Russia seeks to counter West’s climate agenda with gas, nuclear power

Russia plans to present its own climate-related proposals, differing from Western approaches, ahead of the COP29 U.N. climate summit in Azerbaijan this November, according to Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin. Amid strained relations with the West, Russia is crafting a new energy strategy through to 2050, focusing on measures that do not hinder its development potential.

Sorokin highlighted energy efficiency as a key method for reducing emissions, noting that Russia’s energy-saving potential is 20-30%. He emphasized the use of “clean resources” such as natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower, instead of relying heavily on wind and solar power.

Russia maintains that natural gas, despite concerns from climate scientists about methane emissions, should remain central to global energy consumption in efforts to combat climate change.