Commentary: Russia confirms readiness to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on 25%

Russia has confirmed its readiness to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 and boost the efficiency of energy use by 40 percent. This statement was made by the Russian deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko after a ministerial meeting on climate which took place on the sidelines of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Climate Secretariat of the Russian Socio-Ecological Union believes that Russia's policy on emissions reduction should be more consistent and reasonable.

Russia's readiness to reduce emissions by 25% by 2020, stated by the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, is more ambitious than the range, proposed by Russian Federation to the Copenhagen Accord (15-25% reduction). But even 25% reduction is too weak.

It seems that 40% of the energy efficiency of the economy should lead to more serious reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Expert estimates show that economic growth in a "green" scenario, use of modern energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy resources, can provide emission reduction for Russia by 65% from the 1990 level.

Ministerial meeting in New York was held at the initiative of Mexico on the sidelines of the 65 th session of UN General Assembly and is connected with preparation for the international climate negotiations in Cancun, Mexico.
The meeting brought together more than 50 representatives from developed and developing countries, including the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, as well as relevant UN organizations.
The meeting discussed the need to mobilize international financing for developing countries' efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and in particular, to achieve real progress in launching mechanism for accelerated funding for the period 2010-2012 in accordance with the Copenhagen Accord.

Russian Foreign Ministry said, the evidence of Russia's commitment to set goals lays, in particular, in establishment in Moscow of International Center for Energy and Climate Change (on the base of the Kurchatov Institute and MGIMO University). Its main task is to attract advanced foreign technologies in energy efficiency, participation in projects aimed at improving the efficiency of the Russian economy, as well as the transfer of advanced "green" technologies to developing countries.

It could be a good chance to transform a Russian Climate Doctrine from declaration to the practically working document,/ For this purpose Russia should approve a Climate Action Plan with an annual GHG reduction targets, as it was promised in the text of the Climate Doctrine 9 months ago, but nothing is done yet.