In his interview to Russia’s Channel One given on June 18, 2009, Dmitry Medvedev said that Russia would aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10–15 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.
Russia recognises the need to reach an agreement at the [UN] Copenhagen Climate Change Conference on the future protocol for addressing climate change after 2012. In order to do so, attainable targets to reduce emissions must be set by the nations producing the highest volumes of greenhouse gases, including Russia, taking into account the priorities and particular features of their economic and social development.
Prioritising a 40 percent or greater increase in the energy efficiency of Russia’s economy by 2020 will allow for a framework for energy-efficient growth to be implemented and for Russia’s economy to become significantly more competitive.
Programmes aimed at enhancing energy and eco-efficiency within the economy will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 10–15 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. In reaching these targets by 2020 (over the 30-year period between 1990 and 2020) Russia will have a total reduction in the volume of greenhouse gas emissions of about 30 billion tonnes.
Russia feels that meeting these targets is a fair and equitable contribution toward joint efforts to fight global warming.