The key facts, figures, and policies behind Russia’s climate performance in 2009.
 | Russia's Emission TrendsClick on the image to see Russia's emission trends since 1990 (Graphic: WWF/Allianz) |
Improvements since 1990
G8 Ranking: 1
-Past emission trend from 1990 to 2007: -33.9%
-Current (2007) distance to the Kyoto target: +33.8%-points
-Increase of the share of renewable energy sources: +0.4%-points
Current Status
G8 Ranking: 7
-Emissions per capita: 16 tons CO2
-Emissions per GDP: 1140 tons CO2 /M$
-CO2 per kWh electricity: 384 grams CO2
-Emissions in transport per capita: 1.4 tons CO2
Policies for the future
G8 Ranking: 8
- No comprehensive national plan, announced energy efficiency and renewables plans but no concrete measures in place
- Planned policy to divert gas for export and thus replace its domestic consumption with more carbon intensive coal
- Decree to increase the share of renewable energy–excluding large hydropower– from less than 1 percent to 4.5 percent by 2020
- Decree to improve energy efficiency of economy by 40 percent of the 2007 level by 2020 although no implementation policies
 | Animation: G8 Climate Scorecards 2009Click on the image to see the climate performance of the G8 countries (Animation: Allianz) |
Russia is rated first in the category “improvements since 1990” in the WWF/Allianz Climate Scorecards due to rapidly declining emissions in the early 1990s, thanks largely to economic recession. It has therefore met and exceeded its Kyoto target.
As the economy recovers emissions are steadily increasing. Current emissions rates are average for industrialized countries. Few policies are in place to curb emissions and Russia ranks last among the G8 on policies for the future. Government goals exist but need to be implemented.
Virtually all of Russia’s climate performance gains have come in the past, due to economic downturn rather than government policy. It ratified the Kyoto Protocol late and only under pressure.
Although Russia supports the G8 call for reducing emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 it has few policies in place to achieve this. Prime Ministerial and Presidential decrees on renewables and energy efficiency respectively lack practical support and legislation.
editor: James Tulloch
publishing date: July 1, 2009
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