Russia’s Role In Russia’s Role In

Global Sustainable DevelopmentGlobal Sustainable Development

http://www.bugbog.com/images/galleries/russia_pictures/russia_pictures_door.jpg Yelena Giderman,Tess Rankin,Yelena Shuster

• A low fertility rate and a high death rate

• Unique opportunity to become a major seller of carbon credits

•Tremendous natural resources: natural gas and other energy

sources

Why Russia?Why Russia?

http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/26/putin201.jpg

•Russia does not fit into any of the “classic” stages of demographic transition because of its uniquely high mortality rate and low fertility rate.

•Russia is an exception to the general improvement in health and mortality in the last 50 years, unlike the U.S. which went from a life expectancy of 47 in 1900 to 77 in 2007.

Russia’s DemographicsRussia’s Demographics

Child Mortality RateChild Mortality Rate

Russia: 21 per 1000 born

U.S.: 7.6 per 1000 born

•Russia’s population passed a demographic milestone,

experiencing more deaths than births.

•This high rate of infant mortality is many times higher than the

rates in most developed countries. http://www.gapminder.org/world

Child Mortality Per 1000 Born

Fertility RateFertility Rate

Russia: 1.31

U.S.: 2.04

Because of this low fertility rate, Russia will experience a “youth dearth” in the population. This lack of youth to repopulate the

population also presents another challenge to the country: fewer

workers must support expanding pension and social security

systems for their aging citizens.

http://www.gapminder.org/world

Forest Coverage in Forest Coverage in RussiaRussia

http://www.borealforest.org/world/rus_mgmt.htm

• Russia’s forests act as a carbon sink Russia’s forests act as a carbon sink and absorb about 1/3 of the country’s and absorb about 1/3 of the country’s carbon emissionscarbon emissions

• Russia’s vast geography allows a vast Russia’s vast geography allows a vast array of tree species, each with a array of tree species, each with a slightly different role in the slightly different role in the environmentenvironment

• Measurements of forest cover, Measurements of forest cover, species diversity, course woody debris, species diversity, course woody debris, and other elements have not been and other elements have not been accurate in the past accurate in the past

Natural GasNatural Gas

•Russia is a supplier of natural gas, Russia is a supplier of natural gas, which it relies on heavily.which it relies on heavily.  •It uses only 3.6 percent It uses only 3.6 percent renewable energy. renewable energy.   •Natural gas has some Natural gas has some environmental advantages, though environmental advantages, though pipeline leakages are detracting pipeline leakages are detracting from these.from these.  •Further efficiency could provide Further efficiency could provide both environmental and economic both environmental and economic benefits benefits

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/russia/en/press/reports/report-on-nuke-and-combine-cyc.doc

http://www.acs.brockport.edu/~dgusev/Russian/gallery.html

• Soviet Union created image of a state with endless resources.

•“Resource Curse” - Areas blessed with large natural resources are inclined to use resources extensively and base their economic policy

on one resource.

•This heavy reliance on one resource does not allow for a diverse, sustainable economy.

•Development of alternative land-use practices is limited because of the persistent Soviet era belief in inexhaustible resources”

The Government and Natural The Government and Natural ResourcesResources

Development and EmissionsDevelopment and Emissions

The Russian term for sustainable The Russian term for sustainable development, ustoichivoe razvitie, development, ustoichivoe razvitie, means steady or stable development.means steady or stable development.  Russia's industrial and economic future Russia's industrial and economic future is uncertain, and it has considerable is uncertain, and it has considerable freedom under the Kyoto Protocol.freedom under the Kyoto Protocol.  Russia must recognize its many Russia must recognize its many incentives for addressing its emissions incentives for addressing its emissions responsiblyresponsibly

•Following Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol (it was the 126th country to sign), it went into effect on February 16, 2005.

•Considerable freedom due to its natural resources and low emissions.

•If it improves efficiency and the use of carbon sinks, Russia will be able to benefit from the sale of carbon credits.

•In the long term, it will benefit from reduced emissions and be able to expand its industry.

Looking into the future…