State of ratification Why Russia should ratify News and documents
RUSSIAN DUMA HAS RATIFIED THE KYOTO PROTOCOL Q & A : Russia and the Kyoto Protocol - what is at stake? Read the new manual prepared by WWF Russia (see below).

Russian President Putin kept the world waiting long on Kyoto. read what was at stake in this manual (English - Russian)

Russia

became the most crucial player in the countdown for entry into force. Since Poland and Canada had joined the Kyoto Club, ratification by Russia ensured entry into force. The government officially pledged its support to the Protocol on a number of occassions, but no definite date was known for years. Russian ratification November 2004 in the end enabled entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol on February 16 2005.

Disappointingly vague text has emerged from the Russia-EU summit in Rome (6th November 2003). Included in the Joint Press Statement is this statement. "We recognised our responsibility to tackle together and in the framework of relevant international organisations, instruments and fora, common environmental challenges and shared concerns regarding climate change and transport safety." (source)

President Putin led the international media reporting on the fate of the Kyoto Protocol through a roller-coaster ride in October 2003. First he cast doubts over Russia's stance with his open and vague statement at the Moscow Climate Change Conference, but then he said in an interview "I believe that ratification and making the Kyoto Protocol effective would be a step in the right direction" (source). Putin also told his counterparts from Canada and France at an Asia-Pacific meeting in Bangkok that ratification was just a matter of time (source). To journalists, he said problems would ratehr lie with the Duma. However, “we want to do it, and we will move in this direction”. (source)

The relevant ministeries have submitted all necessary documents to the government, which now needs to submit the issue to the Duma. Moscow is taking its time for this crucial step, though and considers linking the ratification of Kyoto with compromises on its accession to the WTO.

The State Council (Gossovet), an advisory body to the President in which he also acts as a chairman, bringing together the governers of Russia's 89 regions, concluded at its meeting early June 2003 that the government should ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and President Putin said on national television the same evening he wanted to see a decision by September. In early July, vice Premier Victor Khristenko in an interview with Russian newspaper Rossiiskaya gazeta, that the Protocol would give a bosst to Russia's economy.

In a joint statement following the EU-Russia summit on 31st May October 2003, President Putin and EU leaders declared that "We agreed to make every necessary effort to ensure that the Kyoto Protocol becomes a real tool for solving the problems of global warming and to this end we shall seek its entry into force as soon as possible".

The necessary formal process was launched back on the 11th of April 2002, with a decision by the Russian government to cabinet (read the WWF Press Release ). This process asked for a report from the Economics Ministry on the impacts of implementation. This was finalised in autumn 2002. It was meant to be presented to the Cabinet in autumn and to the Duma later in the year or early 2003, but got postponed due to more pressing issues being considered by the Cabinet first. As long as the Duma receives the ratification bill by the end of spring 2003, entry into force in time for the next COnference of the Parties (CoP-9), scheduled for December 2003, is still possible. It is about time Russia took up some pace and sped up its process, in order not to let the overwhelming majority of countries wait for the Protocol's "kiss of life".

The European Union is engaging in closer co-operation with Russia on environmental issues. In December 2001, it released a communication with details on this process (Commission webpage). The ninth EU-Russia summit took place in Moscow on the 29th of May 2002. In the concluding statement, signed by President Putin, Spanish Premier Aznar, EU Foreign Affairs Deputy Solana and Commission President Prodi, it was reemphasised that, "environmental aspects of the Russia-EU relations are taking concrete shape (...). We will make every necessary effort to ensure that the Kyoto Protocol becomes a real tool for solving the problems of global warming as soon as possible. We also confirm our readiness to cooperate closely in preparing the World Conference on climate change to be held in Russia in 2003." (emphasis added) (source).

At the WSSD in Johannesburg in Septmeber 2002, Russia also officially reiterated its commitment to ratification. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov announced at the Earth Summit on September 4th that Moscow hoped to ratify the Kyoto Protocol "in the very near future." This was confirmed again by President Putin on the same day.

Why Russia should ratify

How Russia could bring the climate treaty alive and secure much needed investment
Participation in the Kyoto Protocol is important for Russia because it will allow Russia to attract investments and improve the ecological situation in the regions. Plus, it will bring the Kyoto Protocol to life, which will verify Russia’s leadership role in international affairs.
Especially important in this context are investments in the energy sector which produces 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. At present, conditions of the Russian energy sector are not very favourable, and that reality is widely recognised. Fuel leaks, energy efficiency losses, and pollution from existing power plants could all be improved. The new Russian Energy Strategy, which is currently still under consideration in the Russian government, stresses the fact that the energy sector in Russia needs millions of dollars in investment to secure a reliable and efficient energy production for domestic consumption and export.

Joining the Kyoto Protocol will open the door to participation in the socalled “flexible mechanisms” the treaty provides, and these will help Russia to get additional investments. As Russia is likely to stay well below its Kyoto target line agreed in 1997, the excess emission allowances could be sold on the international market, to other industrialized countries that have not achieved the necessary reductions. And via the project-based mechanism “Joint Implementation”, foreign direct investment could be used to the same effect. These benefits are often missed by people less well acquainted with the climate treaty process.

Joining the Protocol will bring about an intensified collaboration with Kyoto countries Japan, Canada and the European Union, especially in the energy sector. President Putin has identified the importance of this agreement with important trading partners and declared his intention to ratify the Protocol. At present, however, the approval of the Duma is needed first, to allow the President to go ahead.
There are a number of gains to reap, if Russia ratifies the Protocol. However, more than just signing a document will be required. First of all, the issue needs more attention in the Duma and higher levels of government and also in industry. A number of institutions will have to be put in place, for example for greenhous gas emissions inventories, and also for the processing of project applications. There is already a strong, high-level commitment from Russia to follow this path, but what is needed now is an informed discussion and swift adoption of the Protocol in the Duma.

What Russia needs to do now to make sure it can benefit fully from the Kyoto treaty

1. Ratify the Kyoto Protocol. In autumn 2001, in Marrakesh, the Russian delegation already had a mandate from President Putin, who at his meeting with high EU representatives, said, that “we shall work together for its full implementation, with the view to early ratification and entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol”. President Putin confirmed his decisiveness to support the Kyoto Protocol at the meeting with the Chancellor of Germany Mr. G. Schroeder. In Johannesburg at the World Summit on Sustainable Development the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov once again stated that "Russia has signed the Kyoto Protocol and is currently preparing for its ratification which we hope would happen in the near future". Without Russia’s ratification, the treaty cannot enter into force. The Duma can speed up the process and agree to approve ratification.

2. Conduct greenhouse gas inventories in Russia. Inventories are a key point for Russia’s compliance with the Convention and Kyoto protocol obligations. Without inventories Russia can not participate in any flexible mechanisms.

3. Develop rules for emission trading in Russia and register joint implementation projects. Joint implementation projects are important for Russia. Unfortunately, these projects work bad in Russia: from 10-15 suggested only 2 or 3 projects are successfully developed. For example, the Dutch government noticed in Marrakech that Russia is a problematic country for joint implementation projects because agencies dealing with climate change are badly established. It is paradoxical but it is a fact: the Russian-Dutch Memorandum of Understanding is not signed yet, although the Netherlands are willing to participate in joint implementation projects, which means bringing investments to the Russian economy, much more than any other country.

Text prepared with input by Ilya Popov, International Socio-Ecological Union, Email: ilyavera@mtu-net.ru
Climate Action Network Central and Eastern Europe, focal point in Russia

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News and Documents

2003

04/11 Europe to raise Kyoto ratification at EU-Russia summit (Point Carbon)

28/10 Russia needs the Kyoto treaty (IHT)

28/10 Russia To Ratify Kyoto Protocol End-2004 (Dow Jones newswires)

24/10 Sweden calls for pro-Kyoto offensive on Russia (Reuters)

21/10 Putin in Bangkok: We want to do it and we will do it (RBC)

20/10 Putin will ratify Kyoto, says Chretien (Canadian Press)

16/10 Kyoto veto will hurt Russia, says UN climate chief (Reuters)

15/10 Kremlin Denies Kyoto Delay Due to Cash (The Moscow Times)

14/10 Russia to sign Kyoto Protocol? (Pravda.Ru)

09/10 Kyoto's Noble Cause. By Margot Wallstrom (The Moscow Times)

07/10 Russian expert holds out hope for Kyoto (The Japan Times)

07/10 Russia Holds Ecology Key to Kyoto Going Forward (Pravda)

07/10 Green wellwishers ask Putin to ratify Kyoto on his birthday (GP)

06/10 Kyoto Lag: EU Warns Russia on Permafrost Threat (Pravda)

04/10 Japan urges Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol (Kyodo News)

04/10 Putin: Ratification step in right direction (interview with NYT)

30/09 President Has Not Decided On Kyoto (The Moscow Times)

30/09 Russia drags its feet on climate change (GP)

29/09 WWF criticizes Russian president for obstructing Kyoto Protocol (WWF)

29/09 France urges Russia to ratify Kyoto Protocol (Reuters)

18/09 European deputies urge Russia to ratify Kyoto Treaty or lose investments ()

08/09 Russia faces storm of protest over climate change (FoE UK)

05/09 All set for Russia to ratify Kyoto pact - minister (gateway2Russia)

29/08 Kyoto Protocol nears taking effect with Russian progress (Japan Today)

28/08 Italian Environment Minister Matteoli calls on Russia to sign Kyoto Protocol (AGI online)

13/08 Russia and Kyoto: Moscow must stop blowing hot and cold on global warming (Gateway2Russia)

05/08 Russia may decide to ratify Kyoto Protocol in Sept. (Japan Today)

03/08 Russia To Ratify Kyoto Pact (Yomiuri Shimbun)

03/08 Russia may ratify Kyoto pact this year (Daily Yomiuri)

22/07 Russia set to ratify (Yomiuri Shimbun)

17/07 Russia's Economy Minister sees Kyoto benefits (nzoom)

26/06 Putin urged to ratify Kyoto pact (CNN)

26/06 Protesters urge Putin to ratify Kyoto Protocol (The Scotsman)

25/06 Russia may ratify Kyoto Protocol in November (CO2e.com)

12/06 UN: Climate Conference looking to Russia to ratify Kyoto Protocol (Radio Free Europe)

10/06 Russia must end uncertainty over Kyoto - UN (Reuters)

04/06 Advisory State Council of Russia's regional governors calls for ratification of Kyoto Protocol (Reuters)

04/06 Russian State Council to recommend ratification of the KP (Pravda)

31/05 Russia-EU leader summit agrees cooperation on Kyoto (Bloomberg)

12/05 Russian minister blocks ratification, WWF says (WWF)

12/05 Q&A background document on Russian ratification (WWF)

09/05 EU wants to see russian action on Kyoto treaty (Reuters)

11/04 Russia May Ratify Kyoto Treaty This Year (Rosbalt)

14/03 CAN Europe PRESS RELEASE: Kyoto Protocol 5th anniversary – When will Russia join the party?

06/03 E.U. officials head for Moscow to urge action on ratifying Kyoto accord (AP)

05/03 EU Ministers Urge Russia to Ratify Climate Protocol (ENS)

05/03 EU appeals to Russia to ratify the Kyoto protocol (EU Commission press release)

04/02 Greenpeace and WWF send letter to EU leaders urging swift action on Russia's ratification (read pdf )

03/02 Premier Klein of Canadian oil province Alberta seeks allies allies in Russia to derail Kyoto (National Post)

20/01 Kyoto Moves Within Reach As Russia Gives Protocol The Nod / Russia To Ratify Kyoto Protocol (Pravda)

17/01 Japan eager to buy Russian emission credits (Asahi Shimbun)

09/01 German chancellor sends letter to Putin, urging ratification (German version)

2002

19/12 Focus shifts to Russia as Kyoto Club reaches 100 (Economic Times)

13/11 Russia to ratify Kyoto Protocol by the end of the year? (Pravda.Ru)

30/08 Russia intends to ratify Kyoto, despite difficulties (India Times)

30/08 Japan urges Russia to ratify Kyoto pact (Kyodo)

29/05 Russia- President Putin reiterates commitment to have KP come into force soon (EU-Russia summit statement)

11/04 Russian government takes decisive step in ratification process (WWF)

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