Russian senators took part in the Parliamentary Meeting held on the occasion of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).
First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Andrey Yatskin and First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Andrey Denisov took part in the Parliamentary Meeting held on the occasion of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, co-organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The participants discussed the priority tasks of the international parliamentary community to address climate change, including global climate finance, public health and safety, and the use of advanced technologies to address existing problems.
Andrey Yatskin spoke at the session titled “Making climate commitments a reality: Parliaments’ role in raising mitigation ambition and implementing nationally determined contributions.”
He said that Russia is one of the leaders of the international climate process, both in terms of its contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and in terms of its efforts to ensure the universal and inclusive nature of the framework established as per the UNFCCC. “We are guided by the priority of achieving, around the middle of this century, the goal of carbon neutrality in keeping with the Paris Agreement, as well as keeping the global temperature rise between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius,” the Senator said.
Furthermore, the Russian parliament is contributing to creating the conditions and incentives for raising climate mitigation ambition, he continued. In 2021, Russia adopted the framework Federal Law On Limiting Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and approved the Development Strategy until 2050 based on low greenhouse gas emissions.
Andrey Yatskin invited the participants to attend the 11th Nevsky International Ecological Congress. “We will hold this important international forum in St Petersburg in May 2025. It will be a significant expert platform for discussing the climate and environmental agenda as well as other current issues,” he said.
The First Deputy Speaker added that Russia is chairing BRICS this year, and that climate change, environmental protection and energy transition were a major focus of all discussions at recent BRICS events. Adopted at the BRICS Summit, the Kazan Declaration provides for further efforts to address climate change in its various aspects, he said.
Andrey Denisov spoke at the session titled “Addressing climate vulnerability: Promoting a comprehensive and equitable approach to climate action.” He emphasised that Russia pursued a balanced policy of combating climate change. In particular, climate monitoring has been established across the country, and the Government has approved the National Action Plan for the second phase of adaptation to climate change.
During his visit to Baku, Andrey Yatskin met with Speaker of the Milli Mejlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova to discuss bilateral cooperation, including parliamentary cooperation, and exchange views on the COP29 agenda.
Sahiba Gafarova reaffirmed that climate change was a global concern. She noted that Azerbaijan successfully chaired COP29, underscoring the productivity of discussions that included all stakeholders and the significant results already achieved. The speaker thanked Russia for its active participation both in COP29 and in the Parliamentary Meeting.
In turn, Andrey Yatskin noted the important role of parliaments in addressing climate change. “The holding of the Parliamentary Meeting is of particular importance for bolstering parliaments’ role in the process, while inclusive discussions and debates are a good platform for developing a common approach to climate action,” Andrey Yatskin emphasised.
The sides also expressed satisfaction with the strong ties between Russia and Azerbaijan.