War, Sanctions Challenge Russia's Climate Efforts - Energy Intelligence

War, Sanctions Challenge Russia's Climate Efforts | Energy Intelligence
Vladimirkarp/Shutterstock Save for later Print Download Share LinkedIn Twitter Russia is maintaining its 2060 carbon-neutrality target despite the challenges posed by the Ukraine war. But Moscow's priority will remain the domestic economy, which relies heavily on fossil fuels production, and is already under pressure from Western sanctions. A detailed low-carbon strategy is still in the making, but Russia has made it clear it will forge its own path, rather than be swayed by global trends. It will likely focus on low-cost emissions reductions at operations, energy efficiency measures and nature-based offsets. More expensive technologies that require Western partners and technologies, like carbon capture, now appear to be off the table due to sanctions. There are 17 validated climate projects registered with Russia's national carbon registry operator, including 10 energy-related ones focused on efficiency improvements and reductions in gas flaring. There were 87,500 carbon units, or credits, registered in Russia at end-2023, according to the economic development ministry. Greater attention is being paid to improving the methodology and accounting for the true carbon absorption potential of NGS from the forest sector, coastal waters and marshes. Sakhalin in the Far East, home to a large oil and gas project and a carbon management experiment to reach neutrality by end-2025, has been critical to this effort. Last year, 1,023 of Russia's larger emitters submitted their first verified reports, showing emissions of 1.322 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent, illustrating the scope of the challenge.