Russia at COP29: Imitating Climate Policy, Emissions Reductions and Carbon Credits

Russia used COP29 to promote fossil fuels and present revised GHG emission data based on a 'sovereign methodology' that claims a 34% reduction in emissions through forest carbon absorption. The document highlights that Russia's 'climate projects' are inconsistent with Paris Agreement standards on additionality and transparency, often serving to prolong fossil fuel use. Despite these issues, Russia has begun selling carbon credits to foreign buyers, such as the Arab Investment Fund, and seeks to expand these practices through BRICS+ and other business associations.

• Russia's primary goals at COP29 were to protect its fossil fuel and energy sectors and its federal budget from the costs of COP decisions, while using the event to promote fossil gas and conduct bilateral negotiations for oil and gas projects.
• Russia presented new GHG emission data at COP29 using a 'sovereign methodology' that claims a 34% decrease in emissions (0.56 billion tons of CO2 equivalent) compared to previous reports, primarily by reassessing carbon dioxide absorption by forests. This approach is described as 'imitational' and has not been approved by UNFCCC experts.
• Russian 'climate projects' are inconsistent with Paris Agreement Articles 6.2 and 6.4, particularly regarding transparency and environmental integrity. Russia defines 'additionality' as being additional to its own legislation, which allows energy projects that prolong fossil fuel use to be classified as climate projects.
• Russia intends to sell low-quality carbon credits on the international market and has already found a foreign buyer in the Arab Investment Fund, Equity International General Trading. It aims to scale this industry through BRICS+ and the Association of European business.
• Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has frozen the implementation plan for its 2021 'Strategy of socio-economic development with low level of GHG emissions' and set aside investment targets for low carbon development.

APA

Korppoo, A., & Morley-Williams, C. (2024). Russia at COP29: Imitating Climate Policy, Emissions Reductions and Carbon Credits. Climate Strategies. https://climatestrategies.org/russia-at-cop29-imitating-climate-policy-emissions-reductions-and-carbon-credits/

Chicago

Korppoo, Anna, and Coltrane Morley-Williams. Russia at COP29: Imitating Climate Policy, Emissions Reductions and Carbon Credits. Climate Strategies, 2024. https://climatestrategies.org/russia-at-cop29-imitating-climate-policy-emissions-reductions-and-carbon-credits/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Korppoo |first1=Anna |last2=Morley-Williams |first2=Coltrane |title=Russia at COP29: Imitating Climate Policy, Emissions Reductions and Carbon Credits |publisher=Climate Strategies |date=20 December 2024 |url=https://climatestrategies.org/russia-at-cop29-imitating-climate-policy-emissions-reductions-and-carbon-credits/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{korppoo2024russia, author = {Korppoo, Anna and Morley-Williams, Coltrane}, title = {{Russia at COP29: Imitating Climate Policy, Emissions Reductions and Carbon Credits}}, institution = {Climate Strategies}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://climatestrategies.org/russia-at-cop29-imitating-climate-policy-emissions-reductions-and-carbon-credits/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }