The Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation

The Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation is a document that represents a system of views on the purpose, principles, content and ways of implementing the unified state policy of the Russian Federation in the country and in the international arena on issues related to climate change and its consequences. Taking into account the strategic guidelines of the Russian Federation, the Doctrine is the basis for the formation and implementation of climate policy.^[1] The document was approved by the Order of the President of the Russian Federation on December 17, 2009.^[2]

Legal basis

As stated in the preamble of the document, the legal basis of the Doctrine is the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, regulatory legal acts of the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of May 9, 1992 and other international treaties of the Russian Federation, including those on environment and sustainable development.

Basic provisions

The documenting part of the Doctrine is made up of alarmist rhetoric, which is not quite typical for the documents that make up the codifying body of texts of the national security of the Russian Federation. It should be assumed that this was due to the increased attention paid by the political leadership of Russia at that time to the problem of global warming. It is also important to take into account the fact that the document was drafted within the framework of the obligations of the Russian side on the development of policies and measures in the field of climate under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.^[3] Accordingly, climate change in the Doctrine is called one of the most important international problems of the XXI century, which goes beyond the scientific problem and represents a complex interdisciplinary problem covering environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainable development of the Russian Federation.^[4]

Of particular concern is the unprecedented high rate of global warming observed over the past decades. Modern science is providing increasing evidence that human economic activity, particularly in relation to greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion, is having a significant impact on the climate.

The main objectives of the Russian Federation's climate policy, according to the text of the document, are

• Strengthening and development of the information and scientific basis of the Russian Federation policy in the field of climate, including all-round strengthening of the scientific, technical and technological potential of the Russian Federation, ensuring the maximum completeness and reliability of information on the state of the climate system, impacts on the climate, its ongoing and future changes and their consequences; development and implementation of operational and long-term measures for adaptation to climate change;
• Development and implementation of operational and long-term measures to mitigate anthropogenic impact on climate;
• Participation in initiatives of the international community in addressing climate change and related issues.

As noted in the Doctrine, "the exceptional diversity and scale of climate change in the regions of the Russian Federation and its consequences for the environment, the economy and the population is a natural consequence of the large size of the territory and the great diversity of natural conditions".^[5] As Arkady Dvorkovich, Assistant to the Head of State, stated at a special press conference on the day of signing the document, "according to the opinion of our scientists, which is reflected in the climate doctrine, the share of human influence on climate change remains difficult to calculate. Much of the climate change is related to global long-term trends, and whatever we do, it is likely that some changes will continue due to natural causes, so we will have to take action.^[6]

Practical implementation measures

In pursuance of the order of the President of the Russian Federation of December 17, 2009, the Government of the Russian Federation on April 25, 2011 issued an order which provided for:

• Approval of the attached comprehensive plan of implementation of the Climate Doctrine of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2020.
• Federal executive authorities are obliged to provide performance of the plan approved by the present order, within the limits established by the Government of the Russian Federation of limiting number of employees of the specified bodies and the budgetary appropriations provided by it in the federal budget on performance of powers in the established sphere of activity.
• To recommend the bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation to be guided by the plan approved by the present order, at formation of regional programs of social and economic development.^[7]

References

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