Climate change in Russia

Climate change in Russia describes the global warming related issues in Russia. This includes the climate politics, contribution in the global warming and the influence of the global warming in Russia. In 2009 Russia was ready to decline emissions 20-25 % from 1990 level to 2020.^[1]

Agreements

Kyoto protocol

When Russia underlined the Kyoto protocol it came in force 16.2-2005. Russia ratified the agreement three months earlier.^[2] This agreement did not cause emission cuts for Russia due to an earlier drop in emissions compared to year 1990 by other reasons.

G8

Six G8 countries would have been ready for the agreement to “at least halve global CO2 emissions by 2050” in 2007. Russia and the US did not agree.^[3]

Effects of climate change on Russia

Main article: Regional effects of global warming

IPCC

According to IPCC (2007) climate change effected temperature increase is greater at higher northern latitudes. The temperature increases may effect e.g. agricultural and forestry management at Northern Hemisphere higher latitudes, such as earlier spring planting of crops, the frequency of wildfires, alterations in disturbance of forests due to pests, the health risks due to heat-waves, changes in infectious diseases and allergenic pollen andchanges tohuman activities in the Arctic e.g. hunting and travel over snow and ice. From 1900 to 2005, precipitation increased in northern Europe and northern and central Asia. Changes may effect inland flash floods, more frequent coastal flooding and increased erosion, reduced snow cover and species losses.^[4]

Permafrost

Permafrost thawing may be a serious cause for concern. It is believed that carbon storage in permafrost globally is in the region of 1600 Gt equivalent to twice the atmospheric pool. Protection peatlands from drainage and clearance slows down therate of greenhouse gases and gives benefits for biodiversity.^[5] Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for two or more years. In most arctic areas it is from a few to several hundred metres thick. Thawing of permafrost soils release methane. Methane has 25 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. Reacent methane emissions of world’s soils were estimated between 150 and 250 million metric tons (2008)^[6] Estimated annual net methane emission rate at the end of the 20 th century for the northern region was 51 million metric tons. Net methane emissions from permafrost regions north included 64 % from Russia, 11 % from Canada and 7 % from Alaska (2004). When water is released also the new arctic lakes may be significant methane sources.The business-as-usual scenarios estimate the Arctic methane emissions from permafrost thawing and rising temperatures to range from 54 to 105 million metric tons of methane per year (2006).^[6] According to Greenpeace the annual costs for the Russian oil and gas companies of the permafrost thawing are 1.9 billion € (2009). 60 % of Siberia have been covered by permafrost. The area includes 20 cities. Soil thawing increase erosion of land.^[7]

Wildfires

According to IPCC higher temperatures may increase the frequency of wildfires.^[4] In Russia this includes the risk of peatland fires. Peat fire emissions may be more harmful for human health than forest fires. Scientist alarmed of the peatfires in Indonesia in 2004: “Burning peat could be a major contributor to the as yet unexplained accelerating build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere since 1998.” In October 2004 in Borneo regionally the atmosphere was covered in thick smoke, visibility was 100 metres, schools shut and flights cancelled.^[8] According to Wetlands International the wild fires in Moskow July 2010 were mainly 80-90 % from dewatered peatlands. According to UN dewatered bogs cause 6 % of human global warming emissions.^[9] MoskoWu air was filled with peat fire emissions in July 2010 and regionally visibility was below 300 metres.^[10]

Statistical contribution

Russia was 4nd top emitter by CO2 2009 5.2% of total behind China 25.4%, US 17.8% and India 5.3%.^[11]

Russia was the 5th top emitter of all greenhouse gas emissions including building and deforestation in 2005: China 16.4%, US: 15.7%, 3. Brazil 6.5%, 4. Indonesia 4.6%, 5. Russia 4.6%, 6. India 4.2%, 7. Japan 3.1%, 8. Germany 2.3%, 9. Canada 1.8%, and 10. Mexico:1.6%.^[11]

In the cumulative emissions between 1850 and 2007 the top emittors were: 1. US 28.8%, 2. China: 9.0%, 3. Russia: 8.0%, 4. Germany 6.9%, 5. UK 5.8%, 6. Japan: 3.9 %, 7. France: 2.8%, 8. India 2.4%, 9. Canada: 2.2% and 10. Ukraine 2.2%.^[11]

Sectors

Energy: Peat, oil shale and coal

See also: Energy policy of Russia

See also: Coal power in Russia

See also: Electricity sector in Russia

Peat, oil shale, lignite and coal are among the most harmful energy sources in respect to the global warming emissions.

Peat is often more harmful energy source than coal for global warming.^[12] Peat has been used as energy source in Russia. In 2005 peat production was 8 % of world total in Russia. This includes both energy and agricultural use.^[13]

Russia have also used oil shale for energy.

Russia produced, used and imported coal in 2008. In addition to the environmentally and in human health respect harmful emissions of coal the coal mining was also dangerous work in Russia in 2008. Serious accidents have been reported.^[14] According to IEA the share of coal and peat electricity was 19 % of the gross electricity production in 2008 in Russia (187 TWh / 1,038 TWh).^[15]

Deforestation

Global deforestation was 20 % of warming emissions in 1990.^[16]

According to FAO (2007) more than half of the world forests are in five countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, US and China..^[17] 2/3 of world forests are in 10 countries: Russia, Brazil, Canada, US, China, Australia, Kongo, Indonesia, Peru and India. Russian challeges for forests include control of illegal logging, corruption, forest fires and land use.

See also

• Protected areas of Russia

References

1. ^ Ilmastonmuutoksesta Venäjän energiayhtiöille miljardikulut yle 21.11.2009
2. ^ Tim Flannary, Ilmastonmuuttajat, Otava 2006 page 230 (The Weather Makers, The History and Future of Climate Change 2005)
3. ^ UNEP Year Book2008, An Overview of Our Changing Environment, United Nations Environment Programme 2008 pages 2
4. ^ ^{a b} IPCC Working group III fourth assessment report, Summary for Policymakers 2007
5. ^ The Natural Fix?: The Role of Ecosystems in Climate Mitigation UNEP 2009 page. 20, 55
6. ^ ^{a b} Year Book2008, An Overview of Our Changing Environment, United Nations Environment Programme 2008 pages 38-41
7. ^ Ilmastonmuutoksesta Venäjän energiayhtiöille miljardikulut yle 21.11.2009
8. ^ Massive peat burn is speeding climate change, New Scientist 6 November 2004, Fred Pearce
9. ^ turvesuot liekeissä talveen asti yle 12.8.2010
10. ^ Venäjän metsäpalot tukaloittavat moskovalaisten elämää yle 26.7.2010
11. ^ ^{a b c} Which nations are most responsible for climate change? Guardian 21 April 2011
12. ^ Jyri Seppälä, Kaisu Aapala, Kimmo Silvo and Raimo Heikkilä 2008: Muistio Suomen IPCC-ryhmän avoimesta Turpeen ilmastovaikutusten arviointi -seminaarista. Suomen ympäristökeskus (Finnish)
13. ^ International production of peat 2005, by country, Swedeish statistics, Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Peat 2005, Minerals Yearbook
14. ^ The True Cost of Coal How people and the planet are paying the price for the world's dirtiest fuel, Greenpeace 27.11.2008, pages 30-33, 79
15. ^ IEA Key stats 2010 pages electricity 27 fossil 25
16. ^ Fact_sheet_reducing_emissions_from_deforestation
17. ^ Jari Lyytimäki ja Harri Hakala, Ympäristön tila ja suojelu Suomessa, Gaudeamus, 2008, pages. 198, 189 (Finnish)