Resolution on Climate and Energy by the V national conference of the Russian Social Ecological Union "Public participation in development of civil dialogue on climate change and sustainable energy" November 2-4, 2012, St. Petersburg

Resolution on Climate and Energy

by the V national conference of the Russian Social Ecological Union

"Public participation in development of civil dialogue on climate change and sustainable energy"

November 2-4, 2012, St. Petersburg

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) note the importance of the regulations adopted in Russia in recent years, such as the Federal Law "On energy saving and energy efficiency" and the Russian State Program "Energy saving and energy efficiency by 2020," Energy Strategy of Russia for the period up to 2030, the Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation and the Comprehensive Plan for Implementation of the Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2020.

Pointing out that international climate agreements as a whole meet national interests of Russia on modernization and technological renewal, we urge the President and the Government of the Russian Federation to take additional and immediate actions needed to implement effective international and national climate and energy policy:

At the international level:

Make every effort for adoption at the United Nations Conference in 2012 UNFCCC COP-18/MOP-8 the decisions required for a comprehensive legally binding agreement to be worked out by the end of 2015. The agreement must be such that the current growth in global emissions of greenhouse gases is stopped no later than in 2020.
The agreement must meet the strategic goal - to reduce by 2050 the global emissions by at least 50% of the 1990 level, while in developed countries, the reduction shall be not less than 80%. Russia must defend this point of view.
Russia shall support an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, which regulates the second period of its commitments.

Russia shall join the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which will keep the development vector for joint implementation projects.
Make a proposal on development and adoption of the UNFCCC decision on green investment scheme aimed at global preserving all types of forests and wetlands. Of particular importance is evidence-based, clear and transparent accounting of the absorption and emission of greenhouse gases by terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, soils, wetlands and peatlands. The new agreement shall provide preservation of ecosystem functions both of tropical and boreal forests, temperate forests, wetland systems and permafrost areas.
At the national level:
Adopt a national strategic goal for 2050: reducing emissions by at least 50% of the 1990 level totally for all sources and sinks, and to strive for 80% reduction. Supplement the Comprehensive Plan for Implementation of the Climate Doctrine by the "road map" of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Adopt the national goal for 2020 on greenhouse gas emissions: to keep the current level of 75% of the baseline 1990 level (excluding absorption by forests).
Make a decision on the date of stopping the growth of emissions, which corresponds to achievement of the stated national goal of the 40% reduction in energy intensity in 2007 - 2020.

Develop a clear national priorities and action plan to reduce emissions of soot ("black carbon") and to reduce their impact on human health and climate. This can be assisted by the international Climate and Clean Air Coalition, which Russia joined in 2012.

Redirect subsidizing nuclear power and fossil fuels to state support of renewable energy sources and production of equipment for them, energy-efficient materials for construction and energy efficient equipment.
Change development of the tariff system in the interest of the national economy and consumers, but not monopolists, to make the energy tariff system a mechanism for promoting energy efficiency.

Supplement the Comprehensive Plan for Implementation of the Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation and relevant governmental documents by development of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, as well as by climate adaptation of hydropower stations.

On the issue of the role of natural ecosystems in climate change, we emphasize that forests and marshes are not only regulators of the processes associated with the greenhouse effect, but also support natural river flow, particularly in the Arctic Ocean, which plays a key role in formation of regional and global climate change.

In addition, the forest ecosystems in river basins allow reducing risks of catastrophic floods during snowmelt and heavy rainfall.
Besides that, boreal forests are native habitats for indigenous peoples living close to nature, which are most vulnerable to climate change.
In this regard, we consider necessary the following measures:
With respect to the absorption of CO2 by forests in Russia and preserving climate-regulating functions of forests, a separate national target shall be developed, that would stimulate sustainable and environmentally conscious long-term forest management.

Sustainable forest management by communities of indigenous people can be one of the effective mechanisms to preserve ecosystem functions of forests and increase carbon sinks that does not require significant external investments. Therefore, we believe it necessary to create a special respective category of forests.
We also consider it necessary to adhere strictly to Russian laws and regulations to ensure public participation in decision-making on energy and climate, to take into account opinions of local people and environmental organizations. We are ready for civil dialogue on the above issues.
The participants of the 5th All-Russian Conference of the Russian Social Ecological Union "Public participation in the national dialogue on climate change and sustainable energy" (November 2-4, 2012, St.Petersburg, 53 participants from 24 regions of Russia).