Reduction in со2 and other greenhouse gas emissions

Risks of partial or complete loss of ecosystems and species for the changing climate are currently growing. This is confirmed by increasing in number and intensity extreme hydrometeorological events (in Russia, double growth over the recent 15 or 20 years), and also by research in atmospheric and oceanic physics, which links this effect with greenhouse gas (GHG), primarily CO2, emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Russia is the fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world after China, US and India, and therefore, reduction in its emission is of global importance.

WWF firmly believes that it is vital to stop anthropogenic climate change by limiting global temperature rise to a level well below 2⁰C. IPCC experts argue, that this goal can be attained by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to at least 50% of the 1990 level. At that, developed countries should commit to reducing their respective emissions by 80% by 2050. Unfortunately, in terms of nation-wide energy efficiency Russia is currently 2 or 3 times behind these countries.

Over the next 5 years it is important to double the rate of energy- and carbon intensity (CO2 emission) reduction in Russia against the baseline. Such scenario and measures are specified in the government work papers as an option, but require the intensification of energy efficiency and renewable energy activities. It is also important to introduce carbon regulation and obtain tangible results. This idea is supported by relevant ministries, but there is a huge opposition from the carbon-intense business, and so it requires rigorous facilitation and is only possible by 2021. Russian specific feature is a large share of CO2 absorption by forests, which amounts to nearly 25% of total national GHG emission. However calculations show, that if no strong action is taken, the absorption will decrease by about 10% by 2022. Therefore, the next 5 years will be critical to deploy forest management practices that would help avoid decrease in CO2 absorption. It is important to prohibit commercial clear cuts in primary forests and introduce new regulation for effective forest management in secondary forests.

The mankind should completely switch to renewable energy in the future, and technologically, this goal may be attained by the middle of the century.