For every person, health is the basis of an active and quality life, however, the environmental situation in modern cities causes irreparable harm to the physical and moral condition of residents: it significantly reduces life expectancy, increases the risk of serious diseases, and increases the load on the human nervous system.
Clean air, green spaces, lack of garbage, a separate industrial zone - these are simple conditions that, unfortunately, are not provided everywhere in our country. However, not everything is bad everywhere, and there are settlements that have already succeeded in environmental issues. Below are the cleanest cities in Russia that you can be proud of.
Criteria for assessing the environmental situation
In order to assess the ecological state of the city, scientists conduct a series of studies, which are then compiled into indicators.
One of the main ones is the importance of emissions of hazardous substances into the atmosphere. Every city has plants and factories, many cars, boiler houses, even people every day contribute to air pollution, therefore, the fewer emissions, the cleaner the air.
Another important indicator is the number of green spaces per 1 citizen. In large cities there should be at least 21 m2. In cities where this standard is met or exceeded, the air is cleaner, the amount of dust and dirt is reduced, and the noise level is reduced.
The following criteria for the environmental situation are also considered: radiation, light, noise pollution, areas under solid household waste.
Rating of clean cities in Russia with a population of up to 100 thousand people
Naturally, considering cities with a population of over a million on a par with small towns is not correct from a scientific point of view, so it is customary to single out the most environmentally friendly settlements depending on the number of inhabitants. For example, the top ten among medium-sized cities included:
- Beloretsk, which, despite its developed metallurgy and mechanical engineering, maintains a low level of emissions into the atmosphere.
- Gorno-Altaisk is the capital of the Altai Republic and also the cleanest city in Russia, which is the administrative center of the subject. The city is located in a gorge; there are practically no tall buildings or large industrial enterprises there.
- Mineralnye Vody is a resort city whose task is to keep the air, water, and land clean, otherwise the healing effect of staying in this special climate will disappear. The city is surrounded by greenery and is rightfully considered a beautiful and clean city in Russia.
- Balakhna is a city in the Nizhny Novgorod region with a long history and many cultural monuments, which are now being restored and protected. There are no large industries in the city that can significantly pollute the atmosphere, and those that exist use new technologies.
- The list of environmentally friendly cities in Russia with a population of up to 100 thousand people is headed by the Udmurt city of Sarapul, which is the second largest number of inhabitants in the region, and also has a large industrial base, but despite this, the amount of atmospheric emissions is slightly lower than in similar settlements.
The top ten also included the following cities: Velikiye Luki, Revda, Belorechensk, Glazov, Krasnokamsk.
Rating of clean cities in Russia with a population of up to 250 thousand people
Cities with populations ranging from 100 to 250 thousand (large) are also of interest.
For example, Obninsk, Kaluga region, is a rapidly growing science city, with a rich history and a large number of attractions. The settlement is surrounded by green spaces.
Kislovodsk is a place of health for many Russians and foreign tourists; the unique climate and the presence of health resources have made it possible to create an extensive resort area in the city. When deciding which city in Russia has clean air, we can say that Kislovodsk meets all the criteria: special flora, mountain atmosphere and good ventilation (the city is located in a gorge in the direction of the wind) - all this gives residents especially healthy air that fills every cell of the body .
A similar city with little atmospheric pollution, a huge green area and unique natural properties is Essentuki.
Nazran is a city in Ingushetia that experiences annual population growth, but the amount of emissions does not increase, since the climate here is mild, there is practically no heavy industry, and the main specialization is military.
Derbent ranks first among large environmentally friendly cities in Russia. A very ancient and beautiful city located in the foothills. The temperate climate, the absence of large highways and large industrial centers make Derbent an attractive place to live from an environmental point of view.
In addition to those listed, environmentally friendly cities in Russia with a population of up to 250 thousand people include: Khasavyurt, Arzamas, Oktyabrsky, Novoshakhtinsk, Kaspiysk.
The cleanest large cities in Russia
Big cities in modern realities most often attract young people, because there are great prospects there, there is a place to develop, learn something new, and it is easier to find a job.
Among settlements with a population of up to 1 million people, it is worth highlighting the cleanest cities in Russia for living.
The bottom five lines are:
- Yoshkar-Ola is a city in the Republic of Mari El and is its capital. The populated area consists of 50% urban forests, pastures, hayfields, garden and dacha cooperatives, which has a great impact on the air quality in the city. In addition, the city is surrounded on all sides by forests.
- Tambov. Despite the fact that the city has heavy industry, modern technologies and rational landscaping make it possible to maintain an ecological balance.
- Saransk is a compact settlement with good natural characteristics. Active air circulation and a temperate climate make it possible to timely remove atmospheric pollution from mechanical engineering, electrical power, and metallurgy facilities, and public utilities adequately cope with actual waste, which together allows Saransk to take a worthy environmental position.
- Petrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia, which has barely achieved modern environmental “success”. Since the 90s, all enterprises have been actively re-equipped with modern equipment, which has reduced emissions by 8 times.
- Vladikavkaz is a beautiful mountain city, with one of the largest zinc production facilities located on its territory. For a long time it was the main polluter of the settlement, but over the last 10 years it has been refurbished, and Vladikavkaz has breathed a sigh of relief, so much so that it has entered the top of the most environmentally friendly.
Below are the major cities that are leaders in environmental terms
Kostroma
Kostroma is one of the cleanest cities in Russia, located just 344 kilometers from Moscow. The area of the city is about 144 km 2, the population is 277 thousand people, and emissions are 22.6 thousand tons per year.
The main specialization of the settlement is the textile industry; in addition, there are mechanical engineering and processing enterprises.
The peculiarity of the city is its ancient origin (founded in 1152), it is included in the “Golden Ring of Russia”, so tourism is an important field of activity. In order for guests to return here, it is necessary to maintain cleanliness, order and comfort. The efforts of city authorities and the population are reflected in the fact that Kostroma is one of the five cleanest large cities in Russia.
Grozny
The capital city of the Chechen Republic - Grozny - is a major economic and cultural center. It occupies an area of 324 km 2 and has a population of 291 thousand people.
Industry is mainly represented by the oil and engineering sectors, but despite this, annual emissions constitute a relatively small percentage.
The cleansing of the city is due to its favorable location, mild climate, large green area, as well as the responsibility of residents who not only honor their traditions, but also love their place of residence, avoiding unnecessary waste.
Sochi
It is not surprising that the resort in the Krasnodar Territory is among the three cleanest cities in Russia. Thanks to warm winters, there is virtually no need for additional thermal power plants and boiler houses, which significantly pollute the atmosphere. The resort area is a special territory prohibited for the placement of many industrial enterprises that could worsen the environmental condition.
It was Sochi that was chosen as the venue for the 2014 Olympics, one of the selection criteria for which was the environmental aspect.
The population is 411 thousand people, and they account for only 21.2 thousand tons of emissions per year, which is a low figure.
Taganrog
The Rostov city of Taganrog was founded in the 17th century as a port - a military base. The area is 95 km 2, the population is 250 thousand people. The city has a temperate climate.
Economic development is based on heavy industry - metallurgy, mechanical engineering - as well as agriculture and fishing.
The city has many places of interest and, most importantly, green parks and squares that clean the city of dirt and dust, and sea winds carry atmospheric pollution beyond the city limits. Thus, Taganrog produces 18 thousand tons of emissions per year.
Sevastopol
Sevastopol recently became part of Russia, but is already an example for all other large cities. A total of 10.4 thousand tons of emissions per year. Many will say that industry is not yet fully developed there, and the climate is suitable, but this is still due to the residents who take good care of their home: the city is clean, cozy, and has a lot of green spaces. The city has many health facilities for both children and adults.
Which cities are “outsiders” in terms of environmental situation?
Third and second places are shared by two capitals - St. Petersburg and Moscow. These large cities receive the main pollution from automobile emissions, which account for more than 80% of the total mass of waste. Smog in these settlements is constantly present in the sky. Among the population, lung diseases occur in every 4 residents of these cities.
Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Territory, has been the leader in the ranking of the dirtiest cities for many years. Its emissions into the atmosphere amount to almost 2000 thousand tons per year. Norilsk Nickel is a city-forming enterprise and an important company in the state, but it is the main source of dangerous atmospheric pollution, which extends not only to city residents, but to the entire region.
In recent years, in our country, as well as throughout the world, more and more attention has been paid to ecology and the rational use of natural resources. Residents are concerned about the degree of air pollution, water quality, the availability of modern infrastructure, the potential for the development and use of advanced environmental protection technologies and other environmental initiatives of their hometown. The need for this information also exists at a higher level of country management to assess the development of Russia as a modern power with favorable living conditions for citizens, and to check for compliance with world standards.
Every year, the Ministry of Nature of the Russian Federation publishes a rating of the environmental development of Russian cities. The methodology for its compilation was developed by Ernst & Young and brought into line with world analogues and criteria of the Organization for Environmental Cooperation and Development (OECD).
- State of the air.
- Level of water consumption and water quality.
- Energy efficiency.
- Level of development and accessibility of transport.
- Waste management.
- Efficiency of use of territories.
- Environmental Impact Management.
Ufa
Ufa has become the city with the highest level of environmental development in the country. The following indicators allowed the city to take the leading position in the ranking: 2nd place in the efficiency of use of territories, 7th place in the category of water consumption and 9th place in environmental impact management.
However, all this does not prevent the capital of Bashkortostan from occupying a leading position in terms of air and water pollution in Russia. The city is home to three large oil refineries, one of which is the Bashneft plant. Wastewater from industrial enterprises, as well as snow transported from Ufa roads to landfills, ends up in the Belaya River, from which drinking water is collected. The phenolic disaster of 1990 in Ufa has not been forgotten either.
However, in recent years, the city has been actively implementing measures to improve the environmental situation. One of the most effective measures was introduction of automatic air emission monitoring stations, recording not only the fact of air pollution, but also its sources, which makes it possible to quickly identify the culprits. A new system of treatment facilities has been planned and is already partially being implemented, providing for biological treatment of wastewater and ultraviolet disinfection of water.
Saransk
The city that received silver was ranked 1st in environmental impact management, 2nd in water quality, and 9th in accessibility to transportation.
The authorities of the capital of Mordovia have only recently actively taken up improving the environmental situation in the city. For a long time, Saransk was at the top of the ratings with the highest rates of air, water and soil pollution. Over the years, numerous industrial enterprises in the city have released harmful substances into the atmosphere and wastewater into the Insar, Tavlu and Saranka rivers.
Despite the fact that the quality of water coming from artesian wells is one of the highest, on the way to the end consumer it deteriorates significantly due to the severe deterioration of water supply networks. Currently, the city leadership is implementing a program to reduce emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere and improve the technical condition of water supply networks, which is already yielding first results.
A girl the same age as Moscow received bronze rating, being 2nd place for air purity, 4th in terms of accessibility of transport, 6th in the category of water consumption, 8th in waste management and 10th in energy consumption and environmental impact management.
Among the main sources of air pollution in the city are the growing number of vehicles, Vologdagorteploset, as well as enterprises in the construction and engineering industries. The presence of pollutants in surface waters is also caused by the activities of industrial enterprises. However, emissions, air and water pollution levels in Vologda show an annual downward trend, and the city has a good reputation.
Moscow
The capital took 4th place in the ranking, leading in the energy consumption category, taking 3rd place in air cleanliness and 5th in water quality and in the category of territory use.
Of course, Moscow’s position in the ranking is very controversial - in such a multimillion-dollar agglomeration with a large concentration of industrial enterprises and road transport, it is hardly possible to talk about clean air. In addition, the main problems of the capital remain the increase in the amount of waste and landfills, the development of green areas, the proximity of waste incineration plants, population growth and the number of cars.
The city took 5th place in the environmental rating, taking a leading position in air cleanliness among 87 cities in the country.
The main source of air pollution in Voronezh is road transport. Illegal landfills remain a big problem in the city; the issue of waste management is very acute. In addition, such large industrial enterprises as JSC Voronezhshina and JSC Voronezhsintezkauchuk are gradually polluting the Voronezh Reservoir, discharging large volumes of untreated wastewater into the reservoir. Preventing the reservoir from turning into a “toxic lake” is the city’s top priority.
The city ranked 5th in terms of environmental impact and 6th in waste management efficiency.
The main problems of the Kuban capital, like most cities in the country, are pollution of atmospheric air and water resources. The main sources of emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere are road transport and large industrial enterprises of the city. Among them, the leaders are the Krasnodar Thermal Power Plant and the Krasnodarsky MZhK OJSC, which is especially unloved by city residents, the results of which are “felt” directly in the air. Over the years of the negative impact of industrial enterprises, the condition of the city’s main river, the Kuban, has deteriorated significantly; swimming in it is now prohibited.
The city ranked 7th in the ranking, taking 4th place in energy consumption and 8th in the category of environmental impact management.
The fairly green city of Tambov, however, is experiencing the negative impact of large industrial enterprises. The greatest damage to the city’s ecology is caused by the Pigment, Talvis, Tamak and other factories.
The state of the water is of fairly high quality, since the source of water consumption is mainly groundwater. Due to the crisis, the waste problem in the city has worsened - the local waste recycling plant has temporarily suspended its activities. However, thanks to natural air filters - green spaces, Tambov is one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Russia.
Omsk
The city was in 8th place in the ranking, being 3rd on the list for managing its environmental impact.
The city leadership appears to be partially successful in influencing this. Despite the fact that the state of the air environment for a city with a population of one million is not too critical and varies by district, one cannot help but note the fact that Omsk is one of the top five cities for the largest number of cancer patients. Numerous industrial enterprises are to blame, including oil refineries, plastics and synthetic rubber factories, chemical and engineering enterprises.
Residents of Omsk receive water directly from the Om and Irtysh rivers, however, thanks to a multi-stage purification system and constant quality control, all drinking water indicators comply with SanPin standards.
Ulan-Ude
The capital of Buryatia was included in the top ten thanks to its competent waste management - 3rd place from the list.
However, Ulan-Ude ranks high on the list of cities with the most polluted atmosphere. The main source of pollution in the city is the Ulan-Ude industrial hub, where a large number of enterprises and factories are concentrated. A significant share of pollutant emissions comes from road transport.
The groundwater of Ulan-Ude, used for domestic and drinking purposes, is strongly influenced by processes occurring on the surface, and therefore is heavily polluted with elements of technogenic origin, such as copper, lead, nickel and chromium. Thus, in all other key indicators the city deviates significantly from the norm.
Lipetsk
Lipetsk closes the top ten leaders, the overall rating of which was formed due to the fact that the city took 3rd place in terms of access to transport and 6th place in energy consumption.
However, in terms of the amount of emissions into the atmosphere, Lipetsk has been leading the ranking of the dirtiest cities in Russia for many years now. The environmental situation is aggravated by the presence in the city of Europe's largest metallurgical plant, NLMK OJSC. Other large industrial enterprises, as well as the increasing number of road transport from year to year, also contribute to air pollution. Over the past 10-15 years, the overall air pollution index in Lipetsk has decreased by more than 4 times, but continues to remain quite high.
At the same time, the quality of water in the city is considered one of the best, which is due to the fact that water in the apartments of city residents comes from underground sources.
It can be easily seen that in cities recognized by the Ministry of Nature as the most favorable from an environmental point of view, there are big problems with air pollution, waste disposal and the condition of water bodies. Categories such as transport, energy consumption and use of territories are secondary and should not have such a significant impact on the formation of the rating.
To be fair, it is worth noting that cities whose administration cannot provide information or does not provide data in full are not included in the rating or fall on its lower lines. Thus, this official document cannot 100% reflect the real environmental situation in the country.
Last week, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment named the Russian cities with the dirtiest air in the state report “On Environmental Protection”. The most dangerous cities to live in were Krasnoyarsk, Magnitogorsk and Norilsk. In total, there are 15 extremely polluted areas in Russia, which, according to environmentalists, are the most unfavorable in terms of primarily atmospheric air and waste accumulation.
The black list of the dirtiest cities includes Norilsk, Lipetsk, Cherepovets, Novokuznetsk, Nizhny Tagil, Magnitogorsk, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Chelyabinsk, Bratsk, Novocherkassk, Chita, Dzerzhinsk, Mednogorsk and Asbest.
Krasnoyarsk called an “ecological disaster zone”
Alas, today Krasnoyarsk residents are literally suffocating in emissions. The reason for this is the active work of industrial facilities, factories and vehicles.
Krasnoyarsk, being the center of the East Siberian economic region, is a large industrial and transport city; its environmental situation is in an extremely tense state. Over the past year, the ecology of this million-plus city has deteriorated even more. As part of the special project “Practical Ecology”, an analysis of the environmental situation was carried out in this Siberian city.
The pollution study was carried out using air sampling. If in 2014 only 0.7% of these samples had an excess, then in 2017 this figure increased to 2.1% - that is, 3 times. Sounds scary. The same report, by the way, also speaks of an increase in the number of cancer patients in the city by approximately 2.5% per year. And by the end of 2017, this number may reach 373 patients per 100 thousand inhabitants.
Magnitogorsk, the most environmentally unfavorable city in the Urals
The unfavorable state of the atmospheric air in the city is determined by the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, the main source of which, of course, is OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works. The city of Magnitogorsk, whose city-forming enterprise became an industrial giant, is constantly included in the priority list of cities in the Russian Federation with the highest levels of air pollution for benzopyrene, nitrogen dioxide, carbon disulfide, and phenol.
Norilsk: environmental crisis in extreme cold conditions
This city, which was built by Gulag prisoners in the 30s, can be called a place for extreme sports. Norilsk, with a population of over 100 thousand people, is located in the frosty Siberian Arctic. The maximum temperature in summer can reach 32 °C, and the minimum in winter can be below –50 °C. The city, whose economic basis is the mining industry, is completely dependent on imported food. The main industry is the extraction of precious metals. And it was precisely because of metal mining that Norilsk became one of the most polluted cities in Russia.
Norilsk continues to be one of the three dirtiest Russian cities, even despite the fact that after the closure of the Nickel Plant in June 2016, harmful emissions into the atmosphere decreased by a third. This enterprise, located in the historical center, was the oldest asset of Norilsk Nickel, and it accounted for 25% of all pollution in the region. The plant emitted about 400,000 tons of sulfur dioxide into the air annually. This made Norilsk the main polluter in the Arctic and one of the ten dirtiest cities on the planet according to Greenpeace.
Lipetsk
The environment in Lipetsk leaves much to be desired. A significant part of the residential development is located on the right bank of the Voronezh River, while the building of the metallurgical plant is on the gentle left bank. Due to the wind pattern with predominant winds from the northeast, some areas of the city are experiencing discomfort.
According to official data, over 350 thousand tons of pollutants enter the atmospheric layers every year. This is more than 700 kilograms per capita. The indicators for heavy metals, dioxins, benzopyrene and phenol have the greatest excess. The main source of pollution is the Novolipetsk Iron and Steel Works.
Cherepovets
Cherepovets is a city with developed industrial production, which, of course, directly affects the environmental situation. Moreover, it is impossible to single out an area that would be relatively free from industrial pollution - absolutely all areas feel the influence of industrial zones.
Residents of the city often feel the unpleasant smell of industrial emissions, more often than others, they clean their windows from black deposits and observe the multi-colored smoke that comes out of the chimneys of factories every day. In spring and autumn, the environmental situation in the city worsens somewhat, which is due to weather conditions that reduce the dispersion of harmful components, which contributes to their accumulation in the atmosphere.
Novokuznetsk
This is another industrial Russian city, in the center of which there is a metallurgical plant. It is not surprising that the environmental situation here is characterized as unfavorable: air pollution is especially serious. There are 145 thousand vehicles registered in the city, the gross emissions of which amounted to 76.5 thousand tons.
Nizhny Tagil has long been on the list of cities with the most polluted air. The maximum permissible value of benzopyrene in the city's atmosphere was exceeded 13 times.
Omsk
In the past, the abundance of industries led to numerous emissions into the atmosphere. Now 58% of air pollution in the city comes from motor vehicles. In addition to urban air pollution, the deplorable state of water in the Om and Irtysh rivers also adds to the environmental problems in Omsk.
Chelyabinsk
In industrial Chelyabinsk, a fairly high level of air pollution is recorded. But this situation is further complicated by the fact that the city is calm for a third of the year. In hot weather, smog can be observed over Chelyabinsk, which is the result of the activities of the electrode plant, the Chelyabinsk State District Power Plant, ChEMK and several Chelyabinsk thermal power plants. Power plants account for about 20% of all recorded emissions.
Dzerzhinsk
The real threat to the city’s ecology remains the deep burial of hazardous industrial waste and the sludge lake (nicknamed the “white sea”) with chemical waste.
Bratsk
The main sources of air pollution in the city are the Bratsk aluminum plant, the ferroalloy plant, the thermal power plant and the Bratsk timber industry complex. In addition, every spring and summer there are regular forest fires that last from two weeks to four months.
Chita
For three years in a row this city has been included in the anti-rating. The regional center ranks second in the country after Vladivostok in terms of the number of cars per capita, which is one of the sources of air pollution within the city. In addition, there is the problem of pollution of urban water bodies.
Mednogorsk
The main environmental pollutant is the Mednogorsk copper-sulfur plant, which emits large amounts of sulfur dioxide into the air, forming sulfuric acid when settling over the soil.
Novocherkassk
The air in Novocherkassk is the dirtiest in the region: every year the city consistently appears on the list of places with the most polluted atmosphere. Night emissions are not uncommon here; the wind often blows from an industrial area onto a residential area.
Asbestos
In the city of Asbest, 25% of the world's asbestos-chrysotile is mined. This fibrous mineral, known for its heat resistance and at the same time carcinogenic properties, is banned in most European countries. Around the clock, in a giant 12 km long quarry in Asbest, “stone flax” is mined for the production of asbestos-cement pipes, insulation and building materials, half of which are exported to 50 countries. Local residents do not believe in the harm of asbestos.
Clean air, inviting blue sky, green lawns and birdsong... Do you think such a natural oasis can only be found far from the metropolis? But no. Fortunately, a piece of paradise can also be found in the urban jungle. True, this opportunity is not given to everyone, but only to residents environmentally friendly countries of the world. In these states, people have learned to use the achievements of scientific and technological progress not only for personal purposes, but also for the purpose of preserving the environment and caring for natural resources. The achievements of these countries are monitored by scientists from Yale and Columbia Universities (USA). They publish the results of their research once every 2 years. The rating is called "Environmental Performance Index". It includes 132 states. A country's environmental performance index measures 22 indicators: water and air quality, forest area, attitude of the local population to nature, the impact of the environment on humans, the state of water resources and other aspects of the life of the state’s ecological system. For the first time such an index was published in 2006. invites you to familiarize yourself with Top 10 environmentally friendly countries in the world, current as of July 2012.
No. 1. Switzerland
This country has been leading the international eco-rating for several years now. Switzerland's first place is due to its numerous recreational areas and national parks. And this despite the fact that, according to official data, the country is most susceptible to climate change due to melting glaciers. Preserving the environment is one of the top priorities not only for the government, but also for local residents. The latter, for example, use geothermal sources for heating, and hotels in Switzerland will be happy to give you a discount if you arrive in a hybrid car.
Switzerland is called the “land of lakes”
Norway has amazingly clean air
No. 2. Norway
A huge number of mountains, an abundance of greenery, beautiful valleys and fjords not only amaze with their beauty, but also give the local population and tourists a gift. However, not only these factors helped Norway take second place in the ranking. Local authorities play a major role in the issue of nature conservation. Back in 1910, Norway adopted the Law on Environmental Protection, which is still in force today. It is worth noting that, unlike our country, in Norway the laws are good not only on paper, but also in practice. Thus, the latest environmental equipment is purchased in the northern state, modern technologies are being introduced into production that do not harm the environment. Railways are being actively built throughout the country so that people can give up their cars and travel on more environmentally friendly transport. Already today in Norway, carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere have been reduced by 40%. By 2030, it is planned to completely reduce them to zero.
No. 3. Sweden
The top three leaders in environmentally friendly countries are closed by another northern state. About 50% of Sweden's territory is covered with forests (this figure is one of the best in all of Europe). The government's plans for the environment cannot fail to impress. Here, by 2020, it is planned to transfer the entire residential complex to a fuel-free mode. In other words, soon all Swedes will be heating their homes using renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and river power.
Scenic highway in Gothenburg
No. 4. Finland
Not so long ago, this country was recognized as the best place to live according to the world famous publication Newsweek. Apparently, good ecology played an important role in the results of this study. In Helsinki, the construction of the Viikki residential area is successfully developing, within which the heat of solar radiation is actively used. The main goal of the project is to improve the quality of the environment and the quality of life of local residents. It is worth noting that Helsinki tap water is considered the cleanest in the world. The tunnel through which it is supplied (124 km) is the longest tunnel carved into the rocks. The endless waters in Finland owe much to the cleanliness of the air and water bodies.
Construction of the Viikki residential area is progressing successfully in Helsinki
The fauna of Costa Rica is quite exotic
No. 5. Costa Rica
This state deservedly bears the title of “country-reserve”. The wild flora and fauna of Costa Rica is quite diverse. The country boasts one of the largest numbers of national parks in the entire world, and protected natural areas make up almost 25% of Costa Rica's total area. Local authorities are concerned about the safety of tropical forests and their flora. They carefully monitor the activities of enterprises involved in deforestation. And, even despite the 2008 crisis, more than 5 million trees were planted in the country.
No. 6. Austria
The Alpine landscape is breathtaking
No. 7. New Zealand
The plans of this state deserve respect: by 2020, the government intends to obtain the status of the cleanest country in the world. The priority areas that New Zealand is trying to preserve and increase are greenery and cleanliness.
No. 8. Latvia
The diversity and richness of Latvia's nature is preserved every year even in conditions of rapid urbanization. Forests and reservoirs contribute to this. At the same time, the temperate climate protects the country from various natural disasters. Another advantage of Latvia is the virtual absence of mineral resources in the country. This fact eliminates the risk of environmental pollution from industrial waste.
Latvia is rich in forests and reservoirs
No. 9. Colombia
Colombia is made up of 4 natural regions, each with its own extraordinary flora and fauna. The country boasts a large number of mangrove forests, palm trees and orchids. These plants are rightfully considered national in Colombia.
Orchid is the national flower of Colombia
No. 10. France
France is one of the few European countries that can boast an abundance of forests. They occupy more than 30% of the country's territory. In addition, France has a fairly developed system of national parks. About 7 million people visit them annually.
30% of France is forests
As you can see, neither Ukraine nor Russia is in the top 10 cleanest countries on the planet. Our states are located closer to the end of the list. In particular, Russia occupies 106th place in the ranking. Ukraine is slightly higher – 102nd place. Neither the first nor the second result, unfortunately, can please us. This situation has arisen as a result of many reasons: the lack of a systematic approach of all state institutions to the environmental problem, lack of funding, imperfect laws. But the biggest problem is our mentality. Since childhood, we have not taught the younger generation. We are embarrassed to reprimand the person who threw out the trash. We believe that it is the government that makes our cities dirty, not the paper we throw away. In the end, we don’t think about what kind of air our children will breathe. If you don’t want to put up with this situation, you should at least slightly reconsider your environmental habits. Otherwise, in a couple of years our countries will find themselves among the outsiders, which already include Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Every person strives to live in better conditions, so progress does not stand still, simplifying life through cars, household appliances and cheap energy. However, it is worth remembering that the coin also has a flip side, meaning that you have to pay for comfort not only with money, but also with your own health, because most megacities actively interact with industry, which causes environmental pollution. However, in the vastness of our vast homeland, there are several places where people manage to live in harmony with nature, thereby significantly increasing their own life expectancy. We present to your attention the Top 10 rating The most environmentally friendly cities in Russia 2016, among which there are even cities with a population of over a million people.
10. Pskov
Despite 200 thousand inhabitants and close proximity to federal industrial facilities, the air in this city remains clean. All this thanks to forty hectares of green spaces, which play a decisive role in shaping the city’s ecosystem. Citizens can enjoy parks and forests all year round, thereby improving their own health. Due to the untouched nature of some corners of nature, locals may not leave the city limits in order to be alone with the flora.
9.
Smolensk was able to get into ninth place in the ranking of the 10 most environmentally friendly cities in Russia in 2016, not only due to the abundance of vegetation, but also because of the quality of enterprises located within the city limits. Light industry, among which the food and jewelry industries are in the lead, is simply incapable of causing much damage to the environment, and if you add to this four forest parks and ten gardens, then there is no point in talking about anything harmful to the life and health of people.
8.
This city benefits from its status - for the most part it is a port, so all industry is concentrated in fishing and subsequent processing. A clear advantage is that forests make up half of the city’s area, and on the outskirts their concentration significantly exceeds the national average. For 15 years in a row, experts have noted trends towards improving the environmental situation; even the city’s only water channel, the Kola Bay, continues to remain crystal clear, which makes the work of public utilities easier and allows fans of hardening to constantly improve their health, because its peak temperature is 10 degrees Celsius.
7.
In seventh place in the list of the cleanest cities in Russia in 2016, it is one of the most comfortable places to live in our homeland. Despite the fact that all enterprises are involved in the petrochemical industry, which causes enormous damage to the environment, the authorities have managed to encourage factories to introduce the most environmentally friendly production methods, and the streets are clean and full of greenery. We found the reason for this unusual situation in the financing of the city, because its budget exceeds the estimate of the Northern Capital.
6.
If before the Winter Olympics the resort city had little chance of getting into our rating, then after it the city was completely transformed. In order not to lose face in front of foreign guests, public utilities cleaned it to a shine, turning the already successful resort into an exemplary one. Sochi also plays into the hands of the complete absence of heavy or processing industry enterprises, which, together with the abundance of green spaces and proximity to the sea, makes it one of the safest cities in Russia for living. Fortunately, business executives continued to maintain the European level of cleanliness even after sporting events, which significantly increases interest in the resort at any time of the year. Although Sochi is not included in the city, after the work carried out in preparation for the Olympics, it received a well-developed infrastructure and became very comfortable and clean.
5.
At the equator of the ranking, the top 10 most environmentally friendly Russian cities of 2016 are an example of the fact that even a small town with a population of one hundred thousand people, abundantly dotted with light industry enterprises and farms, can preserve almost virgin nature. Due to the absence of factories and the mass of green spaces, the level of air pollution here is significantly below the permissible norm. The main disadvantage is the release of waste into the only water channel, but the authorities are actively working on this issue, which allows residents to use clean water at home that has passed through a lot of different filters, the condition of which is regularly monitored.
4.
Contrary to ideas about European Muslim settlements, the Dagestanis from this small town with a rich history managed to prove that they are extremely clean and respect their culture. You will have to make quite an effort to find an equally polished city, among those where the majority of the population is Slavic. Another advantage is the city’s proximity to the sea, which makes it a profitable resort, as well as the presence of exclusively food industry and small farms that do not have a strong negative impact on the environment.
3.
The top three among the most environmentally friendly cities in Russia for 2016 is opened by Taganrog - a unique example of combining heavy industry and a developed tourist environment. Despite the fact that factories cannot effectively dispose of harmful waste, the Sea of Azov comes to their aid, with its ability to naturally cleanse itself. Breezes also play an important role, helping to compensate for excessive dry air. The city authorities ten years ago set a course for cleaning the city and continue to carry out environmental measures, which has an extremely positive effect on the environment.
2.
The vice-champion is a city that has never stopped striving to become more environmentally friendly. The first task was to modernize the enterprises, which made it possible to reduce emissions from their activities by 85%, thereby allowing residents to drink tap water without fear, because thanks to the new filters, it is no different from boiled water in terms of disinfection. The second step was the construction of bypass roads, because more than half of the nitrogen in the atmosphere was supplied by cars. The consistent implementation of these innovations has allowed the city to improve its own environmental performance by 60% over the past ten years, and this is not the limit.
1. Ufa
Ufa — the most environmentally friendly city in Russia in 2016. This is the only million-plus city on the chart. Despite the huge economic and cultural role in the development of our homeland, Ufa also has not forgotten about nature; there are about 200 square meters of fauna per resident, and forests and parks occupy 30% of the total area of the city. The presence of clean streets, water and air in a city with such a huge population and developed industry once again confirms that any place can become cleaner; all that is required is a clear plan of action, high-quality work of public utilities and a fairly high level of culture of citizens who are accustomed to taking care of the place, where they live.
