Putin signs decree allowing Russia to raise greenhouse gas emissions

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Moscow Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the country to raise its greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 20% above 2021 levels by 2035
• The target — 65–67% of 1990 emissions levels — factors in carbon absorption by Russia’s forests and equates to around two billion metric tons of CO₂ equivalent
• While still below Russia’s 1990 peak, the new goal marks a rollback in ambition and is at odds with calls for deeper cuts to meet global climate targets

🔭 The context: Russia, the world’s fourth-largest carbon emitter, has committed to net-zero emissions by 2060 but has repeatedly set goals viewed as weak by climate advocates
• The choice of 1990 as a baseline inflates perceived progress, as emissions fell sharply in the early 1990s due to the post-Soviet industrial collapse
• At past climate summits, Russia has resisted fossil fuel phase-outs, reflecting its economic dependence on oil and gas exports
• The country is experiencing climate change at 2.5 times the global rate, with serious risks for its Arctic regions and permafrost

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Raising the allowable emissions ceiling undermines the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting warming to 1.5°C
• With global temperatures already perilously close to that threshold, the move signals a major emitter stepping back from more ambitious mitigation
• The decision could also encourage other fossil fuel–dependent economies to weaken their own targets, eroding international climate cooperation

⏭️ What's next: Russia will now draft implementation measures to meet the revised 2035 target, with a continued emphasis on forest carbon accounting
• International pressure is expected to intensify ahead of COP30, where negotiators will assess collective progress under the Paris Agreement
• Geopolitical tensions and sanctions over the war in Ukraine make substantial changes to Russia’s climate policy unlikely in the near term

💬 One quote: “Russia’s targets are vague and unambitious… Using 1990 as a baseline masks the reality of increasing emissions.” — Climate activists’ criticism at past summits

📈 One stat: The new decree permits emissions of ~2 billion metric tons CO₂e by 2035 — around 22% higher than in 2021

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