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Today against the backdrop of the Kremlin, activists unfurled a big banner which read "Russia - Climate Killer № 3".
Enlarge ImageAgainst 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)".
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)".
