EU-Russia Joint Seminar on Post-2012 Action to Abate Climate Change, pursuant to Article 3.9 of the Kyoto Protocol, was held in Moscow at the German Embassy on 18 April 2007 on the threshold of the Second meeting of the Subgroup on Climate Change within EU-Russia Dialogue on the Environment.

Arthur Runge-Metzger, Head of Unit of the DG Environment, European Commission, co-chair of the Subgroup on Climate Change, presented the European Union’s climate and energy strategy, produced by the Commission on 10 January 2007 and conclusions of the EU Spring Council.

Sergey Tulinov, Assistant to the Head of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydomet) gave an overview on the potential of the Russian Federation to abate climate change in the post-Kyoto period (mainly due to enhancement of efficiency of the energy sector and consequent reduction of energy- and carbon-intensity of economy in general) on behalf of the Russian side.

The sides exchanged their views on possible post-2012 actions within the framework of the seminar. They emphasized the importance of expanding of the carbon market, elaboration and transfer of technologies, development of adaptation mechanisms and engagement of developing countries along with the developed ones that are not Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (like USA and Australia) into joint actions to tackle global climate change in the post-Kyoto period.

Regarding the abovementioned, the participants raised discussion on the perspectives of advancement of a so-called Russian Proposal on approval of voluntary commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the Parties not included in Annex I to the UNFCCC (Russian Proposal). Considering that the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol don’t contain any reference to the voluntary commitments of countries, their approval and encouragement mechanisms, the Russian Proposal is aimed at providing an opportunity for the Parties not included in Annex I to the UNFCCC to contribute to global efforts in abating climate change. Herewith the main principle of the Russian Proposal is no-regret actions of developing countries in reducing greenhouse gases emissions. In other words, if the claimed targets are not achieved, a party doesn’t enter into a non-compliance regime and doesn’t incur penalties. In case of success, a party gains different financial or technological preferences.

Co-chairs of the Subgroup on Climate Change (Arthur Runge-Metzger, Head of Unit of the DG Environment, European Commission, from EU and Victor Blinov, Head of the Department for Scientific Programmes, International Co-operation and Information Resources of Roshydromet from the Russian side) emphasized the importance of conduction of such seminars for enhancement of bilateral co-operation. The second seminar on adaptation is going to be held in conjunction with the Third meeting of the Subgroup on Climate Change in September 2007 and the third seminar on EU ETS – within the framework of the Fourth Subgroup meeting in November.

Julia Dobrolyubova
Expert on Climate Change and Kyoto Protocol