Will Russia’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy Drive the Development of Climate Policy?

By Ekaterina Bliznetskaya, Lecturer at Moscow State Institute of International Relations

Russian climate policy accelerated under the influence of the Paris Agreement. This article discusses whether Russia’s Low-Carbon Development Strategy will drive the implementation of climate policy goals. An analysis of certain provisions of the Strategy shows that the list of measures to achieve low-carbon development does not make state climate policy priorities explicit. The projected energy mix in Russia in 2060 includes coal, renewables, waste incineration, and petroleum gas. Unfavorable external factors could cause stagnation in Russia’s energy transition if the government postpones further strengthening of the national climate policy, and if companies are cut off from access to international green technologies markets.

(Read the full article at The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs.)