Russia Urges US to Remain in Paris Agreement Amidst Growing Global Climate Skepticism
Russia has reaffirmed its commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, urging President-elect Donald Trump to reconsider his vow to withdraw the United States from the landmark accord, Bloomberg reports.
Boris Titov, President Vladimir Putin’s special representative for international cooperation in sustainability, expressed this stance during an interview at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan.
Titov dismissed calls within Russia for withdrawal from the agreement. He emphasized the Paris Agreement’s crucial role as the foundation for global emission reduction efforts. His comments come amidst growing concern over a global shift in attitudes towards climate change, exemplified by Argentina’s potential withdrawal from the accord and the reported skepticism of several world leaders.
Trump’s threatened withdrawal – mirroring his action during his first term – poses a significant threat to international climate cooperation. The United States is the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
Despite the political tensions stemming from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia, the world’s fourth-largest emitter, maintains its commitment to climate action. Titov stressed the importance of continuing climate talks, even amidst political disagreements, and urged Trump to avoid “spontaneous decisions that will harm the climate agenda,” calling climate change an existential threat.
Russia, which ratified the Paris Agreement in 2019 and set a net-zero emissions target for 2060, has sent a significant delegation of 900 people to COP29, highlighting the nation’s prioritization of climate issues. Climate change remains one of the few areas of potential common ground between Russia and Western nations, despite ongoing sanctions.
Looking ahead, Titov outlined Russia’s plans to promote the climate agenda internationally, including discussions with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to establish a sustainable development council focusing on carbon markets, ESG reporting, and sustainable development targets. Similar discussions are planned within the BRICS group of nations. Russia advocates for the development of effective carbon trading markets and believes that natural gas, biofuels, and nuclear energy should be considered “green” sources, receiving similar funding to solar and wind power.
