Processes of decarbonization of the global economy and transition to low-carbon and renewable energy pose a challenge for fossil fuel exporting countries. Russia takes part in the international climate governance, but the country’s roadmap for the coming decades rely on increasing energy exports. The article studies global trends in low carbon energy under the pandemic. Russia’s key economic partners have raised climate policy targets over the past year, and the shift towards low-carbon technologies might be one of the drivers of the global recovery. The article argues that the ecological factor is an important factor of international competitiveness that requires elaboration of decarbonization strategy for traditional energy industries as well as energy intensive industries in order to defend the competitive positions in the global markets.