Russia plans on cleaning up

Jessika Ziglar/01-31-08 8:14pm/Pollution/ #3

On Wednesday, Russia's President and Prime Minister (Putin and Medvedev) announced that cleaning up and raising environmental standards would be a new main focus for the future of Russia's economic and public health.

Both Putin and Medvedev said that in order for Russia to stay competitive, the country would have to place an emphasis on "economic growth based on high environmental standards." And that the country's current economic success was coming at the expense of the environment.

Medvedev supports tougher punishments and fines for companies that violate environmental laws. He also said the country must work to clean-up the environmental damage done under Soviet rule when the environment was sacrificed in order to meet economic growth goals. Ecodefense, a Russian environmental group, echoed this claim, saying that Russia's problems "have been created by the state's pursuit of economic growth at any cost ... using old and ecologically dangerous technology."

The issue of economic growth at the cost of the environment is an issue that faces not just Russia, but also China, or pretty much any developing nation. I found it interesting how Putin emphasized that the key to Russia being about to compete in the global market was through high environmental standards. I mean, that sounds great for a press conference, but I have trouble seeing that as a major selling point in a world market that seems to value getting the best for the cheapest, regardless of expense to the environment or to the labor force.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2008/01/31/047.html