Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday instructed the government to draw up a document on the Kyoto Protocol to simplify and speed up the approval process of joint implementation projects.
The Kyoto Protocol is a legally binding agreement restricting carbon emissions that expires in 2012. A new global climate deal is needed to continue efforts beyond 2012.
“The suggestion is to agree in two weeks on this all,” Medvedev said.
“It needs to be released as soon as possible, as the Kyoto Protocol expires soon,” he added.
Medvedev previously said the country would pull out of the Kyoto agreement if a compromise could not be found concerning the reduction of carbon emissions.
Russia believes that climate change should be tackled by modern technology, not cuts in carbon emissions stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol.
Medvedev is hosting on Monday a meeting of the commission on modernization and technological development of the economy, dedicated to environmental aspects.
Presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich told journalists on Friday that promising technology, which may be used to reduce emissions of hazardous substances and raise energy efficiency, will in particular be discussed at the meeting.