Russia to restrict greenhouse gases to 25 % below 1990 levels by 2020

Russia will restrict its greenhouse gas emissions to 25 % below 1990 levels by 2020, President Dmitry Medvedev promised.
Mr Medvedev wrote on his blog that Russia could keep 30 bn tons of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere each year by enhancing its energy and environmental efficiency through economic modernization based on energy-saving technology and the development of renewable energy sources.

Russia plans to raise the energy efficiency of the economy by 40 % by 2020, Medvedev writes. The share of nuclear energy will be increased by 25 % by 2030.
Russia's emissions in 2006 were assessed at 34 % below 1990 levels after the economic contraction of the early 1990s, so Medvedev's commitment would allow Russia to increase its emissions on current volumes.