmental regulations and give businesses a free hand in such a way that the country is guaranteed to face multiple accidents and environmental catastrophes.”
One of the most high-profile regulatory rollbacks since the start of the Ukraine war has been in the car manufacturing industry – as of early May, Russian car makers no longer have to adhere to pollution control standards used by the European Union. Not only will this lead to greater pollution, but also reduced passenger safety, the Kommersant business daily reported.
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https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/industry-and-energy/2022/06/russia-slashes-environmental-protections-war-rages-economic-crisis-looms
