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Russia Spends Little on Environmental Protection
Economic growth in Russia is not being accompanied by proportional ecological deterioration, according to the Rosstat report “Basic Indicators of Environmental Protection,” published yesterday. In 2006, the data indicate, harmful emissions from stationary objects (i.e., not automobiles) increased 1.5 percent, and emissions into bodies of water decreased by 1.3 percent. In 2006, a total of 20.58 million tons of pollution was released, while 61.08 million tons was “caught and neutralized” (as compared to 58.75 tons in 2005).
The heaviest polluter of the air is industry. It is responsible for 34.8 percent of all emissions. In second place is mining (29.3%) and energy, that is, “the production and distribution of electric power, natural gas and water,” is in third place (21.2%). The last category is the greatest producer of greenhouses gases, however, accounting for 1.755 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent out of a total of 1,954 billion tons in 2004.
The most atmospheric pollutants are caught where they are produced, that is, in the manufacturing industry. Power production is in second place. If the Kyoto protocol is every implemented, RAO UES of Russia may make significant improvements in water pollution. It is responsible for 52.9 percent of all the water pollution in the country. Public utilities and agriculture play a significant role in it as well, and they are the areas where minimal investment is being made in ecology. In 2006, 68.2 billion rubles, or 0.25 percent of the GDP, was spent on environmental protection.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 13, 2007
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