Climate change in Security Perceptions, Conceptions, and Practices in Russia

P. 209–230.

Ilya Stepanov

This chapter investigates the climate-security nexus in Russian political discourse and practices. It is based on an analysis of key policy documents, statements of official representatives of Russia, and data from social polls in the domain of climate change, environment, and security. The analysis covers the time period from 2007 to 2020 and shows that, even though climate change is gaining more room in the Russian national agenda, it is still not considered as a meaningful threat to national, human, and ecological security. The national climate policy is far from one that could effectively manage multiple climate-related risks. Further, the significance of fossil fuels to the economy results in prioritisation of adaptationfocused climate policies over mitigation ones. The analysis shows that climate change is often perceived as an opportunity rather than a threat by officials, state companies, and the general public. An example of this is in the warming Arctic and the corresponding political discourse on potential benefits of growing transport and resource accessibility in the region. However, in recent years, the dominant feature of Russian climate policy discourse – scepticism about the anthropogenic nature of climate change – is changing towards a more science-based policy agenda. Moreover, the analysis shows that over the last few years new dimensions of climate-security discourse have arisen, which emphasise the indirect (rather than direct) risks related to low-carbon transition outside Russia and climate-induced military risks, particularly in the Arctic. These processes might be able to boost climate policies as well as the overall awareness of climate change as a threat to people, ecosystems, and the economy in Russia.

Keywords: Arctic, climate change, Russian climate policy

Publication based on the results of: Opportunity Assessment and Analysis of Effective Decarbonization Strategies in Fossil Fuel Exporting Countries (2022)

In book

Climate Security in the Anthropocene: Exploring the Approaches of United Nations Security Council Member-States

Stepanov I. A. Cham: Springer, 2023.