Russia-Ukraine war upends hopes for global climate action

Even before Russia invaded Ukraine, the prospect of industrial nations coming together to quickly enact meaningful cuts to greenhouse gas emissions seemed slim. But with Russia blowing apart the world order, advocates for international climate action say their cause is looking ever more bleak, just as the effects of warming are looking more ominous.

In its latest global climate report, written before the invasion and released last week, the United Nations warned that the world sits on the brink of disaster – with rising waters sure to subsume coastal cities and wildfires increasing in intensity, size and frequency, among other perils.

Yet the report also offered a glimmer of hope – noting that nations could still pull together to reduce emissions, preserve forests and collaborate on mitigation efforts.

Now, consensus and widespread collaboration seem even more unlikely, at least in the near term. Scientists are already reporting reductions in shared research and communications with Russian counterparts. Policymakers and scientists say Russia’s aggression will surely delay international efforts to find consensus and focus on climate-related issues.

“The war will distract us from climate action around the world,” said Rob Jackson, Earth system scientist at Stanford University and an expert in global greenhouse emissions. Although Russia has been a foot-dragger in phasing out fossil fuels, he said, it is one of several major nations crucial to any international pact to slash emissions.