Russia Has Abandoned Climate Denial and That May Prove Awkward
The Kremlin’s COP26 summit proposals risk dragging geopolitical disputes into climate negotiations
The Krasnogorsky open pit coal mine in Mezhdurechensk, Russia, on July 19.
Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
Russia is finally engaging with the global effort to fight climate change after years of denial. That’s an important step from one of the world’s largest fossil-fuel producers, but the Kremlin’s green conversion may complicate negotiations at next week’s COP26 summit and beyond.
Officials from President Vladimir Putin down say they’re seeking changes to what they describe as radical climate dogma that would unlock real-world cuts to harmful greenhouse gases, while avoiding energy supply crises of the kind currently shaking natural gas markets.