Article “Russia’s climate policies and local reality” written by Liza Skryzhevska, Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, Simo Leppänen was published in the new volume of Polar Geography.

In their latest report, the IPCC acknowledges the importance of local governments in conducting climate change (CC) adaptation measures. However, the role of local governments has not been widely discussed in the CC policy literature. In this paper, we attempt to bridge this gap by utilizing the unique interview data from 14 Russian localities, the results of which revealed three key findings. First, the federal government of Russia recognizes the problem of CC, but due to budget constraints local authorities cannot implement adaptation actions in their regional planning. Second, only 2 of the 14 surveyed regions have a CC adaptation plan, while a few others incorporate some adaptation measures in their socio-economic development plans. Third, regions with notable agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors have experienced a more significant impact from CC on their economies, and most of the interviewed regional authorities perceived these effects as negative.

The article is available online.

“The Arctic Paradox and Russia’s Energy Policy / Arktinen paradoksi ja Venäjän energiapolitiikka” – the title of the new Aleksanteri Insight, published this month by the Aleksanteri Institute.

Through its use of the Arctic, Russia tries to fortify the idea that it is a global Energy
Superpower, writes Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen.

The paper is available in English in Finnish online.

Read a new article “Electricity production as an effective solution for associated petroleum gas utilization in the reformed Russian electricity market” written by Evgenia Vanadzina, Olga Gore, Satu Viljainen, and Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen and published in the “International Conference on the European Energy Market” journal.

Russia leads the list of countries in which most flaring occurs, with an estimated 15-37 BMC of associated petroleum gas (APG) being burned in Siberian oil fields annually. In view of the environmental impact of flaring and ineffective use of energy resource, fees for flaring are being increased from 2012. Significantly increased fines pose a challenge for oil producers, which have focused only on oil production. A number of solutions for utilizing APG are currently used in Russia: processing of APG in gas processing plants, re-injection of gas back into the oil field, and production of heat and power for the needs of the oil industry.
These commonly used options for APG utilization are analyzed and discussed in this paper, taking into account the specific features of the Russian oil and gas market and barriers presented by monopolies in the gas export and gas processing industry.
Analysis of the utilization options indicates the appropriateness of APG as a fuel for effective power production within Russia’s reformed electricity market.

Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen co-wrote with Nina Tynkkynen a chapter for the new book edited by Markku Kivinen and Leena Vähäkylä and titled “Venäjän palatseissa ja kaduilla” (In Russian palaces and streets). The chapter is titled “Venäjän ympäristön tila ja ympäristöpolitiikka ” (State of the Environment in Russia and Russia’s Environmental Policy).

More information about the book can be found here.

Anew article “Rauha “energiasuurvalta-Venäjän” kanssa” (Peace with “Energy-Superpower Russia”) written by Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen was published in the new issue of Idäntutkimus. Read the article online here.

Politiikasta.fi published an article “Venäläinen rauhan atomi ja Suomen asema” (Russian peaceful atom and Finland’s international position) by Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen.

An interesting and at the same time problematic of this debate is the assertion that the nuclear policy, in particular nuclear energy, would be out of the question of foreign policy. Finland’s energy policy is shown to be immune to the power that is used worldwide through energy. In the light of the study, these arguments are strange.

“Russian Energy and Security up to 2030” is a new book edited by Susanne Oxenstierna and Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen and published this month by Routledge. Professor Tynkkynen also co-wrote the introduction and wrote a chapter “Russian Bioenergy and the EU’s Renewable Energy Goals: Perspectives of Security” for this volume.

The challenges in Russia’s energy sector are changing. On the demand side, Europe is seeking to limit its dependence on Russian oil and gas, with the result that China and other Asian countries are likely to eventually become growing export markets for Russian energy. On the supply side, oil and gas fields in West Siberia are diminishing and in future Russia’s energy will have to come more from East Siberia and the Arctic, which will necessitate new infrastructure development and the employment of advanced technologies, which may increase Russia’s dependence on commercial partners from outside Russia. This book explores the challenges facing Russia’s energy sector and the resulting security implications. It includes a discussion of how far the Russian state is likely to continue to monopolise the energy sector, and how far competition from private and foreign companies might be allowed.

More information about the book.