Climate change and national security in Russia

Ch. 5. P. 82–102.

Makarov I. A., Chistikova A.

This chapter describes climate security discourse and practices developing in Russia for the last decade. It reveals that, while Russia faces severe physical risks from climate change, climate change is scarcely perceived as an existential threat among key decision-makers and the population. The country’s climate policies are more focused on adaptation, while its mitigation policy framework is more oriented on helping Russian businesses avoid hurdles on foreign markets, not on significantly cutting emissions. This situation reflects a parallel securitization process, wherein the global green transition is regarded as a threat to Russia’s fossil fuel-dependent economy. These economic considerations, coupled with climate change skepticism and narratives that emphasize the benefits of climate change, have led to the perception of the green transition as a “climate agenda,” i.e., a temporary process imposed on Russia externally. Internationally, Russia opposes the inclusion of climate change in the global security agenda. The chapter concludes that Russia’s climate policy is an outcome of this complex interplay of the two threats, and is characterized by high emphasis on adaptation but little motivation to enhance ambition on mitigation, and by sensitivity to the external political environment and to the remaining interest of certain businesses in voluntary climate efforts.

Keywords: securitization, climate security, climate agenda, Russia's climate policy

Publication based on the results of: Analysis of the long-term impacts of climate change, areas of adaptation and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Russia and its BRICS and SCO partners (2025)

In book

Climate Change, National Security and Geopolitics: Strategies and Responses of Five Major Powers

NY: Routledge, 2026.