Environmental Justice and Sustainability in the Former Soviet Union (Urban and Industrial Environments)

An examination of the awareness of environmental and social justice issues in the former Soviet republics—from the Western-style democracies of the Baltic region to the totalitarian regimes of Central Asia—and the resulting activism in those states.The legacy of environmental catastrophe in the states of the former Soviet Union includes desertification, pollution, and the toxic aftermath of industrial accidents, the most notorious of which was the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. This book examines the development of environmental activism in Russia and the former Soviet republics in response to these problems and its effect on policy and planning. It also shows that because of increasing economic, ethnic, and social inequality in the former Soviet states, debates over environmental justice are beginning to come to the fore. The book explores the varying environmental, social, political, and economic circumstances of these countries—which range from the Western-style democracies of the Baltic states to the totalitarian regimes of Central Asia—and how they affect the ecological, environmental, and public health. Among the topics covered are environmentalism in Russia (including the progressive nature of its laws on environmental protection, which are undermined by overburdened and underpaid law enforcement); the effect of oil wealth on Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan; the role of nationalism in Latvian environmentalism; the struggle of Russia's indigenous peoples for environmental justice; public participation in Estonia's environmental movement; and lack of access to natural capital in Tajikistan. Environmental Justice and Sustainability in the Former Soviet Union makes clear that although fragile transition economies, varying degrees of democratization, and a focus on national security can stymie progress toward “just sustainability,” the diverse states of the former Soviet Union are making some progress toward “green” and environmental justice issues separately. An examination of the awareness of environmental and social justice issues in the former Soviet republicsfrom the Western-style democracies of the Baltic region to the totalitarian regimes of Central Asiaand the resulting activism in those states. The legacy of environmental catastrophe in the states of the former Soviet Union includes desertification, pollution, and the toxic aftermath of industrial accidents, the most notorious of which was the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. This book examines the development of environmental activism in Russia and the former Soviet republics in response to these problems and its effect on policy and planning. It also shows that because of increasing economic, ethnic, and social inequality in the former Soviet states, debates over environmental justice are beginning to come to the fore. The book explores the varying environmental, social, political, and economic circumstances of these countrieswhich range from the Western-style democracies of the Baltic states to the totalitarian regimes of Central Asiaand how they affect the ecological, environmental, and public health. Among the topics covered are environmentalism in Russia (including the progressive nature of its laws on environmental protection, which are undermined by overburdened and underpaid law enforcement); the effect of oil wealth on Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan; the role of nationalism in Latvian environmentalism; the struggle of Russia's indigenous peoples for environmental justice; public participation in Estonia's environmental movement; and lack of access to natural capital in Tajikistan. Environmental Justice and Sustainability in the Former Soviet Union makes clear that although fragile transition economies, varying degrees of democratization, and a focus on national security can stymie progress toward just sustainability, the diverse states of the former Soviet Union are making some progress toward green and environmental justice issues separately. The Law As A Source Of Environmental Justice In The Russian Federation / Brian Donohoe -- Thinking Globally, Limited Locally: The Russian Environmental Movement And Sustainable Development / Laura A. Henry -- Places And Identities On Sakhalin Island: Situating The Emerging Movements For Sustainable Sakhalin / Jessica K. Graybill -- Oil Wealth, Environment, And Equity In Azerbaijan / Shannon O'lear -- Civil Society And The Debate Over Pipelines In Tunka National Park, Russia / Katherine Metzo -- The Role Of Culture And Nationalism In Latvian Environmentalism And The Implications For Environmental Justice / Tamara Steger -- The Fight For Community Justice Against Big Oil In The Caspian Region: The Case Of Berezovka, Kazakhstan / Kate Watters -- Viliui Sakha Of Subarctic Russia And Their Struggle For Environmental Justice / Susan Crate -- Environmental Justice And Sustainability In Post-soviet Estonia / Maaris Raudsepp, Mati Heidmets, And Juri Kruusvall -- Environmental Injustices, Unsustainable Livelihoods, And Conflict: Natural Capital Inaccessibility And Loss Among Rural Households In Tajikistan / Dominic Strucker. Edited By Julian Agyeman And Yelena Ogneva-himmelberger. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents......Page 6 Contributors......Page 8 Introduction......Page 9 1 The Law as a Source of Environmental Injustice in the Russian Federation......Page 29 2 Thinking Globally, Limited Locally......Page 55 3 Places and Identities on Sakhalin Island......Page 79 4 Oil Wealth, Environment, and Equity in Azerbaijan......Page 105 5 Civil Society and the Debate over Pipelines in Tunka National Park, Russia......Page 127 6 The Role of Culture and Nationalism in Latvian Environmentalism and the Implications for Environmental Justice......Page 149 7 The Fight for Community Justice against Big Oil in the Caspian Region......Page 161 8 Viliui Sakha of Subarctic Russia and Their Struggle for Environmental Justice......Page 197 9 Environmental Justice and Sustainability in Post-Soviet Estonia......Page 223 10 Environmental Injustices, Unsustainable Livelihoods, and Conflict......Page 245 Conclusion......Page 283 Index......Page 291 This is an examination of the awareness of environmental and social justice issues in the former Soviet republics - from the Western-style democracies of the Baltic region to the totalitarian regimes of Central Asia - and the resulting activism in those states