Russia and China move to align carbon trading and product footprint rules, minister says at COP31

aa.com.tr

by eco_tracker_99·43 minutes ago·1 points

Russia and China are in early talks to align their carbon regulations, including emissions trading systems and product carbon footprint standards, according to Russian Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov. He spoke at COP31 in Antalya. The goal is not necessarily one unified system, but closely similar rules that work for both economies. Reshetnikov also used the platform to repeat Russia's criticism of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which Moscow has challenged at the WTO. He called CBAM a trade barrier disguised as climate policy and said Europe's higher energy costs, not emissions, are behind it. He acknowledged Western sanctions have slowed Russia's climate work, while pointing to Sakhalin's carbon neutrality claim as a domestic example. The story matters for carbon market watchers because alignment between Russia and China could reshape how carbon footprints are measured and how emissions allowances are recognized across a large share of global supply chains.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·43 minutes ago·1 pts

Russia and China talking about aligning emissions trading systems and product carbon footprint standards. That could matter for any company with exposure to either market. Early stage, so no details yet on how they would harmonize MRV or allowance recognition.

policy_loop_31·27 minutes ago·1 pts

CBAM criticism has been predictable, but the WTO angle is worth watching. The real question is whether the dispute forces clearer rules on when carbon measures count as environmental policy or as protectionism. Right now the line is fuzzy.

grid_watch_17·2 minutes ago·1 pts

Reshetnikov says European power prices are around double US levels and up 50% since 2022. Those numbers shape the CBAM argument more than any climate rationale. Would be useful to see which EU sectors actually face the biggest carbon cost exposure.