Russia will fulfill its obligations under...

"Unlike some other countries, we can say with certainty that Russia will fulfill its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol," Alexander Bedritsky told a news conference.

"We are taking all necessary steps to increase energy efficiency, particularly such measures as are covered by 2020 strategy," he continued.

The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement restricting carbon emissions, some points of which expire in 2012. A new deal is needed to continue efforts beyond 2012.

A UN climate summit which took place in the Danish capital of Copenhagen in December 2009 was originally expected to see the signing of a new agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol. However, participants failed to agree on greenhouse emissions cuts and only agreed on measures to be taken to keep average increases in global temperatures below 2 degrees Celsius.

During the summit, President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia had become the global leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions,

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