Channels, Fall 2018

Page 120 Thompson • Seeing Green preservation of the environment. In the literature review, three levels of analysis were identified: the private investor, the local government, and international framework. Following an examination of each of these three, a methodology is developed at the local state level of analysis which models Eduardo Viola’s research methodology. Data from the UNFCCC is observed and analyzed alongside reports from an independent news organization, The New York Times , and Russia and Brazil’s national energy strategies. I conclude that protection of the natural environment is an area of lesser importance to more predominant state goals of energy development and independence and the foreign policy agendas of legitimizing or leveraging the state’s energy capabilities towards other nations. The conclusions reached in this study have implications for environmentalists, private investors, and the international community at large. The relation between NOCs, the state, and environmental concern was developed and analyzed, revealing that public rhetoric of environmental protection often contains underlying political objectives as found through an analysis of the New York Times articles. 11 The strong connection between the state and its NOC was also discussed, revealing some risks and challenges faced by outside investors as seen with the tensions between private investors and the Russian government with Gazprom expanding eastward (Koďousková and Jirušek, 2016). Furthermore, it appears both Russia and Brazil seek to stay within the guidelines established by the UNFCCC as seen through Russia’s decrease in GHG emissions as an Annex-I member state and Brazil’s status as a non-Annex I member state 12 and as also as reflected by their energy strategies and the inclusion of key environmental words. 13 This research is a preliminary step in raising awareness about the issue at hand but is far from achieving a final or definitive voice on the matter. There are various limitations unable to be addressed in this research paper, which prevent a full conclusion being drawn. One such limit is the scope of this work. Although similar in many aspects, there are still numerous differences between Russia and Brazil, which limit an effective comparison between the two and their respective NOCs. Also this project was bound by a specified time frame, which prohibited further research and comparisons between the two case studies. Although I attempted to maintain a neutral view towards Gazprom and Petrobras, it is inevitable that some bias emerged itself in the paper as I anticipated discovering research to support my preconceived notions about each NOC and their governments. Furthermore, when analyzing the New York Times articles, one might expect an American newspaper to not 11 Specifically, New York Times articles: As Gazprom Goes, So Goes Russia; BP Faces Environment Inquiry in Russia; Russia Cuts Gas, and Europe Shivers; Warming Revives Dream of Se Route in Russian Arctic; Greenpeace Activists May Face Russian Piracy Charges; Russia May be Losing Influence Over European Energy Markets; Melting Ice Isn’t Opening Arctic to Oil Bonanza; Brazil, Where Oil and Women Mix Powerfully; Petrobras, Once Symbol of Brazil’s Oil Hopes, Strives to Regain Lost Swagger; Scandal Over Brazilian Oil Company Adds Turmoil to the Presidential Race; and Corruption Scandal at Petrobras Threatens Brazil’s Economy. Refer to pages 21-30 for complete analysis 12 Compare statistics referenced in Tables 1 and 2 (UNFCCC, 2012). 13 Reference Table 4 for word count and frequency of key environmental terms.