UK-Russia Climate Change Collaboration: Project Overview

Sarah WinneMark Allington

Agenda

1 Introductions (All)

2 Context and Project Background (David Vincent and Roshydromet)

3 Description of work programme (Sarah) + discussion

4 Presentation of research framework (Sarah)

5 Brainstorming possible research questions (All)

6 Prioritising research questions (All)

7 Financial/other contributions from both governments (David Vincent

and Roshydromet)

8 Close

Biomass Capital Grants

Offshore Wind Capital Grants

Buildings Research Programme

Community Energy Programme

Low Carbon Investment Opportunity

Climate Change Agreements Policy Support

Project Objectives

The overall goal of this project is to:

• Improve the UK and Russia’s understanding of climate change science and impacts;

• Raise the profile of climate science through the project’s outputs and awareness-raising activities;

• Create a new British-Russian network of scientists who can draw upon each other’s expertise to improve the body of research on climate change science.

Key Tasks

Phase 1: Project Inception

Task 1: Project Vision Meeting

Task 2: Finalise work plan

Phase 2: Review existing research

Task 3: Review existing research on climate change science and impacts in Russia

Task 4: Links between sound science and sound policy-making

Phase 3: Awareness-raising activities

Task 5: Workshops, project website, leaflets

Task 6: Publication of project results

Phase 4: Research Programme

Task 7: Scoping Study

Task 8: Research programme review and approval

Phase 5: Research Programme

Key tasks to follow

Phase 6: Project Co-ordination and Review

Task 3: Review existing research

Summary: This background research will provide the foundation for the project and will tie in closely with the scoping study. It will summarise the existing research in the area of climate change in Russia, specifically focussing on the areas of relevance to the research programme.

Task leader: Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM)

Contributors: Planeta, Hadley Centre, AEA

Timescale: October 07 – February 08

Output: A report summarising current existing scientific research on climate change and impacts in Russia

Task 4: Links between science & policy

Summary: This task will draw on British and Russian experiences to understand the links between science and policy-making. The report will provide guidance on how climate change science can be incorporated effectively into policy-making.

Task leader: AEA

Contributors: Roshydromet

Timescale: October 07 – April 08

Output: A report examining how sound science and sound policy-making are linked.

Task 5: Awareness-raising activities

The activities for this task include the following:

Project Website Task manager: AEA

Leaflet for UNFCCCTask manager: AEADate: December 07

Two review workshops in Moscow Task manager: Roshydromet/PlanetaDates: February 08, July 08

Publications/output from research programmeAuthors: Hadley Centre, Planeta

Task 7: Scoping study

Summary: This task will develop a clear work plan for the research programme (Task 8). The scoping study will review possible areas of research in more detail to assess which topics best address the project’s objectives.

Task leaders: Hadley Centre & Planeta

Timescale: October 07 – February 08

Output: A detailed work plan which will be reviewed by the steering committee.

Research Framework

Possible categories of research questions:

1: Is climate change happening?

2: Are human activities causing it?

3: What are the impacts of climate change in Russia?

4: What can humans do to mitigate/adapt to climate change?

5: What are the costs/benefits of Russia acting to mitigate or adapt to climate change?

Is climate change happening?

Possible topics:

• Examining and collating existing climatic data for Russia (Hadley)

• Greenhouse gas emissions data for Russia (AEA)

• Analysing existing climatic data

• Data quality & establishing evidence base

Are human activities causing climate change?

Possible topics:

• Greenhouse gas emissions data for Russia

• Analysing emissions data

What are the impacts of climate change in Russia?

Possible topics:

• Interactive vegetation modelling of Russian forests to 2080 (Hadley)

• Modelling the impacts of climate change on permafrost regions

• Climatic changes in Arctic and Antarctic (Roshydromet)

• Sea-ice modelling – comparing HC model with Russian sea-ice

measurements

• Understanding climate change risks in Russia

• Brown bear migration due to climate change

• Extreme weather events (and effects on energy infrastructure)

• Impacts in Russia climatic regions

What can humans do to mitigate/adapt to climate change?

Possible topics:

• National policy and measures in the area of climate change

• Linking energy policy with climate change policy

• Impact of climate change policies on Russian energy market

• Post-Kyoto climate policy in Russia

What are the costs/benefits of Russia acting to mitigate or adapt to climate change?

Possible topics:

• Identifying maximum permissible levels of climate change

• Options of carbon sequestration in Russia

• Impacts of climate change on transportation and energy

infrastructure