Pollution Control

Siberia is the landmass of Asia east of the Urals, which extends to the Pacific coast.  It contains nearly three-fifths of the land of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), with a population of around 30 million.  Overall, the climate is harsh with long winters and sub-zero temperatures.

The area of Siberia is extremely important for the USSR, and this part of Russia (RSFSR – Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic) has numerous reserves of oil, gas, coal, ferrous and non-ferrous ores, minerals, and forest products.  Now that many of the natural resource reserves have or are becoming depleted in European Russia, the Soviets look even more towards Siberia.

This essay asks several questions:
- Are Siberians benefitting?
- Or are Siberians being exploited?
- Is the development of the area for the good of Siberians?
- Or is the development of the area for the good of European Russians?

For answers, we will examine:
- In section 2, the industry of this area, including energy sources of oil, gas and coal.
- In section 3, the effect of industry on the physical environment and the pollution of air, land and water.
- In section 4, the Siberian standard of living and the conditions of the human environment and social provisions, such as housing, education and wage levels.

POSTSCRIPT:
- Independence of former Soviet states in late 1991, and USSR dissolution in December 1991.
- Russian sphere of influence in former Soviet states, e.g. CSTO – Collective Security Treaty Organisation of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
- Trade of oil, gas, coal, and food to countries in Europe and the European Union (EU) (35% of EU energy needs is supplied from Russia, and in Germany around 60%).
- Strategic importance of Ukraine – desire to join the EU and NATO – North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Ukraine is important for agricultural goods (e.g. wheat, barley), oil, gas, coal, and minerals.
- Vladimir Putin’s rebuilding of the Russian Empire/Soviet Union, the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008, the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 invasion of east Ukraine, e.g. Donbas, Kyiv.