Climate Dispute Erupts at COP29 as Russia Includes Occupied Ukrainian Territories in Emissions Report
Russia’s recent greenhouse gas inventory report to the United Nations has sparked a heated dispute at the COP29 climate summit, with Ukrainian officials and activists protesting the inclusion of occupied Ukrainian territories in the report.
Background
The move by Moscow comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin eyes potential peace deal negotiations with incoming U.S. President Donald Trump that could decide the fate of vast swathes of territory.
Ukraine’s Concerns
"We see that Russia is using international platforms to legalise their actions, to legalise their occupation of our territory," Ukraine’s Deputy Environment Minister Olga Yukhymchuk told Reuters. She said Ukraine is in touch with officials from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to ask it to resolve the dispute.
Russia’s Reporting
At issue is Russia’s National Inventory Report of greenhouse gas emissions for 2022, which Moscow submitted to the UNFCCC on Nov. 8. In the submission, reviewed by Reuters, Russia said it could only provide data for 85 out of 89 of its territories "due to the absence of baseline data on land use for the territories of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Luhansk People’s Republic, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, annexed in September 2022."
Double-Counting Concerns
Yukhymchuk told Reuters this concern is based on the risk of double-counting of emissions over territories that together exceed the size of Portugal and Azerbaijan. "It will bring us to a point that we do not achieve any of our goals if we don’t have proper reporting under the Paris Agreement," she said.
Geopolitical Turmoil
Nikki Reisch, director of the Center for International Environmental Law’s Climate & Energy Program, said the dispute reflected how geopolitical turmoil was diverting the world’s attention from the work of fighting global warming. "I think that is a sign of the times," said Reisch on the sidelines of the COP29 summit. "We’re living amidst rampant conflicts, and that is certainly infecting these talks."
Legal Concerns
Christina Voigt, a law professor at the University of Oslo, said Russia’s reporting on Ukraine emissions violated Ukraine’s sovereignty and could be illegal. "Claiming emissions is perhaps not illegal – but claiming emissions as if they were from their own territory, while they are in fact generated on another country’s territory, is a unilateral declaration in violation of the international legal status of that territory," Voigt said.
Conclusion
The dispute highlights the complex challenges facing global climate efforts, as geopolitical tensions and territorial disputes threaten to undermine international cooperation. As the world continues to grapple with the urgent need to address climate change, it is essential that international organizations and governments work together to resolve such disputes and ensure the integrity of global climate reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Ukraine protesting Russia’s inclusion of occupied Ukrainian territories in its emissions report?
A: Ukraine is concerned that Russia’s reporting could lead to double-counting of emissions and undermine the integrity of global climate efforts.
Q: What is the significance of Russia’s reporting on Ukraine emissions?
A: Russia’s reporting could have significant implications for global climate efforts, as it could lead to the misallocation of emissions reductions and undermine international cooperation.
Q: What is the legal status of Russia’s reporting on Ukraine emissions?
A: The legal status of Russia’s reporting is unclear, with some experts arguing that it violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and could be illegal.