Russian NGOs comment and criticize strategic tacks for Russia set in the President’s article on September 10

On September 10, the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has published an article about national strategic tasks (http://www.kremlin.ru/transcripts/5413). In it, among five strategic vectors of economic modernization, he named securing the leading role of Russia in efficiency of energy production, transportation and consumption, development and putting to the international market new types of fuel, and development of nuclear technologies.
Russian NGOs are sure that Russia must abandon nuclear energy and set a goal to reduce risks of negative impact of technogenic climate change as a priority. Now Russian policy shows no practical steps towards efficient low-carbon energy sector.

NGOs are sure that Russia does not follow the declared tasks in practice, in particular, in the sphere of JIPs (Joint Implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction Projects) in accordance with Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol. These projects would allow reduction of negative technology-induced impact upon climate, and enhance development and modernization of Russian economy. However, none of dozens of JIPs is implemented due to unfavorable procedures adopted by the Government. NGO “Centre for Environmental Investments” in its message to the President assesses the overall emission reduction potential in JIPS ready for implementation as exceeding 240 MtCO2e.

Furthermore, it has been already a month since the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation suspended registration of applications for approval of joint implementation projects alleging as the reason that in June of this year the Government made a decision to change the project approval procedure, and that the new procedure has not been settled yet. As a result, no decision has been taken so far regarding any of the projects, in spite of the fact that some project approval applications were submitted as long as 18 months ago.

Russian Socio-Ecological Union and NGO coalition appealed the Russian President and the Government several times with statements on the necessity of favorable system for practical support of the projects aimed to energy efficiency, renewables, and reduction of GHG emission, eliminating procedure barriers for JIPs. Such conditions have not been created yet. They must be created urgently.