Russian Federation

• Author: Irina O. Krasnova
• Pages: 723-735

CHAPTER 35

Russian Federation

IRINA O. KRASNOVA

I. Introduction

Environmental law in Russia was created in the context of a federal system

of government. Environmental legislation under Article 72 of the Constitu-

tion of the Russian Federation falls within the concurrent competence of the

Federation and the 85 separate Russian federal regions. In practice, this

means that both the Federation and the federal regional governments have

the authority to legislate in the environmental arena.1 Federal-level environ-

mental legislation is currently the primary source of the nation’s environ-

mental laws.2 However, some statutes delegate the fulfillment of certain

powers to the regional governments. This is the case, for example, for the

Russian Water and Forest Codes, the statute concerning ecological expertise,

and others.

Structurally, many of the federal laws impose a framework. In such

cases, the statute’s mandates are further developed via executive orders

adopted by the Federation government and Federation ministries. The State

Duma frequently amends texts of laws, sometimes substantially changing

the initial rules.3

II. Air and Climate Change

A. Federal Law on Air Protection

The federal law “On Air Protection,” adopted in 1999, establishes the legisla-

tive framework for addressing air pollution.4 The law is focused primarily

on air protection requirements, air quality standards, and emission limita-

tions. It provides for two types of air quality standards: environmental stan-

dards (for areas outside of inhabited areas) and health standards (for human

settlements and industrial regions). These standards are to be adopted by the

Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology and the Ministry of Health,

respectively. Currently, only health-based standards have been adopted. The

air regulations cover over 4,000 substances and compounds.

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