Energy & Science
Siberian Black Skies Have Russia’s Dirtiest City Begging for Gas
- Coal-powered Krasnoyarsk is Russia’s most polluted major city
- A $1.8 billion gas pipeline could help improve air quality
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A Russian city nestled in the vast Siberian forest -- 2,000 miles and four times zones east of Moscow -- has air so bad that the authorities regularly warn people to stay inside.
During frequent “black sky” events, caused by Soviet-era factories and coal-fired power plants, Krasnoyarsk has clocked the dirtiest air on the planet, beating out Mumbai and Guangzhou. The record temperatures in Siberia this year mean the city may not get any respite this summer, with the forest fire season forecast to start in late June, a month ahead of usual.