Last week, the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22) took place in Marrakesh (Morocco), where Alexander Bedritsky, Special Representative of the President of Russia for Climate Issues, spoke He told everyone present about the country's position on the Paris Agreement and some immediate plans.
At the speech, it was said that “the Russian Federation welcomes the entry into force of the Paris Agreement and considers it a reliable international legal basis for a long-term climate settlement” and that “for Russia, we regard the entry into force of the Paris Agreement as a good incentive and an opportunity to take an evolutionary path towards a sustainable to climate change low-carbon development”. Despite this, Russia remains among not only those countries that have signed the agreement, but also those who have not yet ratified it (i.e., have not given legal status) and even more: they are not going to do it in the near future . This explanation of the situation was given by Alexander Bedritsky:
… we do not see the elimination of hydrocarbons as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of meeting our commitments in the medium term. It is necessary to look for new recipes, taking into account the current and forecasted economic situation, plans for socio-economic development, taking into account national characteristics and interests of the country. In particular, it seems important to take into account the role and potential of energy saving, natural gas, the use of innovative low-emission technologies for the use of coal, methane, the creation of new material properties, as well as the prevention of emissions and an increase in runoff in the forest ecosystem of our country.
The Special Representative also stated that “thanks to recent government support measures, it is planned to introduce about 6 GW of new capacity by 2024 - solar, wind power and small hydro power plants.” And he noted in the energy sector of Russia such a positive moment for the climate and global warming that 40% of the country's electricity is generated from carbon-free sources: nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants. However, he did not report that these sectors are not growing . In addition, nuclear energy is so unpopular in the world (considered dangerous and outdated) that it became one of the reasons for ridicule of Russia's environmental vision in the last days of the event (November 17 and 18). Members of the International Network of Environmental Organizations (Climate Action Network, CAN) presented the Russian Federation with a comic anti-award "Colossal Fossil" (Colossal Fossil), one "personal" award "Fossil of the Day" (Fossil of the Day) for the promotion of nuclear energy, as well as one joint - with a whole company of countries (Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Turkey, France, Japan) - for increasing the use of coal energy despite the words about the fight against global warming.
Nevertheless, in early November, the Russian government signed an action plan (road map) to ratify the Paris climate agreement in the next two to three years. The first steps along this path are an assessment of the consequences for the country's economy, as well as the “development of a mid-century strategy for long-term development with low greenhouse gas emissions,” announced by Bedritsky. To achieve a result (that is, ratification of the agreement), the country will need to reconsider its approach to energy, find its own way of combining economic development with confirmation of the words about the notorious “long-term climate settlement” in actions.
PS To date, the Paris Climate Agreement has been signed by 192 countries, 113 of which have ratified it. Among the ratifying countries are China, the USA, India, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Canada, the UK, Australia, Indonesia, as well as Ukraine and Belarus. Interestingly, according to the UN (UNFCCC), Russia ranks third in terms of greenhouse gas emissions among the participants in the Paris Agreement (it accounts for 7.53% of total emissions) and is the only one that has not ratified the document out of the top 15 countries in terms of emissions. Other countries that have not yet legalized the agreement include Iran (1.3% of emissions), Turkey (1.24%), Spain (0.87%), Kazakhstan (0.84%) and Ecuador (0. 67%).
See also anekdotig:
- Newsletter: " Leonardo DiCaprio's environmental film 'Before the Flood' is now available for free " (November 3, 2016)
- News: " 31 countries (including Belarus and Ukraine) have joined the Paris climate agreement (COP21) " (September 23, 2016)
- Newsletter: " Outcomes of the UN Conference (COP21) in Paris on Climate Change " (December 18, 2015)
- Newsletter: " Georgy Ermolenko, HSE University: Renewable Energy in the World and in Russia " (December 3, 2015)
- Newsletter: " Marches around the world in support of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) " (November 30, 2015)