POSITION of Russian NGOs to UN 2012 Conference UNFCCC COP-18/MOP-8

POSITION of Russian NGOs to UN 2012 Conference UNFCCC COP-18/MOP-8

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) note the importance of the documents on climate change adopted by Russia, including 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, as well as governmental decisions to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy intensity of the Russian economy.

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 policies.

We urge the Russian delegation in international negotiations:

• To make every effort for adoption at the UN 2012 Conference 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.
• To defend the position that 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%.
• To support an amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, which regulates the second period of its commitments.
• To 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.

Necessary actions 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 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.

The position was adopted by the national 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).