REGIONAL REPORT Russia

Abstract

As the ecological devastation of the former Soviet Union (FSU) becomes well known inside and outside of the Newly Independent States, central and regional government officials, domestic environmental groups, and foreign governmental and nongovernmental organizations are seeking to remediate environmental damage in the midst of economic and political upheaval. In Russia, the search for a sustainable environmental policy rests on a founda tion of five basic parts: the extent to which new policy builds on past Soviet experience; the adjustment to democracy and a market economy; the balance of power among leading actors in the Russian polity; definition of a new role in policymaking for environmental action groups; and immediate steps to remediate the worst environmental "hot spots." In many ways, the debate over how best to craft a long-term environmental policy mirrors historically familiar debates over the role of the West in Russian affairs. This author suggests that U.S., European, and other foreign actors can play a vital role in assisting Russian environmental protection and remediation plans.