Russian Barents region starts to move in the right direction

Three of the 42 'hot spots' (extremely polluted areas) in northwest Russia have been removed from the list as environmental action starts to pay dividends.

There are still 39 extremely polluted areas that remain in the Russian Barents region, but it is clear that an appreciation of environmental considerations is coming to the fore in the region.

Increased cooperation between Norway, Russia, Sweden and Finland has been crucial in achieving a cooperative effort to tackling pollution levels. Clear objectives and direction has been cited as being key to future action.

Political and local developments have recently been implemented to tackle pollution in the major areas.

In Murmansk, 70 per cent of wastewater that is released into Kola Bay is untreated. A new wastewater treatment system will have this figure down to zero by 2015.

In the same area, residents are increasingly campaigning for cleaner water. Currently residents have to drive to springs and treat water themselves, but the water company's environmental director, Irina Verestehagina, says the problem will be completely solved by 2016.

These developments are the start of a long-line of much needed progress.

Factory workers in the area are diagnosed with cancer three times more often than non-factory workers and have a lower average length of life.

The action will be welcomed as the much-needed start to a long campaign over pollution in the Barents.

Posted by Lauren Steadman