New
New
Year 9

Climate change and Russia

I can describe the impact of climate change on Russia's environment, economy and population.

New
New
Year 9

Climate change and Russia

I can describe the impact of climate change on Russia's environment, economy and population.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Russia is warming at more than twice the global average, especially in the Arctic.
  2. The melting permafrost is causing infrastructure damage and releasing greenhouse gases.
  3. Agriculture in Russia is impacted by changing rainfall patterns, affecting crop yields.
  4. The Russian government has started to acknowledge climate change but actions to mitigate it have been limited.
  5. Climate change is also influencing migration patterns with some regions becoming less habitable.

Keywords

  • Mitigation - taking action to reduce the negative effects of something

  • Permafrost - ground that stays frozen for two or more years in a row

  • Infrastructure - all the basic systems in a country such as transport and power supply

Common misconception

Russia will benefit from climate change because it will make the country warmer, allowing for more agriculture and economic opportunities.

While warming may open up some land for agriculture, the negative impacts will outweigh potential benefits. For example, flooding and unpredictable weather patterns will harm crops and water supplies.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Climate change and Russia, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students to read this article on climate change and Russia in their own time: https://www.rgs.org/schools/resources-for-schools/climate-change-a-russian-perspective
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.

Correct Answer:export,goods sent to another country

goods sent to another country

Correct Answer:fossil fuel,natural fuel like oil, coal or gas

natural fuel like oil, coal or gas

Correct Answer:pipeline,structure for moving oil or gas

structure for moving oil or gas

Q2.
What is Russia’s most important export?

wheat
Correct answer: oil and gas
iron
fish

Q3.
Which part of Russia has the most fossil fuel resources?

Western Russia
Moscow
Correct answer: Siberia
Caucasus Mountains

Q4.
Why are Russia’s natural resources sometimes hard to access?

They’re in deserts.
Correct answer: They’re in cold, remote areas.
There are too many roads.
They’re underwater.

Q5.
How does geography give Russia global influence?

Correct answer: through its vast resources and energy exports
because of its beaches
Its population is very small.
It controls many small islands.

Q6.
What is a disadvantage of relying heavily on fossil fuels?

too many forests
more farming
Correct answer: pollution and climate impact
cheaper prices

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their correct meanings.

Correct Answer:mitigation,action to reduce negative effects

action to reduce negative effects

Correct Answer:permafrost,ground that stays frozen for 2+ years

ground that stays frozen for 2+ years

Correct Answer:infrastructure,basic systems like transport and power supply

basic systems like transport and power supply

Q2.
Which physical process in Russia is damaging infrastructure and releasing greenhouse gases?

flooding
melting glaciers
Correct answer: melting permafrost
sea level rise

Q3.
What’s one impact of climate change on Russian migration patterns?

People are moving into melting areas.
Correct answer: Some areas are becoming less habitable.
Everyone is moving to the countryside.
Arctic towns are becoming cities.

Q4.
Why is it incorrect to say climate change will be good for Russia overall?

Russia has no agriculture.
Rainfall patterns are becoming more predictable.
Correct answer: Benefits are small and outweighed by damage.
Warming won’t affect cold places.

Additional material

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