09/29/2915

Transcript of an excerpt of his speech at the United Nations 70th Session, 09/28/2015

“The issues that affect the future of all people include the challenge of global climate change. It is in our interest to make the U.N. Climate Change Conference to be held in December in Paris a success. As part of our national contribution, we plan to reduce by 2030 the greenhouse emissions to 70-75% of the 1990 level. I suggest however, we should take a wider view on this issue. Yes, we might diffuse the problem for a while by setting quotas on harmful emissions or by taking other measures that are nothing but tactical, but we will not solve it that way.

We need a completely different approach. We have to focus on introducing fundamentally new technologies inspired by nature which will not damage the environment but would be in harmony with it. Also, that would allow us to restore the balance between the biosphere and technosphere, upset by human activities. It is indeed a challenge of planetary scope, but I’m confident that humankind has intellectual potential to address it. We need to join our efforts. I refer first of all to the states that have a solid research basis and that have made significant advances in fundamental science. We propose convening a special forum under the U.N. auspices for a comprehensive consideration of the issues related to the depletion of national resources, destruction of habitat, and climate change. Russia would be ready to co-sponsor such a forum.”