Against the backdrop of the Kremlin, activists unfurled a big
banner which read "Russia - Climate Killer № 3". In front of
reporters also appeared a human-balance, symbolizing the
inefficiency of Russian energy policy. A bowl filled with coal was
balanced against energy-efficient light bulbs. Today, to cope with
the shortage of power generating capacity, the Russian government
relies on new coal-powered thermal power plants, forgetting about
energy conservation and its obligations under international
treaties to reduce emissions of CO2.
With an annual output of 1.52 billion tons of CO2, our country,
according to the UN, trails only China (with 5 billion tons) and
the USA (6 billion tons). Most scientists now recognize that the
climate of the planet is changing under the influence of greenhouse
gases. Millions of the Earth's inhabitants are already faced with
the devastating consequences of global climate change: floods,
droughts, storms, locust plagues, and lack of water and food.
However, in Russia people still do not believe in such a
scenario and expect to receive only benefits from the coming
warming. According to sociological surveys, more than half of
Russians are unaware of the problem of climate change. Most believe
that for frigid Russia, warming would not be a misfortune, but a
blessing. This widespread misconception is supported by Russia's
president. "If it will be two or three degrees warmer, that is not
terrible. Maybe it's even good -- we will spend less money on fur
coats and other warm things," said Vladimir Putin, on 29 September
2003 in Moscow during a speech at the opening of the World
Conference on Climate Change.
Meanwhile, in addition to a shorter heating season and wardrobe
savings, global warming will bring Russia substantial losses.
According to official figures, purely economic losses from natural
disasters related to climate change already amount to 30-60 billion
rubles annually, which is more than 3% of the Russian GDP! Floods
are an acute problem, causing billions in damage annually. Only in
the last few years in our country there have been three devastating
floods, although earlier such severe floods occurred only once
every 100-150 years.
Now at the international conference on climate in Bali,
countries of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change are
discussing a new mechanism to counter global warming after the year
2012, when the first phase of the Kyoto Protocol ends. For Russia,
which ratified the protocol in 2004, the protocol establishes a
"zero obligation", that is, the task is to keep emissions in 2012
at the level of 1990. But with the implementation of government
plans to build new coal-burning power plants, Russia is not likely
to meet its obligations.
Today in Russia, burning one kilogram of oil (or its equivalent)
produces goods and services worth 1.9 dollars, while the world
average is 4.7 dollars (!). The potential for energy conservation
in Russia is estimated at 40% of total energy consumption. This
means that by converting to energy-efficient technology, we can
easily reduce energy consumption by almost half!
The potential for renewable energy in Russia is 270 million tons
of conventional petroleum fuel, so at least a quarter of Russia's
traditional energy facilities now can be replaced by renewable. For
comparison: the share of nuclear energy in the total energy mix in
Russia does not exceed 5% (!). This dangerous energy source can be
easily be replaced by safe renewable. However, the current
development strategy of the Russian energy industry is focused on
nuclear, coal and hydro power.
"To get off the disgraceful pedestal of the «World's Leading
Polluters», Russia must completely change its energy strategy to
reduce emissions", believes Igor Podgorny, Greenpeace project
manager for energy conservation. "So today we appeal to the Russia
government and the Russian delegation participating in the work of
13th UN Conference on Climate Change, to adopt a clear federal
program on energy conservation and legislation to streamline the
development of renewable energy sources".
For further information, you can contact Greenpeace Russia by
phone at (495) 988-74-60, to the head of the energy department or
the Spokesman Vladimir Chuprov or Evgenia Belyakova.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Up to 40% of the energy in the Russian fuel and power sector is
wasted. This means that if Russia was a rational consumer of energy
and an efficient producer, then emissions could be reduced by about
0.5 billion tons of CO2 per year. Annual emissions of CO2 in Russia
are 10.6 tons per person. Among the countries that exceed emissions
of 10 tons per person per year -- the United States, Canada,
Australia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates. The worldwide average for annual C02 emissions is 4.5
tons per capita.
Emissions of CO2 per capita in Russia are comparable to
emissions in many developed countries. However, when comparing GDP
it turns out that per unit of GDP, Russia emits 1.17 units of CO2,
while in developed countries, taking into account purchasing power
parity, each GDP unit requires 0.45 units of CO2, or 2.6 times
less. In other words, the economies of developed countries are 2.4
to 2.6 times more efficient than Russia in terms of carbon
footprint.
The outlook for the energy sector is an increase in absolute
emissions of CO2 resulting from the mass construction of new
coal-fired power plants, in addition to the existing plants. By
2020, emissions from coal generation will increase by 800 million
tons of CO2 compared to 2006, emissions of the gas generation will
increase by 62 million tons of CO2. Some reduction in consumption
of fuel oil will reduce emissions of CO2 by 1.6 million tons. All
told, the Russian government plans to increase emissions of CO2 to
2.3 billion tons by 2020, taking into account only new coal
stations. Assuming that by 2020 the population of Russia will fall
to 138 million people, average emissions per capita will grow 1.5
times and amount to 16.6 tons per person per year.
Greenpeace Russia has analyzed the impacts of climate change in
Russia, based on official data. This comparative table can be found
at the site of Greenpeace Russia (in Russian).
A number of public organizations developed a joint statement "On
the Social and Environmental Problems of Energy Production and
Transmission." The text of this document is also available on the
site of Greenpeace Russia (in Russian)".