1. RUSSIA Climate Change Policy Whitney Jones

2. Background From CIA World Fact Book ► Russia is the world’s largest nation in terms of land area. ► Due to the cold and arid climate much of the land is unfavorable for living or farming and out of the way of common trade paths. ► Russia has been an independent since the dispersal of the USSR in 1991 and is currently struggling to work past the effects left from years of communist rule towards a democratic political system (with judicial, executive and legislative branches using checks and balances) and a market economy.

3. Background From CIA World Fact Book ► 17,075,200 square miles (about 1.8 times the size of the USA) ► Has a population of 143,782,338 people as of 2004 ► Population growth rate of -.45% ► 2003 GDP of $1.282 trillion and $8,900 per capita GDP, 6.5% growth rate since 1998: ► 5% agriculture ► 35% industry (mining of coal, oil, gas and metals, equipment production, and chemical production) ► 60% services ► Exports have grown since economic crisis of 1998, 80% are composed of oil, natural gas, timber, and metals.

4. Background Continued… ► Oil Consumption (2001) = 2.595 million bbl/day ► Oil production (2001) = 7.286 million bbl/day ► Yields 2.4 billion tons of CO2 1990 ► Electricity Consumption (2001)= 773 billion kWh/yr ► Electricity production (2003) = 915 kWh/yr ► 17.4% of world CO2 emissions

5. Emissions ► Between 1990 and 1994: ► CO2 down 30% ► CH4 down 26% ► N2O down 43% ► Energy production causes 98% of CO2 Emissions ► Of CO2 emissions 45% are from Natural gas, 31% from coal, and 24% from oil ► There has been a drop was a drop in economic activity after 1990 ► Due to large forest coverage, relies heavily on sinks (up to one quarter of emissions)

6. Climate Change and Government ► 1998 the State Committee for the Protection of Nature ► 1992 Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources ► Agencies in each of the 89 sub-national jurisdictions ► 1994 Interagency Commission of the Russian Federation on Climate Change (ICC) ► Releases National Communications ► Composed of representatives from economic and environmental government agencies ► Is currently rather weak ► Monitoring done by Ministry of Environmental Protection and Hydromet (the Federal Service on Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring) ► Duma has little influence in environmental affairs

7. National Communications ► Available only in Russian ► National Communication 1(1997): ► Research programs to meet needs of climate change ► Change energy structure towards renewable sources ► Criticized by UNFCCC for lack of urgency ► National Communication2 (1998): ► Similar vague strategies with low funding ► Similar criticism ► Russia claimed to be an Economy in Transition ► National Communication 3 (2002): ► Updated information on emissions and sinks

8. PROBLEMS ► Government lacks strong central policy making body ► NGOs are weak ► Policies are not connected to the majority of people ► Industry is favored (especially energy production industry) ► Large economic benefits from Oil exports, pressure to comply with competitor OPEC’s views on climate policy

9. Policies ► 1993 “Energy Strategies of Russia” highlighted reducing CO2 emissions in all economic sectors ► 1996 Russian government adopted “Federal Climate Program on Prevention of Dangerous Climate Change and Their Negative Consequences” ► Establishes monitoring systems of emissions of GHG, adaptation measures, and regulation measures. ► 1997-2000 only $40million were allocated to climate change program ► $28 million in the federal budget ► Budget does not allow for much influence in IPCC ► Policies ride on the notion that there will be some sort of technology developed to help solve the problem of GHG emissions

10. International Co-operation ► Holds a generally skeptical point of view, however much of Russia is at significant risk ► Signed the UNFCCC in 1992 listed as a nation in transition ► Berlin 1995- was not progressive, asked for assistance thru JI, thought regulation was more effective than voluntary co-operation of industry ► Geneva 1996- maintains skeptical point of view, can’t come up with solid national plan for reductions

11. Continued… ► Kyoto 1997- maintained skeptical position however took a slightly more active role ► Favored emissions trading (which was a topic of dispute), played a role in the Umbrella Group. ► Favored the “three-gas basket” (CO2, N2O, CH4) ► Wanted highly flexible regulations for nations in transitions ► Bonn 1998- Joined with “umbrella group” to outline emissions trading and fought to ignore the hot-air problem ► Through 2003 Russia was very hesitant to support Kyoto Protocol because of the impacts it could cause on economic growth ► Russia (Putin) signs Kyoto Protocol Nov. 2004 in return for EU’s support of Russia joining the WTO

12. Future ► Due much to the economic break down after the collapse of the USSR it is estimated that 2008- 2012 emissions will be lower than the 1990 levels (this depends on the level of growth) ► Russia has the potential to be a major supplier in ET ► Will require rigid national monitoring policies, establishment of a national registry, and reports to be made using international reporting standards by 2007 ► Stands to gain a lot though JI and CDM

13. Sources ► Cia World Fact Book ► Arild, Tangen. The Kyoto Mechanisms and Russian Climate Politics ► www. Russiansaboard.com ► www. Enviroleteracy.org ► www.oecd.org