On Russian TV, Talk Of Climate Change Is Muted, Optimistic

Sasha is a producer and cinematographer for Russian television and he's worked on wildlife and science documentaries for more than a decade. While it doesn't sound like a job that is controversial, the topic of climate change is seen in the Russian television industry as a hot topic that should for the most part be ignored. Especially if you value your career or potentially your freedom.

I spoke with Sasha via a Sat Phone and a translator last week. I've agreed to change his name and mask the names of any specific projects he's worked on in an effort to shield his identity.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

Q: You've been filming nature specials for Russian television for more than twenty years. Have you seen seen any evidence of climate change?

A: Definitely. Just look at the "Gateways to Hell" in Siberia. They are these huge holes in the permafrost that look like some combination of a sinkhole and a meteor blast. Government officials will tell you that this is a naturally-occurring phenomena and it's true that they have always happened, but rarely. We're seeing a hundred years worth of activity in a couple of years and it's not a coincidence that it's happening at a time when the climate is warming up in places like the Sakha Republic (in Siberia).

Q: You didn't want to be identified in this piece. Can you tell me why?

A: Discussing climate change is not something that is good for your career. Many viewers don't want to hear about it and the government doesn't believe it's a problem. At least not publicly. It's like the old saying that "no one likes a ringing bell." No one wants to hear about it.

A lot of government officials believe that the warming weather will just make new lands in Russia available for exploration. And when the head of your government is making public jokes that climate change will only mean that Russian women will have to buy fewer furs in the winter...it's not a comfortable situation.

In fact, I've worked on a couple of specials about Arctic areas that we (the Russian government) are claiming in the far north polar regions. On TV, we present these lands as the new frontier and the chance for Russia to exert its dominance in a newly opened-up frontier. It's a strange combination of anti-climate change and an attempt to prove Russian superiority.

Q: I've heard that argument quite a bit from Russian officials. That a warming climate will just open up new farmlands in Siberia and improve everyone's lives in the country.

A: What those same agricultural specialists will tell you in private is that while a warming far north Russia might open up new lands to agriculture, it would like also likely lead to water shortages in Stavropol and Krasnodar.  These areas are like the Kansas of our country and the truth is that no one can say for sure what will happen. But ignoring the problem or just pointing out the positives doesn't seem like a smart approach. But it's what we expect in a place where so much money from the oil and gas fields end up in the pockets of the oligarchy and politicians.

Q: You obvious don't agree with that point of view. How difficult it is to work within those restrictions?

A: It's only difficult if I think about it. That's sort of a joke, bu it's true, also. I need this job and if you want to work on Russian television - even on one of the few remaining so-called "independent" networks - you can't afford to annoy the powerful people in the country. I'm just a guy who points the camera.

Q: Do you ever worry about the future of the country, based on what you've seen?

A: All the time. It's hard to film a huge sinkhole in the Siberian permafrost and still be optimistic about the decisions we're making. The government sees these holes as some sort of new tourism attraction. Where I look at it and think "Crap, we are burning holes in Siberia!"