Key conclusions
Carbon neutrality plan is on track
“There are no throwbacks, no quitting the Paris Agreement, that would be stupid. <...> This is being done for the country, for the people. <…> And in accordance with our schedule. We have adopted a federal law [on limiting greenhouse gas emissions. — Ed.], it is an advanced strategy under the current circumstances, it meets all the challenges. <...> But our documents should be flexible rather than stiff. <...> We are currently working on a regulatory framework that will outline the issues: carbon markets, climate projects, carbon units, and everything related to this. All plans are being implemented, the regulatory framework is underway,” Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation; Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues.
“Sakhalin Region is not only ready to start the carbon neutrality experiment, it is already actively implementing its climate programme. Last year we have become the first region to approve a climate programme,” Vyacheslav Alenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Sakhalin Region.
PROBLEMS
Shift of competitive advantages
“Even if we used to think that entering the carbon market would not be a challenge – and given our resource potential, we may have thought it would even be more or less easy – we realize that in the current political, economic and international situation this market is closed for us,” Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation; Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues.
SOLUTIONS
Turning to high standards
“We will not focus on the Western market anymore. We have other partners, for example, China. And we need to define our competitive advantages. Before it was inexpensiveness and the ability to implement climate projects at a cheaper rate, but from now on we must focus on quality. The quality of work and climate programmes is the key to a long-term competitive advantage. <...> Yet there are certain disagreements on the approach to rulemaking. I believe that higher standards at the initial stage are justified. <...> The state should define clear rules and signs that the validator should be guided by. <...> We must understand that without a high-quality climate programme we will not be able to take part in competitions. <...> If we do not get there, our projects will not be recognized. <...> The climate regulation is not limited to one project,” Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation; Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues.
“For Russia, the most important thing is to convince the community that we are implementing high-quality projects. For that, a validation system that would be based on high standards needs to be put in place. <...> We must make sure that in the process of strategy development there will be links with international politics. We know that the Chinese market and Chinese programmes in this area are very advanced. China is working on increasing the efficiency of those programmes. Russia should actively participate in China’s programmes and attract Chinese investors interested in this field. Another important question is the implementation of these programmes on the national level,” Jean-Claude Knebeler, Head of Sustainable Development Department, International and Comparative Law Research Center (ICLRC)
We need to create our own environmental activity rating and a discussion platform
“There are international ratings that track the environmental activity of a particular corporation and the state in general. <...> We should have our own rating, our own office that will work with environmental and climate activities. We have such developments underway. <...> We need this rating so that we have an understanding of our companies; also we can include foreign companies in it. <...> We should form an idea about them. <…> The rating has a significant impact on investors’ choices,” Ruslan Edelgeriyev, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation; Special Presidential Representative on Climate Issues.
“We see our market role as a strategic partner that attracts participants and verifiers. <...> We would like to become a platform for discussions and exchange of opinions,” Oksana Gogunskaya, General Director, Kontur.
For more information, visit the ROSCONGRESS.ORG Information and Analytical System www.roscongress.org.
