Sidney Stadelmann – October 9, 2022
It’s no secret that our modern globalized world has allowed for conflict between countries to reach much farther than before. The war in Ukraine has touched nearly every corner of the world in some way, and thanks to technology, citizens of Earth can stay updated with every tragic story. However, one narrative not as frequently told is the impacts the war has on the physical environment, yet this one of the many ways Siberia is reaping the consequences of Russian war efforts.
Located in and near the Arctic Circle, Siberia consists of numerous ecological biomes that are becoming increasingly threatened by climate change. Such biomes include taiga forests and tundras, which are extremely vulnerable to rising temperatures. During the last ice age, these regions were entirely covered by glaciers, and are still mostly permafrost. However, with globalization comes increased human activity, and thus, pollution. For example, rising global temperatures and erosion from clear cutting are causing permafrost areas to slightly thaw, harming biodiversity and animal habitats.
Russian war efforts are only perpetuating these dangers. “A tragic link between war and global warming could unfold imminently in Siberia: Wildfires that spew emissions may burn out of control because Russian military units that normally locate and fight them are in Ukraine” (Freedman). These fires – either caused by the war, or not addressed due to war priorities – have extreme effects on carbon emission rates. The taiga forests that these fires target are carbon sinks, meaning they store old carbon, but when burned, release that carbon into the atmosphere. This creates a cycle (often referred to as a positive feedback loop) where the increased carbon in the atmosphere leads to more fires, which causes more carbon to be released, and thus the cycle repeats. The war against Ukraine is drafting essential firefighters to be military personnel, and taking crucial resources away from already threatened environments. Among the many effects Siberia is facing from the war, the northeastern region of Russia is also shouldering the burden of accelerating climate change.
CITATIONS:
Encyclopedic Entry. “Taiga.” National Geographic Society, 19 May 2022, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/taiga.
Freedman, Andrew. “Scientists Fear Ukraine War Will Worsen Siberian Wildfires.” Axios, 22 Apr. 2022, https://www.axios.com/2022/04/22/siberia-wildfires-war-ukraine.
Kirby, Paul. “Why Has Russia Invaded Ukraine and What Does Putin Want?” BBC News, BBC, 9 May 2022, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56720589.