For the first time in the Olympic history, the games are held in South America. Seven years ago, winning the Olympic bid for Brazil was another way to demonstrate to the world its breakthrough development and increase its influence. However, unlike in 2009, when Brazil won the bid with relatively good economic indicators, the situation in the country today is very unstable.
Same Inside Out
The Olympics are held against the background of grave political and economic crises in the country. Governmental...
... better handle the climate problem. The range of adopted documents includes the Russian Federation Climate Doctrine of 2009
[12]
and Comprehensive Action Plan for its implementation of June 4, 2008 No. 889 "On Measures for Raising the Energy and Ecology-Related Efficiency of the Russian Economy"
[13]
, Federal Law 261-FZ of November 23, 2009 "On Energy Saving and Raising Energy Efficiency"
[14]
, "Energy Strategy of Russia until 2030" (approved by Executive Order of ...
COP 21 Results. Countries' Commitments Overview
COP 21 Results. Countries' Commitments Overview
Project page:
http://russiancouncil.ru/en/climate2030
Climate change is high on the global policy agenda. Not only this is a priority area for the
UN and its Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
; political, business and religious leaders, including Pope Francis, have joined the plea to take action on slowing down global warming.
Despite recent terror attacks in Paris, leaders of more than 120 nations are expected to flock into the French capital in late November for a final act in the multi-year negotiation process on a new UN treaty on climate change. Multilateral...
From rhetoric to action
On the 30th of November 2015 world leaders will gather in Paris to forge a new international climate change agreement. The goal of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) taking place in the French capital is to reach a universal commitment to maintain the global increase in average temperature under 2C above pre-industrial level. Most scientists have so far agreed that this is the critical threshold which, if exceeded, would lead to irrevocable catastrophic...
Analysts who focus on the Asia-Pacific have long been ranting that Russia is not paying enough attention to what is going on in the region, especially Southeast Asia. The ASEAN population is neither aware of what interests Russia nor understands how Russian particpation in their region could be of use.
At the same time, Russia may have a role to play in addressing these issues, so taking it into account may prove useful for Southeast Asian states.
We will start with an issue underreported everywhere...
The Food Economy – El Niño’s First Casualty
A connection between ocean temperatures and food supplies may seem remote, but when the warm waters of ‘El Niño’ appear in the Eastern Pacific, half of the world has cause to worry. This ‘Little Boy’ – named after the Christ child in Spanish – can affect crops and food supplies over a wide arc from Brazil through Australia and the Philippines to East Africa. Nevertheless, although a warmer Pacific affects the...
Domestic Aspects of Developing U.S. Arctic Resources
With Alaska and adjacent seas increasingly attracting everybody's attention because of their vast resources, many wonder how Washington will combine their development with preserving Alaska's unique social and ecological system – two priorities that have little in common.
Much like any other polar country, the United States views the Arctic as a geopolitical and geo-economic priority, largely due to its colossal natural riches, some of...
The 42nd session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
took place
in Bonn in early June 2015. The aim of the session was to prepare a climate agreement that could be signed in Paris in December 2015. The meeting failed to make any substantial progress. Participant countries found it difficult to achieve compromises on a number of fundamental issues, and negotiators still have much to do to meet the deadline of the Paris meeting.
A brief history of international...
It would be difficult to say there was a breakthrough at the Arctic Council biennial session of the eight member-states’ foreign ministers, which took place on 24-25 April 2015. Some had earlier hastened to describe it almost as a failure.
Firstly, Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov did not go to the Arctic Council session. However, Russia was appropriately represented – by Sergei Donskoi, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.
Secondly, not a single new legally binding...
