Global warming cannot be used as a pretext for discrimination of countries, transition to green energy should be without prejudice, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku on Wednesday.
"It is important that the transition to low-emission energy takes place without compromising the development of low-income countries. The problem of global warming cannot be used as a pretext for discrimination, unfair competition and the introduction of artificial restrictions," Mishustin said.
Commenting on the transition situation in Russia, the official said that 85% of Russia's energy balance already comes from low-emission generation.
"This is primarily gas, nuclear energy, from renewable sources. We are building up our own technologies and production capacities to decarbonize industries," he added.
Russia has halved its greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels and plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, the prime minister said.
In addition, Russia is focusing on improving energy efficiency, developing electric transport and introducing modern solutions in agriculture and forestry, Mishustin said.
COP29 is one of the most important platforms where global climate policy is discussed. Participating countries hold talks on reducing the effects of climate change and accelerating the energy transition. COP29 is being positioned as a "financial COP" as countries will be given a new global target for climate finance.
According to the conference's organizing committee, one of the key initiatives on the COP29 agenda is the creation of a Climate Finance Action Fund.