Events/Comments

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev detailed a 2020 goal to trim greenhouse gases by 10-15 percent. This is twice as low as the level urged by the Russian NGOs and confirmed by many experts, with account for huge Russia’s potential for energy efficiency and renewables.

Russian Environmental NGOs have made many statements that Russia can and should publish 2020 goals for greenhouse gas emissions. The Russian delegation at Bonn negotiations has made no statements concerning Russian 2020 commitments. The head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat Yvo de Boer said on June 8 that Japan and Russia should publish 2020 goals for greenhouse gas emissions.

The Russian Cabinet discussed the draft climate doctrine in April 2009 under the leadership of Prime •
Minister Vladimir Putin. As the costs and benefits of both climate change and domestic mitigation
measures have been raised, the doctrine could mark a change of the Russian government’s approach to
the issue. However, these positive developments in the country must be encouraged by international
recognition. The recognition that some mitigation measures can have a positive impact on the Russian economy is •significant as this goes against the traditional line of argumentation used during the Kyoto ratification debate.

NGOs and officials discuss Russian position at the Bann Climate Change talks.
As a result of pressure and efforts from Russian NGO-observers the Russian Delegation agrees to carry out a side event 01 of June 2009 during the Bonn
talks (28th Sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies and Sessions of the AWGs).
That gives a great opportunity to everyone to ask all the questions directly to the leading Russian negotiators (information from Andrey Ozharovskij, Ecodefense).

the Russian Cabinet of Ministers has discussed and approved the draft Climate Doctrine for Russia, which was presented by Jury Trutnev, Minister of Nature Use and Environment. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has argued that a concrete domestic plan for action on climate is needed, and that the policies should focus on improvements of resource and energy efficiencies.
Next step - the President Medvedev should approve this document.

Representatives of environmental NGOs met at the conference with such title under Moscow. The conference was organised by Green Russia faction with the Yabloko party, Heinrich Böll Foundation and Environmental Rights Centre Bellona. 157 leaders and activists from 67 environmental and human rights NGOs (including Russian Socio-Ecological Union, Greenpeace, WWF-Russia, Centre for protection of Wild Nature, and the Union for Chemical Safety) took part in the conference. They represented almost all regions of Russia – Far East, Siberia, Urals, North-West, Central, Privolzhsky and South okrugs.

We, representatives of environmental NGOs – participants of the Conference “Russian Green Movement and Environmental Challenges” (Dubrovskiy, Moscow region, 21-22 March, 2009), noting that according to the reports by IPCC and Rosgidromet, climate changes are fast and will bring catastrophic damage to economics and population both of Russia and of the world, if necessary measures to reduce GHG emissions are not taken

NGO activists who work in nature conservation and protection of environmental rights will find useful information database ECOLEX (www.ecolex.org). It combines the environmental law information holdings of FAO, IUCN and UNEP.

This conference organised by the Russian Socio-Ecological Union was held in St.Petersburg on 10-12 November, 2009. Its programme included presentations about of NGO experience in the sphere of climate change and reduction of GHG emissions, about international negotiations on climate agreements and public participation in this process, about NGO position on scenarios of energy development and possibilities of “clean” energy for Russia.

The Conference participants discussed performed activities, the problems and prospects of organisation development and its role in the Russian environmental movement. They stressed that the RSEU is the Russian national organisation of the International SEU. They also discussed the aspects of territorial structure and strategy for RSEU development.