This week, festivities in Kemerovo, Russia, celebrate the 300th birthday of Kuzbass as a mining region. Meanwhile, most of the residents have nothing to cheer about. Kuzbass is a pollution hot spot. Tom River, where the first coal deposit was found 1721, is the most polluted water body in the area. “Black Sky” events, and with it black snow, are getting more common every year. Under those conditions it is no surprise that Kuzbass is a region with high cancer rates and is leading the country in infectious diseases. Consequently, life expectancy at birth in 1990 to 2018 has been about 3 years less in Kuzbass than the average across the country. [1] Over 62% of the emissions stem from coal mining. 75% of Russia’s coal exports, mainly to Europe, are coming from Kuzbass.
Katrin Ganswindt, Coal Campaigner at the environmental organisation Urgewald, commented:
"The mining curse brought on Kuzbass 300 years ago takes a high toll on local communities, especially Indigenous Peoples. At the anniversary gala in Kemerovo, President Putin promised a reduction of air pollution of 20% by 2024 in the biggest city Novokuznetsk, as well as gradual reductions in the whole area. [2] But how will that be possible without addressing coal as the main culprit and consequently reducing mining? The coal mining industry in Kuzbass is still expanding. Russia aims for a decline in coal use from 15% to 7% by 2040. If President Putin is really as concerned about the Kuzbass environment as he claims, promises of new “modern” areas of employment or social centres will not suffice. What is needed is for coal producers to actually meet environmental standards and for Russia to set a clear target for the end of coal mining and combustion - for the sake of the Russian people and the climate."
Notes:
[1] https://ecodefense.ru/2021/02/01/extraordinary-pollution-and-high-mortality/
[2] http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/transcripts/66149
