The Role of Non-Profit Environmental Organisations in Forming Low-Carbon Agenda in Eurasian Economic Union: The Case of Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

The international community considers climate change and global warming as world challenges. Reducing the anthropogenic impact on the climate, by greenhouse gases decreasement, particularly carbon dioxide, is an important measure to solve the climate stabilization problem. Therefore, the low-carbon agenda was formed at national, regional and international levels. The aim of the study is to determine the role of non-profit environmental organisations (eco–NPOs) in forming the low carbon agenda in EAEU member states. By using qualitative methods, particularly interviews with representatives of eco-NPOs of the EAEU member states, the author analyzed mechanisms and participation degree of eco-NPOs in the modern political process of these countries. Climate issues are not always the main thematic area of such organisations because since the climate agenda is not an independent agenda in the analysed countries. Environmental NPOs influence the formation of the low-carbon agenda on the national level through three main types of function — educational, controlling (control over state policy) and consulting. Eco-NPOs in Kyrgyzstan perform the most effective controlling and consulting functions. In Kazakhstan and Russia recommendations of eco-NPOs are taken into account by the state quite rarely, despite the fact that there are number of permanent communication channels between the state and eco-NPOs in these two countries.