The Role of Russian Forests in the Implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement: Opportunities or Risks?

ABSTRACT As part of the UN Framework on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement of 2015 specifies a new format for international coordination of efforts to manage greenhouse gas emissions, taking into account national interests and the imperative for a general transition to low-carbon energy. This article examines the opportunity to use the Russian forests’ carbon sequestration potential in relation to the formulation and implementation of Russia’s commitments under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. It also analyzes the economic consequences of uncertainty in assessments of the carbon budget of Russian forests. It is shown that taking into account the interests of national economic development, a reduction in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions requires development of an information base and assessment methodologies for evaluation of the carbon budget of Russian forests. It is proposed that work begin on a comprehensive strategy for the country’s participation in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. This implementation should take into account the following goals: technological modernization of the energy sector and an increase in the area of the forests. It should also consider the completeness and reliability of information about the quality of these forests.