Russia Won’t Ratify Paris Agreement Unless Western Sanctions Are Lifted

Russian ratification of the Paris climate agreement is conditional on the lifting of Western sanctions against Russia.

The Russian government adviser on environmental issues issued this statement just days before the next UN Climate Conference takes place in Bonn early next week.

Moscow is reluctant to ratify the Paris deal because of pressure on the oil and gas industry which is responsible for much of Russia’s exports.

“In order for us to ratify the Paris agreement we first need to talk about the partial lifting of sanctions against our companies,” said Rashid Ismailov, head of the Russian government’s environmental expert group.

“Russian companies must have access to financial resources, as well as financial institutions and foreign funds, to implement reforms in the area of the environment.”