The climate regime and domestic politics: the case of Russia

Abstract

The literature on climate cooperation focuses primarily on intergovernmental institutions and national policies. Few studies have examined the ‘second image reversed’ question: what is the impact of the international climate regime on domestic politics? This article examines the impact of the Kyoto Protocol on climate politics in Russia. Russia is an important case study both from a theoretical and policy perspective. Analytically, the case provides an opportunity to assess alternative theories of regime impact, given Russia's early scepticism about climate change and insistence on unrestrained economic growth. The study finds that the Kyoto Protocol influenced political interests in Russia first and foremost through the redistribution of resources and potential payoffs, but also through more subtle mechanisms such as capacity building and the diffusion of economic assessments. The result was a realignment of powerful domestic interests in a direction that has supported the main institutions of the climate regime and pushed for its implementation. Documenting the domestic political impacts of the Kyoto Protocol has policy implications for the conditions under which Russia and other large emerging markets focused on growth might undertake obligations to strengthen climate cooperation.

Notes

¹ The author is grateful to Colby College and to the Jean Monnet Fellowship Programme of the European University Institute for supporting the research presented in this article, as well as to Jayadev Vadakkanmarveettil for research assistance, comments and contribution.

² The term ‘Climate Change Convention’ is used hereafter for the sake of brevity and clarity.

³ This is a term coined by Gourevitch (1978).

⁴ For a review see Simmons and Martin (2002).

⁵ For an overview of issues and methods see Miles et al (2002).

⁶ Comparison based on GDP per unit of energy use statistics (constant 2005 Purchasing Power Parity [PPP] $ per kg of oil equivalent) as provided by World Bank (2007).

⁷ The mechanism, ‘Joint Implementation’ is defined in article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol. It allows a country to meet its emission reduction commitment by earning emission reduction units (ERUs) from an emission reduction or emission removal project in another signatory of the Protocol. For more information, see the UNFCCC website < http://unfccc.int/>.

⁸ See Myers and Revkin (2003); Federal News Service, Inc, ‘Official Kremlin International News Broadcast on Friday, July 9, 2004’, < http://www.sysecol.ethz.ch/Articles_Reports/Illarionov_Interv._9.Jul.04.pdf>, accessed 24 July 2008.

⁹ Yuri Izrael for RIA Novosty, < http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070418/63856919.html>, accessed 24 July 2008.

¹⁰ Statement reported in < http://newsfromrussia.com/world/2004/07/17/55051.html>, accessed 1 August 2008.

¹¹ See ‘Kyoto Protocol: Pros & Cons’, < http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/books/548.html>, accessed 24 July 2008.

¹² See < www.greenpeace.org/russia/en/press/releases/1612802>, accessed 24 July 2008.

¹³ The Federal News Service, Inc, ‘Official Kremlin International News Broadcast on Friday, July 9, 2004’, < http://www.sysecol.ethz.ch/Articles_Reports/Illarionov_Interv._9.Jul.04.pdf>, accessed 24 July 2008.

¹⁴ These studies are now published by Chatham House, < http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/>.

¹⁵ Interview conducted on the basis of anonymity at the Director-General Environment office, European Commission, Brussels, 21 June 2005. See also World Bank (1999) and Korppoo et al (2006).

¹⁶ Interview conducted on the basis of anonymity at the Director-General (DG) Environment office, European Commission, 21 June 2005.

¹⁷ See < http://www.gazprom.com/eng/articles/article21713.shtml>, accessed 24 July 2008.

¹⁸ US Energy Information Agency, < http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Russia/pdf.pdf>, accessed 24 August 2008.

¹⁹ < http://www.gazprom.ru/eng/articles/article20160.shtml>, accessed August 24, 2008.

²⁰ < http://unfccc.int/files/press/news_room/press_releases_and_advisories/application/pdf/20070601_english.pdf>, accessed 24 July 2008.

²¹ < http://www.rao-ees.ru/en/news/pr_depart/latest_pr/show.cgi?030308rao.htm>, accessed 7 March 2008.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Liliana B Andonova

 1  1 The author is grateful to Colby College and to the Jean Monnet Fellowship Programme of the European University Institute for supporting the research presented in this article, as well as to Jayadev Vadakkanmarveettil for research assistance, comments and contribution.