Irina Grechuhina, Junior Researcher, of the Informational-Analytical G8 Research Centre of the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) of the State University – Higher School of Economics, E-mail: Igrechuhina@hse.ru

The article presents analysis of the G8 and G20 activities in the spheres of energy and climate change for the period of 2008-2010. The establishment of an effective post-Kyoto climate regime and the global energy security (in a broad sense), in the eyes of the author, were the key problems that defined the range of issues within energy and climate change areas at the G8 and G20 summits during the period of analysis. The author shows the evolution of the issues within each institution and observes the division of labour between the G8 and G20. The conclusion is made that the division of labour between two institutions should be based on the principle of comparative advantage – the issue should be included in the agenda of the institution, which can effectively solve the problem with a higher probability. In that case, the G8 and G20 will reinforce each other’s realization of global governance functions.