ABSTRACT

At the end of 2004 Russia finally declared its decision to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and entered into this international agreement. It was the result of a controversial process of domestic policy-making, accompanied by a great deal of debate, conflicts of interest and uncertainties related to the national obligations involved in this treaty. This process has also been accompanied by hot polemics between the protocol proponents and opponents about the vulnerability of Russia to global climate change and possible policy response options, including mitigation and adaptation measures. To a large extent these uncertainties were reinforced by contradictory declarations of Russian officials within the ratification decision-making – promises of imminent ratification were coupled with critiques of the Kyoto regime, including comments that it was discriminatory in its character and unacceptable for Russia. In general, the decision-making process on ratification in Russia has not addressed many uncertainties. The public and other stakeholders have also not actively participated in the decision-making.