Social Sciences in China, 2021

Vol. 42, No. 4, 2021

The Impact of Global Warming on Russia’s Ecological Environment

(Abstract)

Li Shuhua

The Russian ecosystem is a complex consisting of the Arctic marine ecosystem, the tundra, forest, steppe, mountain and island ecosystems, as well as the terrestrial and water ecosystems, the spatial ecosystem, the atmospheric ecosystem, the soil ecosystem, etc. Rather than being independent, these ecosystems are interactive. Global warming, so destructive to the global ecosystem, particularly affects Russia due to the country’s unique geographical position. It is a double-edged sword for the Russian ecosystem; it does have some beneficial effects, but on the whole, its negative consequences outweigh the benefits. Specific negative effects are the decrease in the Arctic sea ice, the increase in carbon emissions, the lessening of biodiversity, an increase in forest pests and diseases, the spread of contagious diseases, the frequency of forest fires, changes in the habitat conditions of biological species, and environmental degradation. In recent years, coping with these negative effects has become a major challenge for Russia’s sustainable development. Therefore, Russia is actively participating in international cooperation to deal with global warming and is optimizing the relevant domestic mechanisms. To ensure the stable and balanced development of society and the economy, Russia has been striving to reduce Russian greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 compared to 1990, in order to further improve the country’s ecosystems.

Keywords: global warming, Russia, ecological environment, international cooperation