MOSCOW: Russia plans to advance its own climate goals and propose alternatives to the West’s agenda on global warming, according to Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin. His remarks suggest potential tensions at the upcoming COP29 U.N. climate summit in November in Azerbaijan.
Amid strained relations with the West due to the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s approach to climate issues diverges significantly from Western perspectives. The country, home to the world’s largest natural gas reserves, is formulating a new energy strategy extending to 2050.
“In our energy strategy, we will consider climate measures that won’t hinder our developmental potential, while encouraging friendly nations to adopt similar approaches,” Sorokin stated at an energy conference. He highlighted the substantial energy efficiency potential in Russia, estimating it at 20%-30%, as a viable method for addressing the climate crisis.
“Instead of relying solely on wind turbines and solar panels, we advocate for practical measures that utilize our clean resources, such as natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower,” he added.
Russia argues that the use of natural gas aligns with global climate goals and should remain a fundamental part of energy consumption. However, some climate scientists caution that increased natural gas production, particularly methane, could significantly contribute to climate change, potentially undermining efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
