Introduction. The article considers the main directions of modern environmental policy at the global and national levels. Environmental policy is an integral part of the modern ecopolitical process. If earlier, during the dominance of industrial society, environmental policy was aimed at intensive nature management for the purpose of economic growth, the transition to a post-industrial society is characterized by a change in the vector of state environmental policy. Now it is aimed primarily at rational nature management, conservation of biodiversity and the transition of economies to renewable or inexhaustible energy sources. Based on this, the authors identify the features of the implementation of the state environmental policy of the Russian Federation. An analysis of the main stages of the formation of international relations in the field of ecology and nature management made it possible to identify the basic problems of implementing the state environmental policy of Russia and determine what difficulties arise in modern international relations on issues of solving environmental problems, rational nature management and climate change. Methods. The study used the general scientific dialectical method of cognition of the surrounding reality, which involves a complete and comprehensive study of phenomena, consideration of the connections and contradictions between them. In addition, methods of description, logical comprehension, abstraction and generalization were used. Results. The main environmental problems relevant to all modern states were identified. The need for the development of political and legal mechanisms to ensure environmental safety and interstate cooperation in solving environmental problems was determined. It was concluded that it is necessary to increase the effectiveness of environmental policy implementation in the new conditions of the emerging multipolar world, taking into account the geopolitical confrontation.