Russia's Climate Strategy: opportunities and challenges

6 October 2021, 12-2 PM CET

Zoom video conference

Russia is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of fossil fuels. It is expected that the global energy transition will impact the Russian economy significantly. Russia is one of the top five carbon emitters in the world (4.5% in 2020). Moreover, recent Russian polls suggest that 2/3 of respondents said that they are already experiencing the negative impact of climate change as a result of the human-induced activity. The country has signed all UN climate treaties, including the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. It has been actively engaged in international climate negotiations under the United Nations, G8, G20, and BRICS for over two decades.

Yet Russia is still rather absent from international climate discourse. In November 2020 the Russian government set a new aim of lowering emissions by 30% compared to 1990 levels by 2030. This goal was criticized considerably by experts, as the country had the same level of emissions in 2015. This means that Russia's carbon emission levels can actually rise. Russia's new Energy Strategy 2035 continues this line of action as it envisions a substantial increase of fossil fuel production, combustion, and exports. Separate sector programs are supporting the strategy, while RES continues to keep a low profile in Russia's energy mix through to 2035. At the same time, the Paris Agreement and the emergence of global carbon markets are likely to have a significant impact on EU-Russia economic cooperation, in the energy sphere as well as other areas.

We have invited Mikhail Yulkin to address some of this vexing subject matter. Mikhail Yulkin is one of the leading Russian climate experts and advocates. During the ensuing 2-hour-long session, we will hear from him how climate is discussed internally in Russia, how it might impact Russia's relationship with the EU, and "what is to be done" looking forward to the years ahead, as well as many other questions related to the Russian, European and international climate debate.

Recording of the meeting presentation: