Comparing climate risk across Russian regions

Abstract Climate risks pose a threat to the economy and the society, making their accurate assessment crucial for effective adaptation strategies. However, such estimates are complicated due to incomplete data on the potential risk-related damages. In this study, we apply a simplified heuristic approach using the hazard-exposure-vulnerability framework to assess climate risks in Russia. We…

Decarbonizing Russia: Lessons from global carbon pricing practices

Abstract Climate change mitigation increasingly relies on carbon pricing as a core policy tool. This study investigates the applicability of such mechanisms within the Russian context, given the country’s heavy fossil fuel dependence and evolving energy landscape. A mixed-method approach is used, combining case studies (EU ETS, Nordic carbon taxes, Sakhalin pilot) with scenario modeling based…

Measuring two and a half centuries of Ammonia emissions from the Russian Caucuses

Abstract: Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is a key transboundary air pollutant that contributes to the impacts of nitrogen and acidity on terrestrial ecosystems. Ammonia also contributes to the atmospheric aerosol that affects air quality. Emission inventories indicate that NH3 was predominantly emitted by agriculture over the 19th and 20th centuries but, up to now, these estimates have…

Carbon update from the Ladoga polygon

The Ladoga polygon is part of a network of carbon monitoring sites, with Ladoga providing data for this north-west region of Russia. It stores large volumes of carbon in soils, approx 208 tC/ha which is the largest volume outside of permafrost affected soil. The region has not had any significant agricultural activity for over 40…

Remotely sensing methane over Tatarstan between 2019-23

Tatarstan is in the centre of European Russia, with an area of 67.8km2, and 4 million human population. 90% of the region is no more than 200m above sea level, mostly forest and forest-steppe with deciduous and coniferous trees. It has over 500 rivers, including Volga, Kama and over 8000 lakes and ponds. It is…

How is climate change affecting public health in Russia?

The researchers reviewed 1740 papers and reports which show increasing interest in the impact of climate change on public health in Russia: They were stimulated by the World Climate Change Conference held in Moscow in 2003 with the support of the United Nations and other international organizations, including WHO. The same year, the first review…

Soviet and Russian perspectives on geoengineering and climate management

With geoengineering being a hot topic in climate change discussions, Jonathan Oldfield and Marianna Poborezhskaya reviewed the history and current thinking from both Soviet and Russian perspectives. During Soviet history, discussions mirrored other countries about human influence on climate change such as stratospheric sulfur aerosols to mitigate the effect. Even within the 1950s Soviet scientists…

Seasonal methane across northen Siberian waters

Siberian scientists recently analysed how much methane was stored in the Lena River, Tiksi Bay and .Lake Golzovoye because methane levels in water are not as well known. Between 2001-17 the atmospheric methane increased to 1932 ppb, recorded at Tiksi Hydrometeorological Observatory. They wanted to investigate the relationship between warmer water temperatures and increased methane…

Climate Change and organic carbon in Rostov soils

Research has shown that there is an accumulation limit for organic carbon in Chernozem (black) soils, resulting in carbon emissions once that limit has been reached. Agricultural management practices can include crop rotation, fallowing, residue management and fertilisation to counter the less carbon-rich soils as they arise. The researchers previously studied a 40 year period…