Forestry development as an instrument for implementing the climate policy of Russia

Abstract

The Paris Agreement is the legal basis for the current stage of regulation of greenhouse gas emissionsaimedat preventing further climate change. The Russian Federation has declared its national climate commitments taking into account the carbon absorption capacity of forests. It has been established that the current stage of development of the national economy is accompanied by an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, which will require additional measures to implement Russia’s climate policy. The article assesses the contribution of the Russian forestry to the fulfilment of the national obligations under the Paris Agreement. A negative tendency towards reduction of carbon sequestration in Russian forests has been revealed. As the main factors influencing the dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions and their absorption in the forest ecosystems, the study identified forest fires, logging activities and the scale of reforestation. The article substantiate the expediency of the development of forestry as a condition for the implementation of the climate policy of both the country as a whole and its business entities. By implementing forest projects aimed at compensating for greenhouse emissions, representatives of the Russian business will be able to avoid the risks of losing the investment attractiveness of their enterprises and reducing the competitiveness of their products in international markets.