Climate Change and Russia's Energy Policy

This assignment delves into Russia's energy policy within the framework of global climate change. It requires an analysis of Russia's role in international climate negotiations, perceptions of its energy policies by other nations, and the broader impact of its energy sector on global efforts to mitigate climate change. The assignment emphasizes understanding Russia's stance on climate change agreements like the Paris Agreement and its influence on EU-Russia energy relations.

International Energy
Policies
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3
1.1 The Kyoto protocol................................................................................................................3
1.2 Impact of decision taken .......................................................................................................4
1.3 The Paris agreement ..............................................................................................................5
1.4 Energy policy and Russia ......................................................................................................5
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
In last two decades, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) has carried out several meetings with an objective to overcome from the problem
related to global warming (Dimitrov, 2010). Furthermore, meetings of UNFCCC are also termed
as Conferences of Parties (CoP). It can also be stated that the main reason behind increasing
global warming is the use of hydrocarbons. The present report depicts the impact of decision
making in UNFCCC meetings on the energy policy of Russia.
1.1 The Kyoto protocol
In the present scenario, global warming has become one of the major and key issues
which have been faced by the world. This is the only factor which has forced international
community such as UNFCCC to develop Kyoto Protocol. It has affected entire petroleum market
of the world along with the market of coal and natural gas. Russia can be considered as one of
the leading oil producing countries in the world (Bodansky, 2010). It can be also stated that this
country is looking forward for establishment of new energy pillars with the help of its energy
policy. There have been various kinds of modifications or changes in the policy of this country
after the review conducted by International Energy Agency (IEA) in the year 2002. Russia has
maintained its position as an important player in energy market in the entire world. However, it
can be argued that the objective of Russia behind developing its energy policies is to modernize
and improve efficiency of its oil production (Dryzek and Stevenson, 2011). According to the
report of IEA, present energy policy of Russia focuses on pushing the country to more
sustainable growth plan. Kyoto protocol developed in 1992 affected Russia to a great extent.
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Furthermore, it can be stated that it forces parties in UNFCCC to lower down the emission of
greenhouse gases.
One of the most important features of such protocol is that world's leading economies in
protocol have a mandatory target for greenhouse gas emission (Hjerpe and Linnér, 2010). These
economies are also required to achieve those targets in the best possible manner. Russia can be
termed as one of the key players in Kyoto protocol as it came into existence because of country's
ratification. It can be argued that being a major exporter of fossil fuels, decisions of Russia
related to its energy policy became more complex. On the other side of this, it can be asserted
that gas and oil are the two major components which drive entire energy politics of the nation
(Brechin and Bhandari, 2011). Some interesting facts about the country is that it has eighth
largest reserve of oil and world's largest reserve of natural gas. This means that energy policy of
the country plays a crucial role in its entire growth and development. Decisions made by
UNFCCC in Conference of Parties had a direct impact on energy policies of the country.
Furthermore, Russia was forced to make sure that its rate of emission in the year 2008 should not
exceed the rate which was in the year 1991. It can also be argued that rate of energy consumption
is increasing day by day in Russia (Schroeder and Lovell, 2012).
One of the major reasons behind this can be considered as improvement in standard of
living. It can be stated that there were some key terms agreed by parties of UNFCCC in Kyoto
Protocol. All developed countries agreed to carry out 5.2% reduction in greenhouse gases
collectively. Along with this, decisions have also affected allocation of greenhouse gas emission
for Russia (Long, Roberts and Dehm, 2010).
1.2 Impact of decision taken
It can also be expressed that there are three major areas which have affected by decisions
taken during Kyoto Protocol. In the present scenario, energy sector of Russia is at boom and at
turning point. There are significant achievements done by the country in the field of oil and gas.
It can be argued that oil, coal and gas exports of the nation are contributing a major part in the
supply of energy at global level (Betzold, Castro and Weiler, 2012). Decision taken at Kyoto
Protocol will be going to make changes in the entire energy market all across the world. It can be
stated that oil producing countries such as Russia will be benefited by the decision made by
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UNFCCC. In simpler terms, decision of conference of parties has forced the nation to change its
existing plans and strategies related to the manufacturing, sale and consumption of energy.
Parties have decided to keep the average level of global warming to below 2 degree of Celsius
(Dimitrov, 2010). This has forced oil producing countries such as Russia to opt for more
effective and sustainable policy related to energy. It can be explained that climate plan developed
by Russia is very effective and will help the world to overcome from issues related to global
warming. In addition to this, being one of the major oil producing nations, other countries
expects Russia to contribute a major part in reducing greenhouse gases which is negatively
affecting the world. It can be explained that Russian needs to develop effective strategies which
can support in dealing with issues related to greenhouse gas emission. Furthermore, if corrective
measures are not taken then the entire world would be facing lots of serious consequences.
1.3 The Paris agreement
Agreement of Paris is expected to come into existence in the year 2020 and it is going to
empower different nations for carry out clean and more sustainable development. On the
international level, Kyoto protocol was one of the first agreements which focused on lowering
down greenhouse gas emission (Whalley, 2011). This was developed in order to stop the overall
climate change at global level. It can be stated that as per this protocol, developed nations of the
world were forced to lower down the emission of gases. However, it can be argued that it was
not mandatory for other countries to lower down the emission of gases. This major difference
between nations has made it almost impossible to achieve high process regarding climate change
(Cameron, 2010). Decisions taken by UNFCCC Meetings are-Conference of Parties made direct
impact on oil producing nation such as Russia.
1.4 Energy policy and Russia
At the time of developing its energy policy, the country is required to ensure the fact that
the rate of green house emission remains low. Energy policy of Russia includes activities such as
generation, transmission and distribution of energy in most effective manner. Carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide and methane are some major gases which release during the time of fossil fuels
combustion (Umbach, 2010). Therefore, it can be stated that at the time of producing oil, the
above stated are the gases which generally releases. Russia is also required to develop plans
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which can enhance overall efficiency of its manufacturing plants. This can be done by using
modern and advanced technology at the time producing oil. Along with this, the country also has
opportunity to substitute those fuels which are efficient in combustion. On he other hand, it is
also required by the country to take climate changes into consideration. This includes adopting
appropriate practices and methods which do not have negative impact on health of people and
environment quality (Apergis and Payne, 2010). On the other side of this, Russia is required to
promote and incorporate information related to climate change with the help of its energy policy.
It can be argued that the Russia is required to change its energy policies at regular intervals due
to the changes in domestic and international conditions. The nation is capable enough to make
modifications in its overall energy sector. One of the major cause which leads to global warming
is increasing amount of carbon dioxide in atmosphere.
This act as blanket over the earth, trapped heat coming from sun and results in warming
the entire planet. Burning of fossil fuels such as natural gas and oil with an objective of
producing energy is another reason which leads to change in global climate (Pao, Yu and Yang,
2011). Russia has developed effective strategies and action plan to overcome from issues related
to global warming. It can be also expressed that the energy policy of the country is more of a
kind of sustainable policy which aims at dealing with environment, economic and social
challenges faced by country. The decision made at Conference of Party affected energy policy of
Russia by making energy more secure and affordable (Paris Climate Change Conference
November, 2015). It also encourages people in the country to make smarter use of the available
energy. It can be explicit that policy making at domestic level consist of two main aspects. The
first aspect includes developing policy by taking care of the socio-economic development of the
country (Apergis and Payne, 2010). On the other side of this, policy can be framed by taking
decisions made at international bodies and councils into consideration.
It can be argued that major portion of strategy is developed by taking decisions of
UNFCCC Meetings -Conference of Parties into considerations. In addition to this, Russia's
energy policy is also shaped by its bilateral agreements which are made with European Union.
Nowadays, it is required by the country to ensure the fact that it do not burn petroleum in great
extent. It can be stated that burning petrol results in increasing the level of carbon dioxide. Oil
has emerged as one of the best and most effective sources of fuel for carrying out transportation.
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In comparison, with crude oil, shale oil extracts 50% more carbon in atmosphere. This means at
the time developing its strategies or energy policies, Russia is required to take care of all the
above stated factors (Brechin and Bhandari, 2011). This will help the country in reducing the
overall level of carbon dioxide in atmosphere at the time of producing oil and energy. It can be
stated that the country is encouraged to adopt practises such as energy conservations and
technologies related to clean energy at the time of developing its policies. It is required by the
country to ensure that all decisions taken by UNFCCC Meetings -Conference of Parties are
considered in its energy policies.
Oil producing nation such as Russia also needs to take care of the use of hydrocarbons in
anthropogenic activities such. It can be stated that Paris agreement was adopted with the help of
Decision 1/CP.21. Its main objective was to take care of the climate change at global level.
According to the agreement, Russia is required to provide efforts in restricting rise in
temperature at global level to below 2 degree (Betzold, Castro and Weiler, 2012). In addition to
this, the country also needs to develop energy policy to reach global peaking of green house
gases as soon as possible. The decision taken at Paris agreement also binds oil producing
countries such as Russia to frame polices which take care of the global climate change and put
efforts to achieve the same (Whalley, 2011). On the other side of this, decisions also forces
Russia to take care of other non party stakeholders at the time of developing its policies related
to energy. This includes private sectors, people in society, cities and other authorities at national
level. In addition to this, Russia is also required to ensure that people along with public and
private sectors are provided with adequate information and practises related to climate change.
One of the major advantages of the decisions take at UNFCCC Meetings -Conference of Parties
is that it has helped the country to adopt more sustainable practises at the time of dealing with
energy. It has made its activities and operations more effective which can lower down the degree
of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. It can be explained that it has become very essential for
countries to take care of increasing global warming.
If corrective measures and steps are not taken on time, then entire world will need to face
serious consequences regarding the same. Russia is required to ensure that fossil energy resource
do not supply high amount of carbon dioxide in atmosphere (Stegen, 2011). It can be also stated
the fossil fuels are the key sources of energy in the country. In future also, the country is required
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to provide effective solutions to reduce emission of greenhouse gases. It should set example in
front of other countries regarding how to carry out more sustainable practise and policies related
to manufacturing and use of energy (Feklyunina, 2012). The decision has encouraged Russia to
put energy efficiencies and reduce impact on environment on priority of its current economic
policy.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that decision made at UNFCCC Meetings -
Conference of Parties has affected energy policy of Russia in both negative and positive terms.
The country is now required to develop polices which creates less harm to environment and also
lower down the supply of carbon dioxide by combustion of fossil fuels. From the above study, it
can be concluded that Russia was required to redesign its policy related to energy in order to
follow decision taken in meetings. It can be concluded that countries need to put lot of effort to
overcome from issues related to global warming. As per above discussion it can be concluded
that the global warming and improper use of natural resources is one of key issue. With an
assistance of UNFCCC the oil countries can overcome number of issues. Standards and decisions
implemented by UNFCCC are beneficial to enhance the optimum use of natural resources. Issue
regarding carbon can also be overcome in appropriate manner. Decisions of UNFCCC also
impact the economic conditions of the nations so standards must be considered in most suitable
manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Apergis, N. and Payne, J. E., 2010. Renewable energy consumption and growth in
Eurasia. Energy Economics. 32(6). pp.1392-1397.
Apergis, N. and Payne, J. E., 2010. The emissions, energy consumption, and growth nexus:
evidence from the commonwealth of independent states.Energy Policy. 38(1). pp.650-
655.
Betzold, C., Castro, P. and Weiler, F., 2012. AOSIS in the UNFCCC negotiations: from unity to
fragmentation?. Climate Policy. 12(5). pp.591-613.
Bodansky, D., 2010. The Copenhagen climate change conference: a postmortem. American
Journal of International Law. 104(2). pp.230-240.
Brechin, S. R. and Bhandari, M., 2011. Perceptions of climate change worldwide. Wiley
Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change. 2(6). pp.871-885.
Cameron, F., 2010. The politics of EU-Russia energy relations. EU-Russia Energy Relations.
OGEL collection, Euroconfidential. pp.25-38.
Dimitrov, R. S., 2010. Inside UN climate change negotiations: The Copenhagen
conference. Review of policy research. 27(6). pp.795-821.
Dryzek, J. S. and Stevenson, H., 2011. Global democracy and earth system
governance. Ecological economics. 70(11). pp.1865-1874.
Feklyunina, V., 2012. Russia's International Images and its Energy Policy. An Unreliable
Supplier?. Europe-Asia Studies. 64(3). pp.449-469.
Hjerpe, M. and Linnér, B. O., 2010. Functions of COP side-events in climate-change
governance. Climate Policy. 10(2). pp.167-180.
Long, S., Roberts, E. and Dehm, J., 2010. Climate justice inside and outside the UNFCCC: The
example of REDD. The Journal of Australian Political Economy. (66). pp.222.
Pao, H. T., Yu, H. C. and Yang, Y. H., 2011. Modeling the CO 2 emissions, energy use, and
economic growth in Russia. Energy. 36(8). pp.5094-5100.
Schroeder, H. and Lovell, H., 2012. The role of non-nation-state actors and side events in the
international climate negotiations. Climate Policy. 12(1). pp.23-37.
Stegen, K. S., 2011. Deconstructing the “energy weapon”: Russia's threat to Europe as case
study. Energy Policy. 39(10). pp.6505-6513.
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Umbach, F., 2010. Global energy security and the implications for the EU.Energy Policy. 38(3).
pp.1229-1240.
Whalley, J., 2011. What Role for Trade in a Post‐2012 Global Climate Policy Regime. The
World Economy. 34(11). pp.1844-1862.
Online
Paris Climate Change Conference – November. 2015. [Online] Available through:
<http://unfccc.int/meetings/paris_nov_2015/meeting/8926/php/view/decisions.php>.
[Accessed on 21st March 2016].
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