Russia is ready to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by up to 25% from the 1990 level only as part of a new comprehensive climate accord, a delegate at the ongoing UN climate change conference said.
"The figures of 22-25% voiced by the president mean that Russia is ready to think about the possible parameters for cutting greenhouse gas emissions if a new comprehensive emissions agreement is reached, and elements of this regime that are the most important to us are taken into account," said Oleg Shamanov, who heads the Russian Foreign Ministry's global environmental problems department.
However, he said: "We are not ready to sign under the plans to cut 22-25% as part of a direct continuation of the Kyoto Protocol."
Russia's carbon emissions remain well below the 1990 level, due to the collapse of fuel-intensive heavy industries that followed the breakup of the Soviet Union. However, the country's emissions have been steadily rising in recent years, and at the current growth rate would reach around 15% below the 1990 level by 2020.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in Stockholm in November that Russia would aim to reduce emissions to 25% below the 1990 level by 2020, instead of 10-15% planned earlier.
Some elements of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change expire in 2012.
A new binding treaty to cut global greenhouse emission is widely expected to be agreed during the talks in the Danish capital.
However, some observers say the summit is more likely to just outline principles and directions for a post-Kyoto framework.
The conference, which puts together about 15,000 participants from 192 countries, will run until December 18.
MOSCOW, December 10 (RIA Novosti)
