Climate Change

Climate change implications for Eastern Europe and the CIS are in some ways different than for other parts of the world.

An inadequate legal framework, administrative barriers, and a lack of public awareness continue to limit prospects for renewable energy in Russia.

Russia’s Siberian deep freeze holds enormous stores of buried soil carbon. But the freezer has come unplugged—with potentially enormous consequences for climate change mitigation.

Russia could benefit if it viewed the problem of greenhouse gas emissions as a great opportunity to adopt energy efficiency measures.

In order to adapt to climate change, Central Asia must adopt measures to reduce the wasteful use of water and energy, and encourage more sustainable agricultural activities.

The expansion of renewable energy technologies for solar power, biomass, and small-scale hydro is central to improving Kyrgyzstan’s living standards and carbon profile.

Capturing Kazakhstan’s potential from wind and other renewable energy sources requires reform of its institutional frameworks for regulating the electric power sector.

Policy makers must reconcile Croatia’s international obligations for emissions reductions with the economic growth the country needs to converge towards EU living standards.

Long-term investment strategies are needed to exploit the opportunities offered by renewables, beyond just providing agricultural feedstock for commodity markets.

Weak institutional capacity continues to limit the ability of the Europe and CIS region to benefit from the opportunities presented by carbon finance.

Have climate change mitigation projects in the region generated compelling environmental and development benefits? Not always.

For a brief look at events about the region.