Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said Friday his country will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 10%-15% from 1990 levels by 2020.
On the surface, this sounds like a moderately ambitious target, though short of the the 25%-40% recommended by climate scientists. However, Russia’s current emissions are far below its 1990 levels, when its Soviet-era factories were still running at full capacity.
As a result, the target means Russia will actually increase its greenhouse gas emissions by about 30% over the next decade.
Russia was the last of the major developed nations to announce an emissions target as part of the ongoing negotiations for an international climate change treaty.
Medvedev said he does not want to limit his country’s growth potential. But a 30% margin for increasing emissions isn’t likely to incentivize any clean or energy efficient development.
The target also is not likely to aid international negotiations, as developing nations continue to call for stronger leadership and deeper cuts from rich nations.
Medvedev said, "We expect our partners to take reciprocal steps. That is why I have said many times–the problem of climate change has to be addressed by everyone or not at all."
An U.N.-led negotiations earlier this month, Japan announced that it would only cut emissions 8% below 1990 levels by 2020. That level is only 2% more than Japan’s current committment under the Kyoto protocl.
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