Russia rejects G8 emission cut target

L'AQUILA, Italy, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia cannot accept a target set by the Group of Eight (G8) leaders for developed countries to cut greenhouse gas emission by 80 percent by 2050, the Russian president's top economic aide said.

"For us the 80 percent figure is unacceptable and likely unattainable," Arkady Dvorkovich told reporters shortly after the G8 leaders agreed on emission cut targets on Wednesday.

"We will not sacrifice economic growth for the sake of emission reduction," he said.

Russia is a member of the G8 and it appeared that President Dmitry Medvedev had signed the declaration which contains the emission cut targets, but Dvorkovich's comment has now put that in doubt.

According to the declaration, the G8 leaders agreed the world greenhouse gas emission should fall at least 50 percent by 2050, and they need to reduce emission in aggregate by 80 percent or more by 2050.

Dvorkovich said there was no consensus on the basis year from which the reduction is calculated, making the numbers less relevant.

"This question is a mystery for everyone," he said.