Siberia's Environment: A Challenge to Traditional Thinking

By Robert J. Gavigan

This note addresses the changing nature of Siberia's environmental regulation and how dependence on Siberian oil has forced Russia to balance environmental concerns with the need for economic development. The Siberian development has been negatively affected by oil spills and deforestation on a domestic and global level. In the international legal context, Siberian oil fields presents the classic conflict between a sovereign right to exploit resources and the duty to avoid damages to other states. In this case, the author outlines three simple approaches. The traditional approach describes an active termination of all oil expulsion, which would in turn end the related pollution. The second approach respects Russia's sovereign right to develop its own resources. The third approach, sustainable development, is discussed in detail. Several joint ventures are described that would promote sustainable development as well as adaptation of Western practices to control spills and leaks. Several problems with the joint ventures such as Russian domination of smaller partners, may counterbalance the sustainability of the ventures. However, the environmental benefits of the ventures are believed to outweigh potential costs.