Commentary
The Russian War against Ukraine: a case study in climate, conflict, and green recovery
Abstract
The Russian war against Ukraine, having brought monumental social, economic, and environmental devastation, serves as a compelling case study demonstrating the broader implications of climate crises, underscoring the complex interplay between fossil fuel dependency and geopolitical tensions, and illustrating that the fight for climate justice and the fight for peace are deeply interconnected. Meanwhile, Ukraine has the potential to leverage post-war reconstruction as an unprecedented opportunity for comprehensive decarbonisation and ecological recovery. Examining the limitations of the international climate change regime and exploring controversial aspects of fossil fuel production, this paper highlights the hidden climate costs of war, and investigates the concept of ‘climate change as a battle’ and how it can frame the global discourse on climate security and climate justice. It argues that addressing climate change is akin to fighting a war, requiring mobilisation of resources, political will, and international solidarity. In this context, Ukraine’s experience offers valuable lessons for the global community as it navigates the complex challenges of post-conflict recovery while simultaneously addressing the urgent need for climate action. With the right assistance, Ukraine could emerge as a front-runner in the global energy transition, inspiring other nations to pursue ambitious climate action even in the face of adversity.
Keywords
Russian War against Ukraineclimate crisesclimate securityclimate justiceinternational climate change regimegreen recovery reconstructionwar emissions accountabilitydecarbonisationequitable transitionenergy transitionCopyright statement © The author(s) 2024. This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License
Cite this article Kopytsia, I. (2024), ‘The Russian War against Ukraine’, Journal of the British Academy, 12(3): a24 https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/012.a24

No Data Found

No Data Found

No Data Found
This research explores the multi-faceted challenges and opportunities of achieving climate and energy justice in Southeast Asia, particularly in ASEAN. By examining three distinct yet interrelated studies, it provides a comprehensive account of energy access development that intertwines regional electrification strategies, localised energy solutions in the Philippines, and an in-depth analysis of just transitions in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The research presented here delves into the complex dynamics of electrification efforts, showcasing the role of diverse stakeholders, the importance of contextually grounded business models, and the implications of socio-political factors on climate justice, energy justice, energy access and sustainability. Emphasis here is on the need for an integrative approach to energy policy that considers not only technological innovation but also the social, economic, and cultural dimen-sions of sustainable development. The findings presented herein offer significant insights into the pursuit of equitable and sustainable energy access in Southeast Asia, highlighting the region’s unique challenges and opportunities in the global context of climate change and sustainable development.
This paper reviews the UK Net Zero Strategy in conjunction with the decarbonisation of the affordable housing sector, with a focus on the key stakeholders involved in the decar- bonisation process. Viewing it from a socio-ŋtechnical perspective, this paper discusses three overarching groups of people in delivering low-carbon affordable housing — affordable housing providers, the supply chain and residents — highlights the range of issues and factors that policymakers should be considering; provides sign-posts to evidence; and discusses some critical gaps, barriers and transition risk factors in delivering net zero policies and potential mitigating strategies that can be learned from exemplary projects. The conclusion of this paper proposes a preliminary structure for a five-step place-based, human-centred framework to implement net zero in the affordable housing sector, emphasising the importance of long-term legislative certainty and funding, localised decision-making with stakeholder engagement, including approaches such as communities of practice, a soft landings framework, and developing monitoring and evaluation matrices.

No Data Found
