Foreign Policy, National Interests, and Environmental Positioning: Russia’s Post Paris Climate Change Actions, Discourse, and Engagement

ABSTRACT This article demonstrates that Russia’s climate positioning has been based on nuanced and powerful conceptions of national interests, international engagement, and Russia’s role in the world. Domestically, climate mitigation actions are driven by concerns of economic competitiveness, energy efficiency, and security interests. Internationally, Russia’s active participation is offset by inertia, disagreements, and ambivalence in adopting and implementing climate policy. Russia’s climate approach is a consequence of contradictions between the structure of the economy, domestic preferences, and an ambitious foreign policy, as Russian leaders seek to advance the country’s image as an assertive global actor in solving pressing world problems.