Russian public sceptical about Paris climate change conference

Less Fur, More Oil — Why Paris Won't Change Russia's Attitude to Climate Change

The West's new religion, that myth about the ozone layer and a conspiracy designed to undermine Russia's economic interests — these were just some of the views on climate change spouted on Russian media ahead of the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris. ... rampant climate change skepticism fueled by economic and political interests means that whatever is agreed upon in Paris, true reform is unlikely, activists told The Moscow Times. With Russia's economy heavily dependent on the extraction of oil and gas, calls to limit the use of fossil fuels are often seen as a direct threat to national security.

"Russia's main [climate] strategy is to maintain the status quo," Greenpeace activist Vladimir Chuprov said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's traditional attitude to climate change has been a mix of mockery and skepticism. At a 2003 climate summit, he considered the benefits of a warmer Earth, saying Russians would "spend less on fur coats," and adding, "specialists say our grain production will increase, and thank God for that."

He recently changed course and called climate change a serious problem — a development that Chuprov described as one of the biggest achievements of the past decade. But it is being undercut on a daily basis by state-run media, he said. "The media is continuing its attack, [saying] that these are natural cycles, that it's a conspiracy by the West, that they want to bring [Russia] to its knees," he said.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/less-fur-more-oil--why-paris-wont-change-russias-attitude-to-climate-change/551525.html