Russia and the climate change regime

What is it about?

The unexpected exit of the United States from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001 signaled the exponential increase in the importance of the Russian Federation as a key player in international climate change politics. Until then a relatively minor player, Russia’s active participation in the evolution of the climate change regime is now considered a paramount and immediate necessity. A longitudinal study of Russian climate policy over the years is therefore a highly useful exercise as it allows for the better understanding of current developments and provides some basis for prediction of its future actions. The primary aim of this article is threefold: First, to offer a comprehensive account of Russian involvement in international climate negotiations. Secondly, to clarify the actual reasons behind Russia’s decision to delay its ratification of the Protocol for almost three long years, and finally, to try and map out the post-2012 positions of Russia on the road to the 2009 Copenhagen Conference of the Parties.

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Why is it important?

The aim of this article is threefold. First, it seeks to provide a historical account of Russia’s participation in the two decades of the climate change regime. The second objective of this article is to try and decipher the actual reasons behind the decision of President Vladimir Putin to delay the ratification of the Protocol for such a prolonged period of time. It is argued that the current viewing of this delay by the literature as an intentional act on the part of Russia in order to somehow blackmail the European Union into accepting Russian demands in other policy areas is an oversimplification offering only a partial explanation. The third and final purpose is to use Russia’s past record to shed light on present and future trends. Historical research can enable a better comprehension of how a key player, such as Russia, perceives and acts, providing some basis for prediction of its future behavior.

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