The Secretary-General met today with Dr. Alexander Bedritsky, Advisor on Climate Change to the President of Russia, on the margins of the UN Climate Change Conference.

The Secretary-General noted Russia’s tremendous potential to contribute to emissions reductions.

He said that the country’s leadership role on climate change could have a tremendously positive impact in mobilizing higher levels of ambition and action from others.

The Secretary-General voiced hope that Russia will continue its efforts to ensure a universal, meaningful agreement is reached in Paris next year.