International Climate Negotiations

Limiting the volume of Russian Joint Implementation (JI) projects is not reasonable, and profit losses are clearly foreseen, if Russia does not join the second period of the Kyoto Protocol. This is the conclusion by experts from Climate Change Global Services in the report on implementation of "Kyoto projects" in Russia.

EU economic downturn has created an oversupply on the carbon market. Therefore, the European Commission restricts "free" reductions to maintain the market. According to experts, the demand for Russian potential emission reductions can be preserved only if Russia takes meaningful goals to reduce the impact on the climate and makes the carbon market regulations transparent. This is one of the main expectation form Russia at the COP-18 in Doha, Quatar.

Global leaders explain their inability to respond to the problem of global warming by economic interests. These excuses have no grounds: scientists concluded that the slowdown of the global economy due to climate change and dependence on fossil fuels has already caused losses of 1.6% of the global GDP, or $ 1.2 trillion a year. The deficit of real action can double this number by 2030 At the start of International UN Climate Conference in Doha (Qatar), politicians are expected to take real action.

November 26: the 18th annual meeting of the parties under the UN convention on climate change opens in Doha, Qatar. Over 17000 delegates and 1500 media representatives from 195 countries are expected to take part. Russian NGOs are looking forward to decisive steps by the Russian official delegation towards joining the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, voicing out significant commitments to reduce its emissions as well as suggestions as to the Green Investment scheme development.

Active participation of the RF delegation in the discussion on the future of the second stage of the Kyoto Protocol at the UN session of climate negotiations, which has just ended in Bangkok, gave a hope that the country is intending to join the climatic agreement. However, Presidential Advisor on climate issues Alexander Bedritsky resolutely refuted any gossips on Russia’s possible participation in KP-2 and stated that “as long as the decision was made by the President, this issue should be resolved at the same presidential level…”

Some observers call the climate negotiations session that ended last week in Bonn one of the most unsuccessful. Others are somewhat more optimistic: "Although absolutely nothing has been done, at least, nothing happened that could endanger the most important cause - the beginning of work on a new agreement."

The focus of the negotiation was on the developing of the new agreement on climate change that is to be finished until the end of 2015 according to the decision of the international UN conference in Durban, South Africa in December 2011, and will come into force from 2020. Prior to this, all countries need to undertake some actions to reduce emissions. After termination of the first period of the Kyoto Protocol (December 2012) there will be substantially less international mechanisms to stimulate low-carbon projects available for the countries that did not join KP 2, including Russia.

The outcome of Durban climate talks may be seen as successful. But it is important not to stop here, but raise ambition and keep working hard towards a new legally binding agreement for all Parties. Russia should join KP-2 in order not to kill JI in our country.
NGOs are disappointed with official position of the Russian Federation - a refusal to participate in the second period to the Kyoto Protocol, and lost opportunity to perform JI projects after 2012.

On the final day of the climate conference in Durban nothing certain can be said yet on the final decisions of the Parties and especially on the main issue - the future of the Kyoto Protocol. Public observers express their attitude by holding actions on the conference’s territory. RSEU Climate Secretariat handed the proposal by Russian NGOs on the need to support Kyoto-2 to the Head of the Russian delegation to support Kyoto-2, but Russia still boycotting it.

December, 8: Russian delegation to COP17 held a press conference this morning. A.Frolov, head of Roshydromet, said human impact on climate change is indisputable (while it has been debated a lot by Russian scientific community). He said that Russia reduced its emissions by 36% since 1990. NGOx consider this is a questionable achievement since it is mostly due to the industrial crisis of the 90-s. Mr. Frolov also stated that Kyoto-2 is a false goal and Russia will not be a part of it.