Billionaire Melnichenko says global approach to climate change is a mistake

In the fight against climate change, it is necessary to take into account not only anthropogenic emissions, says the former beneficiary of EuroChem and SUEK Andrey Melnichenko, who heads the RSPP committee on climate policy and carbon regulation. He stated that anthropogenic emissions account for only 6% of the planet’s carbon balance. Other carbon emissions and removals are “generally ignored,” he said.

He cited the fact that the remaining 94% of emissions are difficult to account for as the reason for this. In addition, “it is even more difficult to determine the volume of their reduction as a result of our efforts,” Mr. Melnichenko specified. “But it seems that the costs of creating and maintaining a system for an objective and reliable calculation of the carbon balance, as well as for assessing the results of reducing emissions, will be many times less than what we incur today as part of the energy transition. Technological progress will certainly make it possible to do this more accurately, faster and cheaper, ”the businessman wrote in an article for RBC.

He is convinced that if it is possible to take into account the emission and absorption of all emissions, then “there will be a serious change in the lists of leaders and outsiders in the struggle to save humanity from a climate catastrophe.” “The economic models on which the competitiveness of some countries is now based will be called into question. Moreover, global competitiveness will change. And this is a very serious issue,” Andrey Melnichenko is sure.

In March, Mr. Melnichenko tan under EU sanctions imposed in response to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. After that, the list businessman ceased to be the beneficiary of EuroChem and SUEK. According to Bloomberg, since the beginning of the year, the fortune of the billionaire decreased by $3.88 billion, up to $13.6 billion.

Laura Keffer