Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) – Ministry of Economic Development (Russia) –
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This was announced at the plenary session of the “Islands of Sustainable Development” forum on August 2 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
In 2023, President Vladimir Putin approved an updated Climate Doctrine, which set the goal of achieving carbon neutrality in Russia by 2060.
An important stage on the way to this goal is the Sakhalin climate experiment, which has been conducted on Sakhalin for three years now under a separate federal law. It was on Sakhalin that the applied development of climate policy was launched: the first climate projects were launched, and the first sale of Russian carbon units took place.
"The climate agenda is a long-term priority for the Government. The competitiveness of our products abroad and Russia's participation in the formation of new markets, where we have the competencies to take leading positions, depend on it. These are products with a low carbon footprint – the production of aluminum, fertilizers, petrochemicals, lithium, nuclear and hydroelectric power, renewable energy sources," said Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.
Using Sakhalin as an example, comprehensive carbon regulation is being tested with emission quotas, mandatory verification of companies' carbon reporting, and the region's active involvement in programs for the introduction of energy-efficient technologies, gasification of housing and communal services, and the conversion of transport to natural gas, which leads to a reduction in harmful emissions into the atmosphere.
According to Maxim Reshetnikov, the Sakhalin experiment is successfully fulfilling its goals. During the experiment, it was already possible to halve the time required to prepare a greenhouse gas inventory. For the first time in national practice, extended carbon reporting and business plans for companies during the experiment were used to forecast emissions and establish quotas.
"Sakhalin was able to achieve carbon neutrality. Now the subject must decide whether it is valuable to it. Whether the region and business are ready to support carbon neutrality, the balance of emissions and absorption of greenhouse gases in the long term. If other regions are interested in scaling up the experiment, we are ready to support them and work on this issue," concluded Maxim Reshetnikov.
"Sakhalin Oblast has enormous potential for economic growth and investment. And we are confident that it can be realized on the principles of sustainable development. Sakhalin Oblast has achieved carbon neutrality. And according to Roshydromet, it has become the first region in Russia where greenhouse gas absorption exceeds their emissions according to the official regional cadastre. Thanks to the experiment, Sakhalin Oblast has become a dynamically developing entity in both economic and environmental terms. With clean air, unique wildlife. A region where you want to live, work and relax," said Sakhalin Oblast Governor Valery Limarenko.
In 2025, companies participating in the Sakhalin Experiment reported for the first time not only on emissions, but also on the fulfillment of quotas for 2024. Based on the results of the 2025 reporting campaign, some enterprises showed a reduction in emissions relative to the established quota and issued quota fulfillment units. These units can be sold or used to fulfill their quota until the end of the experiment in 2028. The volume of the quota market, new to Russia, is 266 thousand tons of CO2eq.
The Sakhalin climate experiment stimulated the circulation of carbon units from the implementation of climate projects and became the main source of demand for carbon units within the country, demonstrating the high level of openness of this market. In 2025, 131 thousand carbon units have already been counted – 8 times more than in 2024.
The results of the implementation of the climate program measures have affected not only the economy, but also the quality of life of people. Gasification of housing and communal services has been carried out, the energy efficiency of the city economy has increased, public transport and agricultural machinery have been converted to gas, electric transport is developing, the area of forest fires has decreased by 10 times. Air purity has improved twofold, dustiness has decreased fivefold.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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