Vladimir Putin Addresses Paris Climate Change Conference

Russian efforts slowed global warming in one year, Russian president Vladimir Putin said addressing the Paris Climate Change Conference.

Russia’s efforts have been able to slow global warming in one year and will lower greenhouse gas emissions to 70 percent from the 1990 levels, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday.

“We have surpassed our obligations in the Kyoto Protocol from 1991 to 2012. Russia has not only disallowed the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, but has considerable decreased them,” Putin said at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris

“Russia’s efforts have helped us slow down global warming for nearly a year,” Putin added, citing the equivalent of 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide that Russia prevented from entering the atmosphere, in comparison to 46 billion tons emitted globally in 2012.

Putin said Russia will continue to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 70 percent from the 1990 level by 2030.

“Russia will continue to contribute to the joint efforts in stopping global warming. By 2030, we plan on decreasing emissions of greenhouse gas to 70 percent from the 1990 level,” Putin said.

Paris is currently hosting the 21st UN Climate Change Conference, ending December 11. Some 140 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama, are expected to reach an agreement to address global warming and cut carbon emissions.