MOSCOW, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20-30% by 2020-2030, if the political will is there, the head of the economics and environment center of Russia's Higher School of Economics said Friday.

The Group of Eight leading industrial nations adopted a statement on Wednesday, the first day of their summit in Italy, in which they agreed rich nations would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 and global cuts would reach at least 50% by the same date. G8 leaders also said they would attempt to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) above pre-industrial levels.

Speaking at a RIA Novosti news conference on climatic results of the summit, Yury Safonov said: "If this goal is not met, we at least have to try to meet it."

"Our calculations show that there are scenarios for emission reduction that show Russia is quite capable of reducing emissions by at least 20%-30% by 2020-2030. But for this regulation and political measures will be necessary," the expert said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday that commitments made by the G8 industrial nations to tackle climate change did not go far enough.

"The policies that they have stated so far are not enough, not sufficient enough," Ban said, adding that more efforts should be made.