Russia at COP21: An Opportunity to Reengage with the West

... beneficial both domestically and internationally. Standing on common ground It is important not to underplay the importance of Russia at the COP21 conference due to its strong negotiating position. As one of the largest carbon emitters with a delegation of highly qualified diplomats, the country could make or break the deal. For instance, in 2004 the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Moscow was crucial for the treaty to take effect after the United States, the largest GHG emitter at the time,...