Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The effect of the new sanctions on the Russian oil and gas industry might be very sensitive while at the same time saving large sums of money on projects with impossibly long payback prospects. Either way, Western governments are now doing basically what the Russian leader always wanted, staying away from Russia’s oil and gas.
The secretive nature of the gas agreement between Gazprom and China National Petroleum Corp may show that the contract contains something the Russian negotiators could not be proud of in the limelight of Russian public opinion.
Transport is widely expected to be the last sector to wean itself off oil. But as oils get more difficult, dangerous and damaging, the world must be compelled not to repeat the same mistakes.
Since its establishment in the 1970s, the global energy market has gone through significant change while regulations have remained stagnant. The global energy market urgently needs systematic reform.
High levels of smog persist throughout China due to weak enforcement of current environmental regulations. Environmental protection agencies are understaffed and do not have the power to oppose government officials that prioritize GDP growth over environmental protection.
The almost ten-day period of heavy smog in Beijing in February completely erased locals’ illusion that the air pollution had already seen significant progress.
To solve the problem of air pollution in the long term, China must invest in electric vehicles and renewable energy sources.
As continued air pollution forces the closure of factories in northern China, numerous questions remain about the effectiveness of these regulations.
The recent developments in Asia-Pacific indicate a necessity to start serious talks for “stock-taking” of the military forces in the region. Also, Russia’s active involvement in regional security affairs is needed.
Pakistan is not an important Russian trading partner in South Asia. However, with Eurasian integration involving Central Asia and traditional Russian-Indian economic ties revived, there is no sense for Pakistan to remain in a limbo.