For Russia, green issues pose a two-pronged challenge: both ecological and political/economic. The participants of the fifth session of the 17th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, which took place on October 22, 2020, discussed the circumstances that Russia is facing, as well as the opportunities that environmental politics creates for it, both domestically and internationally. Nikolay Durmanov, Special Representative for Biological and Environmental Security, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation; Alexey Ekaykin, Leading Researcher, Climate and Environmental Research Laboratory, Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute; Andrei Fursenko, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation; Vladimir Kattsov, Director, Voeikov Main Geophysical Observatory, Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet); Dmitry Konov, Chairman of the Management Board, PAO SIBUR Holding and Sergej Zilitinkevich, Research Director, Institute of Atmospheric and Earth System Research, University of Helsinki participated in the session. The session was moderated by Oleg Kharkhordin, Professor, Department of Political Science, European University at St. Petersburg, Chairman of the Board, EUSP Endowment Fund.