Russia’s invasion of Ukraine despatched shockwaves all over the world. It has introduced demise, devastation and displacement to thousands and thousands, triggered one of many largest refugee crises of the twenty first century, and upended power, commerce, finance and meals programs worldwide. Over three years since Russia’s full-scale assault in February 2022 – itself eight years after the unlawful annexation of Crimea in 2014 – the implications proceed to reverberate. The weaponisation of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, together with Europe’s largest, present a chilling reminder of the Soviet period Chornobyl disaster that sent a cloud of radiation – and existential terror – as far-off as North Africa and Canada.
A new report – essentially the most far-reaching evaluation of atmosphere and environmentalism in Russia since 2022 – exhibits how Putin’s regime depends on a poisonous troika of extractivism, authoritarianism and warfare. Its veil of disinformation, propaganda and management of knowledge is now so thick that free reporting on Russia now depends upon info gathered from exterior its borders: the world’s largest nation has turn into a void of dependable info. Fossil fuels finance warfare. Conflict justifies repression. Authoritarianism shields elites from scrutiny whereas blocking calls for for justice.
This cycle devastates nature, dismantles establishments, suppresses society, and poses a systemic risk to world safety and environmental stability. Russia isn’t an remoted case. It’s a warning for the world of what occurs when useful resource plunder, repression and militarism turn into the foundations of energy.
From the Arctic to Africa: a worldwide risk with world penalties
Pure programs in such a big nation have an unlimited affect on world environmental and local weather stability. Almost half of Russia is forest, which, alongside huge tundra, wetlands and permafrost, stores immense carbon reserves and safeguards biodiversity (see chapter 4: Biodiversity Crisis). Forest loss may speed up the local weather disaster and set off irreversible ecological harm however underneath Kremlin coverage, these ecosystems danger shedding resilience quick: over half of Russia’s forest is deemed exploitable; fires unfold unchecked; permafrost thaws, and fragile habitats fragment.
In the meantime, the dangers of environmental and technological disasters proceed to develop. Corruption, ageing infrastructure and dismantled oversight programs make spills, leaks and industrial accidents extra possible (see chapter 1: Socioeconomic Context). One doesn’t must look far for an instance: in December 2024, a catastrophe within the Black Sea made headlines worldwide when a number of thousand tons of heavy gas oil spilled into the water after two tankers wrecked in a storm within the Kerch Strait. It was hundreds of volunteers who rushed to scrub the shoreline and save wildlife, whereas the authorities as soon as once more failed to ship an ample response to a catastrophe rooted of their fossil fuel-dependent system.
The Russian Arctic is now a militarised and ecologically susceptible zone. Warming four times faster than the global average, it’s underneath stress from oil and gasoline drilling, army enlargement, and the breakdown of worldwide cooperation. Indigenous Peoples are being displaced from their land, their rights ignored and livelihoods destroyed.
Past its borders, Russia exports its extractivist mannequin. By means of fossil gas tasks in Uganda, Egypt, Mozambique and past – and nuclear offers pushed by state nuclear company Rosatom, which is implicated in war crimes allegations at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant – Russia locks nations into dependency whereas enriching elites. Worldwide actors stay complicit: many states and firms continue to buy Russian oil, gas and raw materials, sustaining warfare, repression and destruction.
At world boards like G20 and BRICS+, Russia systematically obstructs and sabotages worldwide cooperation, hiding behind “useful resource sovereignty” to weaken binding local weather and biodiversity agreements. A lot of its “inexperienced” organisations are state-controlled, whereas real environmental governance has collapsed into imitation initiatives and propaganda.
A warning to the world – however resistance persists…
The lesson for the world is stark: when nations promote reckless extractivism or elites profiteering from destruction, or let fossil fuels dominate their economies, they danger sliding into the identical harmful cycle. The erosion of democracy, the fog of propaganda, and the silencing of dissent go hand in hand with environmental collapse and harsh war-mongering.
The Kremlin has cracked down on civil society, dismantling impartial organisations and shrinking entry to environmental info. Public oversight is nearly unimaginable – however groundbreaking analysis like this proves reporting can lower by the silence. Furthermore, it exhibits that environmental points stay one of many few areas the place abnormal Russians nonetheless discover solidarity and braveness. Native protests, grassroots campaigns and transnational cooperation proceed, even within the face of state intimidation.
Greenpeace Russia was forcibly closed after 30 years of defending forests, rivers and communities. However repression has not silenced the motion.
Twelve years in the past, the Arctic 30 were arrested at gunpoint for peacefully protesting Arctic oil drilling. Their detention sparked a worldwide outcry, they usually have been freed after three months. Russia was ordered to pay damages. It was one of many milestones in Russia’s descent into authoritarianism, but additionally a reminder of the facility of solidarity.
Greenpeace has stood in opposition to Russian state aggression and with communities in Ukraine because the very starting of the full-scale invasion. Greenpeace Ukraine opened in Kyiv in September 2024, exposing the environmental damage and crimes of the invasion and supporting the inexperienced reconstruction of the nation with native companions underneath bombardment from the Russian army. In the year since, Greenpeace Ukraine has solarised eight hospitals, skilled dozens of girls technicians and uncovered Russian nuclear threats, demonstrating hope, braveness and creativity even within the darkest instances.
…and solidarity grows
As we speak, grassroots resistance in Russia nonetheless connects with worldwide allies, protecting alive the hope of a sustainable different. Russia holds monumental potential for a distinct path: huge renewable sources, wealthy biodiversity, scientific experience and powerful public concern for the atmosphere. However unlocking that potential requires basic change: an finish to aggression, restoration of civil society, and a shift away from extractivism in the direction of sustainability. Whilst Putin’s assault on civic house in Russia continues, and its warfare in Ukraine rages on, the atmosphere stays one of many few topics nonetheless sparking protest – which may very well be key to igniting broader shifts in Russian society.
Russia could also be a warning for different nations whose authorities agenda depends upon fossil gas extraction, authoritarian rule and militarism – however it is usually a strong reminder: repression breeds resistance. Throughout borders and actions, solidarity is rising.
Regardless of being banned in Russia, Greenpeace continues to work on Russia and related issues. Governments and highly effective elites have tried to silence us earlier than, by bombing our ship, suing Greenpeace entities, shutting down workplaces and trying to erase our existence. But our motion is world. It’s unstoppable. Solidarity fuels hope. Collectively, we can resist, rebuild and create a fairer, greener and extra peaceable future.
Resistance Hub
Utilizing creativity and dialog, we are able to problem the billionaires and corporations making an attempt to silence us. Listed here are a number of concepts.
Stop corporate intimidation
Inform Vitality Switch and different company bullies: Cease your assaults on free speech.
