¥Ratification
of Kyoto
¥Political
factors (WTO) without so far very meaningful policy changes
¥7 year
wait before Russia signed Kyoto Protocol
–trading carbon credits
–Siberian forest for carbon sequestration
¥Poznan
Conference of Parties (COP Dec. 2008)
–Russia asserted 25-40% reduction in CO2 emissions in 2020 compared to 1990 ÒunreasonableÓ
–asserted binding commitments must be
interpreted as both Òflexible, and Ònon-enforceable, non-punitiveÓ
¥Some
early hopeful signs under Medvedev
–June 2009 Medvedev proposed RussiaÕs target as 10-15% below 1990
levels
–Dec. 2009 Medvedev increased reduction target
to 20-25%
¥Resent Russian retreat
–Putin words set of tone of retreat and Russian
backtracking since signing Kyoto.
Upshot - Russia seems to imply that the problems of reducing GHGs is
really a Chinese
and American problem.