More Than Hot Air: The Economics and Politics of Climate Change in Russia

Abstract

Depending on the measure used, Russia is the world’s third or fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with emissions of around 2,000 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) in 2008 (about 5 per cent of the global total). That Russia remains a key player in global efforts to avoid dangerous climate change is all the more striking when one considers that Russian emissions fell by around 51 per cent between 1990 and 2008. Energy emissions fell 32 per cent during the 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Russia’s subsequent attempt to transition to a market economy. Russia is also home to the world’s largest forest estate, so, unsurprisingly, land use and land-use change feature strongly in Russia’s emissions profile. Emissions from this category decreased by 559 per cent between 1990 and 2008, transforming it from a net emissions source to a net sink. Additionally, around 37 per cent of Russian electricity generation is sourced from zero carbon sources, such as hydroelectricity and nuclear power (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2009). In short, Russia has achieved an unparalleled decarbonization of its economy over the last two decades, albeit for reasons far removed from climate policy.