Events/Comments

Before Ban Ki-moon’s climate summit, which will take place in New York in September, four countries with developing economies that are Russia’s colleagues at BRICS claimed to be ahead of developed countries in fighting climate change.

Now is not the best time for the Russian economy. According to experts, Russia ‘owes’ the economic growth slowdown to its abundance of natural resources. Non-government environmental organizations believe that natural riches should encourage the country to develop, and gradual abandonment of subsidies to fossil fuel and support of renewable sources will become a serious incentive for the economy’s development, have a positive climatic effect, and improve the political image.

The Ministry of Energy is discussing regulations that will make the conditions for renewable energy sources on the Russian market more comfortable. If amendments to the existing regulations are approved, way to the Russian market will be open for foreign manufacturers, for which requirements on facility localization are an obstacle. Non-government environmental organizations believe that supporting the energy alternative requires a flexible and balanced approach.

Economic sanctions are beginning to affect the Russian power sector. How much can the ‘energy isolation’ change the Russian energy strategy?

The UN climate conference that ended recently in Bonn may become a turning point for the negotiations, says Christiana Figueres. The UNFCCC Executive Secretary believes that countries have expressed strong willingness to cooperate in the preparation of a new climate agreement. According to Climate Secretariat of Russian Socio-Ecological Union, there are some reasons for optimism concerning future decisions. However, the process is moving unacceptably slowly.

Based on the conclusions of the G7 energy ministers meeting in May, the leaders of the group in the resolution adopted in Brussels in early June promised to build "more competitive, diversified, flexible and low-carbon energy system" in their own countries.

Two positive signals simultaneously sounded on the eve of the ministerial meeting, which opens today in Bonn (Germany) within the framework of the UN Climate Conference. Influential U.S. and China officials announced ambitious plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These statements of the largest carbon emitting countries can become a good signal to leaders of other countries participating in the climate negotiations.

Japanese scientists do not consider nuclear energy as a way of addressing climate change. Representatives of environmental organizations promote the same point of view for many years. They are confident that nuclear energy is too dangerous to be an energy alternative.