Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation - Russian

This report, produced by the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative—a partnership between UNDP, UNEP, and OSCE—analyzes the intersection of environmental degradation and human security in the South Caucasus. It identifies priority risk areas in Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia, focusing on how resource scarcity, industrial legacy, and urban growth can exacerbate social tensions or, conversely, serve as catalysts for regional cooperation.

• The ENVSEC Initiative identifies three primary links between environmental degradation and social tension in the South Caucasus: the lack of access to natural resources in conflict zones, unresolved transboundary issues (water, disasters, and military/industrial legacy), and the rapid, uncontrolled growth of capital cities.
• In conflict-affected areas such as Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Nagorno-Karabakh, environmental issues have become politicized due to limited data. The use of landmines and sniper fire has rendered large areas inaccessible, leading to a loss of livelihoods and forced migration.
• The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant in Armenia is a significant point of international concern and a potential security threat to both Armenia and its neighbors, as its closure was delayed due to a lack of viable energy alternatives.
• Transboundary water management of the Kura and Araks river systems is critical for regional security, particularly for Azerbaijan, where more than half of the population depends on these rivers for drinking water and irrigation.
• Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization in the capitals of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia has overwhelmed municipal infrastructure, leading to severe water supply failures, waste management crises, and increased air pollution, which may fuel social unrest and crime.
• The region suffers from a dangerous 'Soviet legacy' of abandoned industrial and military sites. In Georgia, approximately 300 military objects were left behind, some of which contain hazardous chemicals or radioactive materials, posing risks to local populations using the land for agriculture.
• Economic instability and energy crises have led to widespread illegal logging and deforestation. In Armenia, forest cover decreased from 13% to 8% over ten years as residents turned to firewood for heating.
• The Caspian Sea is a vital economic resource for Azerbaijan, but its sustainable use is hindered by disputes over demarcation and pollution from the oil industry. Additionally, rising sea levels (approximately 2.5m since 1977) threaten coastal infrastructure.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2004). Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation - Russian. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_transforming_risk_ru.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation - Russian. 2004. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_transforming_risk_ru.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation - Russian |date=2004 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_transforming_risk_ru.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2004environment, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Environment and Security: Transforming risks into cooperation - Russian}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2004}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/envsec_transforming_risk_ru.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }