Directions, experience and prospects for the implementation of carbon projects in Russia

Abstract

At the moment, the problem of increasing greenhouse gas emissions is global, requiring prompt action to mitigate the effects of global climate change. In recent decades, there has been a clear correlation between global climate change and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions of anthropogenic origin. The strengthening of the climate agenda is leading to an expansion of activities in the field of developing ways to decarbonize, as a result, business and industry are considering various options for reducing emissions, in particular the implementation of carbon projects. The article summarizes the experience of implementing climate projects in Russia both in the first period of the Kyoto Protocol and under the current legislation. Climate projects implemented at enterprises of various industries in various areas are considered, including projects on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, forest carbon projects. An overview of joint implementation projects in the following industries is presented: non-ferrous metallurgy, steelmaking, oil refining, energy, chemical industry, etc. Special attention is paid to the description of the prospects for the development of new natural and climatic projects related to wetlands, aimed at the restoration and secondary watering of peatlands. Taking into account the fact that the ability of wetlands in general and peatlands in particular to sequester and store carbon has been sufficiently studied, and Russia has the world's largest peat reserves, it is therefore advisable to use the potential of wetlands for the development and implementation climate projects with subsequent issuance and sale of carbon credits on the national or international markets.