Many people have asked me about the Russian Government’s position in Copenhagen. I have spent so much time in Russia over the years and have seen, myself, the impacts of climate change in Russia. We are seeing forests dry out, die from disease and burn. Historically, some in Russia’s elite have thought that climate change will be positive for Russia, since it will lead to more agricultural land. However, the Russian Hydrometeorological Service – a Russian government agency – recently issued a report detailing climate change’s likely impacts on Russia. The report clearly stated that climate change will have far-reaching negative impacts.
Yet the Russian government position in Copenhagen unfortunately appears to be self-serving. Russia wants to use existing carbon credits in the future. This seems reasonable, except that Russia earned those credits due to a collapsing economy after the fall of the Soviet Union, not due to efforts to become energy efficient or reduce emissions. The Russian Government wants to be allowed to increase emissions in the future. That is the wrong direction.
The Russian government is taking a few baby steps. President Medvedev, on the eve of flying to Copenhagen, signed Russia’s “climate doctrine.” The doctrine calls for a 40 percent improvement in energy efficiency and is accompanied by a new law on energy efficiency. These are important measures, but Russia can and should do more to demonstrate that it is a world leader in the fight against climate change. For starters, it is in Russia’s interests – and the world’s – to reduce agricultural and forest fires that contribute to black carbon emissions.
Thankfully, Russia has a strong environmental movement that is calling for more action.