G20 Summit second session
Vladimir Putin took part, via videoconference, in the second working session of the heads of delegations from G20 member countries, invited states and international organisations.
October 31, 2021
16:00
Novo-Ogaryovo, Moscow Region
At the second session of the G20 Summit (via videoconference).
The participants in the second session, dedicated to Climate Change and the Environment, discussed, in particular, sustainable development and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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The Russian President’s speech at the second working session of the G20 summit
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President of the G20 Mario Draghi,
Colleagues,
Additional
G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration
October 31, 2021
Indeed, the matters related to combatting climate change that we are discussing today are of the utmost importance and concern each and every one of us. Russia, like other countries, is experiencing – actually experiencing – the negative bearing of global warming, and here is why: we are faced with desertification and soil erosion, and we are especially worried about the thawing of the permafrost, which accounts for a significant part of Russia’s territory.
I would like to note that the average annual temperature in Russia is growing faster than around the globe, more than 2.5 times. It has increased by almost half a degree in the past 10 years. In the Arctic, as we all know, the warming is even faster.
Naturally, our country is vigorously participating and taking the lead in international climate mitigation and stabilisation efforts. We faithfully comply with all our obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement. We are consistently implementing a policy to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and are taking steps to improve energy efficiency in our national economy, to modernise our power generation industry, and reduce associated gas discharge from oil production.
See also
First session of the G20 Summit
October 30, 2021
The low-carbon power industry is growing at a rapid pace in Russia. The share of energy generated from practically carbon-free sources such as nuclear power plants, hydroelectric dams, wind and solar power plants exceeds 40 percent today, or 86 if we include natural gas, which is the lowest-carbon fuel among hydrocarbons. This is one of the best indicators in the world.
According to international experts, Russia is among global decarbonisation leaders. In the past 20 years, Russia’s economy’s carbon intensity has been declining by an average of 2.7 percent annually, which is better than across the globe and even better than in the G7 countries.
Recently, we decided to implement a new programme to improve energy efficiency for the period until 2035. This programme will make an important contribution to our achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 at the latest. We have publicly announced this commitment.
Moreover, we do not just intend to achieve carbon neutrality; we are also going to make sure that in the next three decades, the accumulated volume of net greenhouse gas emissions in Russia will be even lower than that of our neighbours and colleagues in the European Union. This is a perfectly achievable objective for Russia.
We hope that together with our partners we will make long-term plans and prioritise them in our energy sectors, relying on the principles of technological neutrality, while objectively taking into account the carbon footprint of various types of power generation. In particular, I would like to mention the carbon footprint of solar energy, which, according to research findings, is four times higher than that of nuclear energy.
It is important that the international community’s efforts be directed toward supporting primarily the most effective environmental projects. It is our suggestion that experts begin ranking such projects according to their results as measured by how much greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is reduced for every dollar invested.
It cannot be ruled out that some of the projects included in the ranking, such as projects to preserve, for instance, forests in Russia and Latin America, will turn out to be more effective than investments in renewable energy in other countries.
I would also like to underscore that, in our opinion, it is not enough to simply reduce emissions to solve the global warming problem. It is equally important to increase the absorption of greenhouse gases, and here Russia, as well as in a number of other countries, has tremendous potential in terms of the absorbing potential of its forests, the tundra, agricultural lands, seas and swamps.
To achieve full use of this amazing potential, we plan to significantly improve the quality of forest management, increase reforestation areas, expand areas of untouched nature, and introduce new agricultural technologies.
Climate projects in Russia will also create new opportunities for international cooperation for many decades to come, and of course, they will make a significant contribution to global efforts on the climate track.
Overall, we believe that when implementing climate and environmental initiatives, it is important for the G20 to take the lead in drafting uniform, – and I emphasise – fair and, no less importantly, transparent rules for climate regulation. These rules should be based on mutually recognised verification and monitoring methods for greenhouse gas emissions and absorption.
And most importantly, climate change should be addressed in a comprehensive manner, closely linked with steps to promote economic growth and, as my colleagues have already noted, people’s living standards.
Thank you for your attention.
October 25 − November 1, 2021
Culture
Greetings on the 20th anniversary of the Union of Russian MuseumsOctober 29, 2021, 10:00
Economy
Meeting with Head of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring Yury ChikhanchinOctober 29, 2021, 19:30
Greetings on opening of 14th Eurasian Economic Forum in VeronaOctober 28, 2021, 12:00
Meeting with Sberbank CEO German GrefOctober 26, 2021, 14:05
Law on 2020 federal budget execution signedOctober 26, 2021, 12:00
Meeting with Head of the Federal Customs Service Vladimir BulavinOctober 25, 2021, 13:50
Environment
G20 Summit second sessionOctober 31, 2021, 16:00
Meeting with permanent members of Security CouncilOctober 28, 2021, 14:00
Telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris JohnsonOctober 25, 2021, 18:30
Greetings to participants and guests of the Middle East Green Initiative launch ceremonyOctober 25, 2021, 17:00
Foreign Policy
G20 Summit second sessionOctober 31, 2021, 16:00
First session of the G20 SummitOctober 30, 2021, 14:10
Meeting with President of Finland Sauli NiinistöOctober 29, 2021, 17:20
On October 30–31, Vladimir Putin will take part in the G20 summitOctober 29, 2021, 12:00
Greetings on opening of 14th Eurasian Economic Forum in VeronaOctober 28, 2021, 12:00
Russia-ASEAN SummitOctober 28, 2021, 11:30
East Asia SummitOctober 27, 2021, 15:00
On October 29, Vladimir Putin will hold talks with President of Finland Sauli NiinistöOctober 27, 2021, 12:30
On October 27, Vladimir Putin will attend the 16th East Asia SummitOctober 26, 2021, 15:05
Telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Boris JohnsonOctober 25, 2021, 18:30
Greetings to participants and guests of the Middle East Green Initiative launch ceremonyOctober 25, 2021, 17:00
Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat MirziyoyevOctober 25, 2021, 12:00
Law
Report on law enforcement monitoring in Russia in 2020October 28, 2021, 17:00
Security
Meeting with permanent members of Security CouncilOctober 28, 2021, 14:00
Regions
Meeting on developing Yamal Peninsula resource potentialOctober 27, 2021, 18:40
Social Sector
Maria Lvova-Belova appointed Commissioner for Children’s RightsOctober 27, 2021, 18:15
Meeting with Maria Lvova-BelovaOctober 27, 2021, 18:10
Sport
Congratulations to winners of women’s group all-around competition at 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in KitakyushuOctober 29, 2021, 14:30
Congratulations to Dina Averina on winning clubs event at 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in KitakyushuOctober 28, 2021, 18:00
Greetings to Dina Averina on winning gold at 2021 Rhythmic Gymnastics World ChampionshipsOctober 27, 2021, 15:30
Healthcare
Instructions for Healthcare Minister Mikhail MurashkoOctober 29, 2021, 19:25
Greetings on opening of Eighth Congress of National Medical Chamber Medical Community UnionOctober 28, 2021, 10:30
Society
Meeting with Head of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring Yury ChikhanchinOctober 29, 2021, 19:30
Report on law enforcement monitoring in Russia in 2020October 28, 2021, 17:00
