Russia Sticks By Paris Climate Deal

The Paris Agreement remains a "reliable basis" to fight climate change, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Friday.



"First of all, it should be understood that Russia does not postpone or delay the ratification process of the Paris Agreement. We consider this document as a reliable basis for a long-term solution to the problem of climate change," Lavrov said.



Lavrov's remarks came at an interview with Mexican newspaper Excelsior published on the Russia's foreign ministry website on Friday.



He reminded how President Vladimir Putin participated in the climate conference in Paris in 2015 and Russia signed in April 2016.



Earlier this month Syria became the last country to join the agreement, leaving the U.S. as the only country to have dropped out of the historic agreement claiming it "punished" Washington and would cost millions of jobs.



"Our national contribution in the Paris agreement will be the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to 70 percent of 1990 base level," Lavrov said.



Lavrov added Russia would keep emissions at one level over 35 years, saying: "We plan to achieve this goal by introducing new energy-saving technologies, increasing the energy efficiency of the economy, developing renewable and clean energy sources."



The Paris Agreement, signed by 195 countries in April 2016, aims to fight climate change by reducing carbon emissions and limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius. -