Channels, Fall 2018

Channels • 2018 • Volume 3 • Number 1 Page 103 objectives, whereas Russia seeks to primarily utilize Gazprom’s leverage on its European neighbors, which often lacks consideration for sustainable development and environmental preservation. It is first necessary to compare scholarly literature in regard to the role of private investors, the state and international bodies on NOCs, determining which level of analysis is best for examining the NOC’s preservation of the environment. I then follow the methodology set out by senior research international scholar, Eduardo Viola. He examines the state government’s position on the climate through three criteria: reduction of GHG emissions, domestic climate policies, and the state’s international standing on the issue (Viola and Franchini, 2013). These three qualitative areas provide a multi-method of triangulation to reduce the weakness in choosing any one criteria. In examining the reduction of GHG emissions, data from the UNFCCC (GHG) Inventory will be used for comparison. GHG include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. Data for both cases overlaps within the range of 1990̶2012. In regard to determining domestic climate policies, an examination and comparison of Brazil’s and Russia’s most recent energy strategies will be conducted. The key words: environment, sustainable development, climate, energy efficiency and pollution, all concerning environmental preservation and sustainable development, will be identified and compared in the frequency and scope of usage. Finally, an independent news reporter, The New York Times , will constitute the method of examining the state’s international standing on the issue of NOCs and the preservation of the environment. Relevant articles dealing with Petrobras and Gazprom in the past ten years will be analyzed for general positive or negative perceptions of each NOC. The New York Times is a valid grounds for comparison since its reporters are unbiased third-party individuals who do not profit from false reporting. These various methodologies will then be jointly presented to determine the relationship between the government and NOC’s sustainable development and preservation of the environment. Historical Background The national cases of Petrobras and Gazprom are chosen because of the similarities between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Russian Federation. Each state is a major regional power; has a large landmass, coastline, population and amount of natural resources; and possesses successful NOCs. However, it is important to note differences in governing structures and the level of democracy between the two states. The following sections of both case studies will outline a brief history of both the governments and energy companies, Gazprom and Petrobras. Case 1: Russian Federation and Gazprom Russia is the largest state in the world with a landmass totaling 16,377,742 square kilometers. It has 37,653 kilometers of coastline and borders fourteen other countries. Russia is divided into forty-six provinces, twenty-one republics, four autonomous okrugs, nine krays, two federal cities and one autonomous oblast—a total of eighty-three administrative units in addition to its disputed claims to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the municipality of Sevastopol (Central Intelligence Agency, 2018). Its natural