The plenary session of the VIII Nevsky International Ecological Congress was held in the Tauride Palace, the headquarters of the IPA CIS.

Greetings to the participants and guests of the forum were sent by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin noted that "over the past time, this traditional forum has earned high prestige and recognition, has become a great event in the public life of our country and other states."

“I hope that this year, which has been declared the Year of Ecology and the Year of Protected Natural Areas in Russia, you will give priority to issues related to the introduction of green technologies, the improvement of polluted territories, the reduction of the negative human impact on nature, with the transition to a sustainable development," the document says. The greeting was read by Nikolai Tsukanov, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District.

Dmitry Medvedev stressed that the "green" vector of development has become for most countries not a tribute to fashion, but a requirement of the times, a condition for stable and safe economic growth and people's well-being.

“It is important that the main topic of the forum is environmental education. Opening our eyes to global threats and challenges associated with environmental pollution is necessary not only for young people, but for all the inhabitants of our planet, in the first place, business representatives, leaders at all levels who make decisions and are responsible for environmental damage, ”says in a greeting read by the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy.

Chairman of the Council of the Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States Valentina Matvienko noted in her speech that today the problems of ecology and climate change all over the world come to the fore, and they can only be solved together, expanding international cooperation in this important area.

According to Valentina Matvienko, there should be more joint environmental projects. "They can also be carried out in the format of other integration associations, primarily the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States."

The Chairman of the IPA CIS Council stressed that the countries in the Commonwealth have made serious progress in coordinating actions in the environmental sphere. “Important decisions have been made in the CIS countries in the field of rational use of natural resources, conservation of the environment and ensuring environmental safety. The work was carried out in such areas as land reclamation, reduction of emissions and safe waste disposal, promotion of the introduction of "green technologies", development of protected areas and eco-tourism."

Touching upon the topic of model legislative acts affecting environmental issues, Valentina Matvienko noted that over fifty of them have been adopted over the years of the work of the IPA CIS. “The time has come to conduct a thorough analysis of what the Assembly has done in the field of ecology, to assess how effectively our model laws are being implemented in national legal systems.” She believes that the closer environmental norms and standards are to each other, the easier it will be to form a single coordinated policy in this area.

We should think, added the Chairman of the IPA CIS Council, about the development of international programs for training specialists in the field of environmental safety and environmental law, internships in leading universities of the CIS countries, and the creation of international camps for environmental students.

Sergey Ivanov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport, noted that the congress has become an authoritative platform for strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation in the field of harmonizing environmental legislation of the CIS countries and the Council of Europe. “We are obliged to ensure the conservation and reproduction of natural resources, to achieve a more prudent and careful attitude to nature,” he said.

Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko spoke about the experience of St. Petersburg in the field of environmental education and upbringing. "Only joint efforts will help us solve the existing environmental problems."

Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy delivered a report on measures aimed at ensuring environmental safety in the Russian Federation.

Among the incentives for the transition to a "green economy", a circular economy, Sergey Donskoy named the environmental modernization of enterprises.

Akramsho Felaliyev, Deputy Chairman of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, spoke about the role of state structures and citizens in creating a favorable environmental situation. He noted that a lot of work is being done in Tajikistan to improve the environmental culture of the population, an effective legislative framework has been created. According to Akramsho Felaliyev, a comprehensive environmental education program is working in the country.

The Governor of the Vladimir Region, Svetlana Orlova, informed about the measures being taken in the region in the field of environmental protection, about projects being implemented in the region for the processing of wood and waste, for clearing rivers, and for the preservation of national reserves.

Chairman of the Committee of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on agrarian and food policy and environmental management Mikhail Shchetinin noted that issues of environmental awareness and education should be addressed primarily to the younger generation. “The development of ecological education and culture are very important aspects in the formation of ecological consciousness in children and youth,” the senator believes.

The President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Madagascar, Jean Max Rakutumamundzi, emphasized the importance of holding environmental congresses that allow the exchange of experience in the field of ecology. He said that Madagascar has over 12,000 plant species and over a thousand animal species. "The island is also rich in forestry, fishing and coastal resources." Jean Max Rakutumamundzi informed the participants of the congress about the implementation of the Madagascar program "Ecological School", coordinated, in particular, by the World Wildlife Fund. Touching upon the topic of waste management, he stressed that Madagascar should learn from the experience of other countries in this area.

Elena Avlonitou, Deputy Chairman of the Second Standing Committee of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, noted that one of the most important problems of our time is the human impact on the environment. “We believe the time has come to act. It is necessary to analyze priorities in order to prevent a global catastrophe. It is important to explore new technologies and opportunities for the future. Russia is very competent in the field of new technologies, and we are interested in its experience,” she stressed.

During the plenary session, Deputy Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia Khachik Hakobyan, Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian Issues of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sergey Plotnikov, Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bory Alikhanov, Director for Environmental Affairs of the Office of the Coordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities of the OSCE Ralph Ernst.

There was also a live video conference call from school No. 354 named after D. M. Karbyshev (Moscow). Valentina Matvienko thanked the students for their projects. “Your school can be an example for others in the field of environmental education and awareness. After all, caring for the environment is one of the priorities of the state.”

Bilateral meetings were held on the sidelines of the congress.

Chairman of the IPA CIS Council Valentina Matvienko met with the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Madagascar Jean Max Rakutumamundzi. The parties discussed issues of nature and climate conservation.

The signing of an agreement on cooperation within the framework of the development of the Belarusian nature reserve "Krasny Bor" and the Russian nature reserve "Seversky" was discussed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Sergei Donskoy and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus Andrei Kovkhuto.

— 31.05.2017 117

On May 25-26, the VIII Nevsky International Ecological Congress was held in the Tauride Palace under the motto "Environmental Education - a Clean Country". The event was organized by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation.

The organizers set as their goal the exchange of information and experience on the formation of an environmental education system as a guarantee of environmental safety, the implementation of successful strategies and programs to improve the waste management system, and the introduction of the best available technologies.

Within the framework of the congress, round tables were held, which discussed the most important topics in the field of nature protection and nature management, strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation on environmental legislation, environmental education, public health, the introduction of new technologies, which will have a beneficial effect on the development of industry, increasing its competitiveness while reducing the negative impact on the environment. On the first day of the environmental congress, an action was also held to restore lost trees; participants in the environmental congress planted 25 trees and more than 25 different bushes on the territory of the Tauride Garden.

On May 26, a Plenary session was held, at which the heads of legislative and executive bodies of state power, representatives of international organizations, educational and research institutions and the media spoke. During the meeting, measures were proposed to improve legislation aimed at further developing environmental education, introducing environmentally oriented, resource-saving technologies, ensuring a healthy environment and improving the quality of human life. Also, within the framework of the congress, cultural and educational excursions to the museums of the city took place.

Material and photo - Zhilkina Kristina

Similar articles

  • ONF in the Leningrad region proposes to adjust the mechanism for evaluating the work of the municipality.
    — 06.12.2018

    Experts of the thematic platform of the All-Russian People's Front "Housing and the Urban Environment" in the Leningrad Region believe that the information policy of local authorities in the field of solving problems of improvement should become more open. At the moment, the municipality's assessment rating takes into account only the fulfillment of the obligation to publish information about the implementation of improvement projects on the administration's website. However, in order to increase public involvement in the process…

  • ONF activists in the Leningrad region took part in the work of the All-Russian Congress of the Popular Front
    — 06.12.2018

    Representatives of the All-Russian Popular Front in the Leningrad Region took part in the ONF congress, which was held on November 29, 2018 in Moscow. Congress delegates discussed with colleagues from other regions the main priorities of the Movement and the mechanisms of people's control over the implementation of the new "May Decree" of the President of Russia, leader of the All-Russian People's Front Vladimir Putin. The delegation from the Leningrad Region was presented on 20…

  • Competition of journalistic works "Truth and Justice"
    — 23.10.2018

    The People's Front and the Union of Journalists of Russia launched the All-Russian competition of journalistic works "Truth and Justice" The All-Russian People's Front and the Union of Journalists of Russia began accepting entries for the fifth All-Russian competition for regional journalists. Works will be accepted until November 15, 2018. Traditionally, the competition considers works in the genres of journalistic investigation, reporting, as well as posts on social networks….

    The most difficult task in the process of urban wastewater treatment is the treatment and disposal of sludge containing pollution extracted from wastewater, the so-called sewage sludge (SWS). Every day, 15 cubic meters of sediment is formed in our city. For a long period of time in Russia, WWS was taken to landfills, and this created serious environmental problems. Not by hearsay familiar…

Under this motto, the VIII Nevsky International Ecological Congress was held in St. Petersburg. The Governor of the Oryol region Vadim Potomsky took part in the forum.

The organizers of the event are the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation. The organizing committee of the congress was headed by the Chairman of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of States - Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko.

The congress was held under the motto "Environmental education - a clean country" and was dedicated to issues of environmentally responsible behavior, the development of a "green economy", a culture of production and consumption, and a healthy lifestyle.

As noted, the main goal of the VIII Nevsky International Environmental Congress is to launch a broad discussion, organize the exchange of information and experience on the formation of an environmental education system as a guarantee of environmental safety, maintaining public health, implementing successful strategies and programs to improve the waste management system, introducing the best available technologies.

By decrees of the President of the Russian Federation, 2017 was declared in Russia the Year of Ecology and the Year of Specially Protected Natural Territories, therefore, much attention was paid at the congress to improving legislation in the field of developing the system of specially protected natural territories, maintaining biological diversity.

Today it is impossible for any country without international cooperation to become a separate environmentally friendly country. Events such as the Nevsky International Ecological Congress help to coordinate efforts in the field of ecology, the speaker of the Federation Council emphasized.

Valentina Matvienko believes that the topic of environmental education should become a priority. She drew attention to the fact that the regions have accumulated a lot of experience in this area, a lot is being done for environmental education and specific serious projects are being implemented.

Another important aspect that the speaker of the Federation Council drew attention to is that if every inhabitant of our country has an ecological culture, this will help prevent environmental disasters in the future.

The Chairman of the Upper House of Parliament considers it necessary to organize constant and total monitoring of the implementation of environmental legislation. Also, according to her, the most effective would be economic measures to encourage conscientious market participants, those who constantly modernize enterprises and build treatment facilities. They should be provided with tax incentives.

Valentina Matvienko also touched upon the problem of unauthorized dumps. “It is necessary,” she is sure, “to put things in order in this area, create rules and conditions, including legislative ones, for the separate removal of garbage and its processing.” She supported the initiative of the Ministry of Natural Resources on benefits when paying for housing and communal services to those citizens who will separate the waste.

The forum was also attended by Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergey Ivanov and Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy.

The head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation drew attention to the need to develop an environmental social movement among schoolchildren and youth. "Future engineers, entrepreneurs who will build the country's economy should take into account environmental conditions and approaches," he said.

As part of the business part of the program, a plenary session and thematic round tables were held, at which the most pressing issues were discussed by the heads of legislative and executive bodies of state power, representatives of international organizations, business circles, educational and research institutions, the media, public associations of the Commonwealth member states Independent States and other countries.

As a result of the discussions, proposals were formed to improve legislation aimed at further developing environmental education, strengthening interregional and border cooperation in the CIS, introducing environmentally oriented, resource-saving technologies, ensuring a healthy environment and improving the quality of human life.

Vadim Potomsky, Governor of the Orel Region:

The Eighth Nevsky Environmental Forum "Environmental Education - a Clean Country" is a large-scale environmental forum that makes a worthy contribution to solving our common task - ​preserving the country's unique natural wealth for current and future generations.

We know what great attention is paid to ensuring environmental safety as the basis for preserving people's health by the leadership of the country and personally by Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

As the head of state emphasized during his Address to the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, “the meaning of our entire policy is to save people, increase human capital as the main wealth of Russia.”

It is clear that environmental safety is the basis of the health of every person. A necessary condition for the sustainable development of society and all industries.

The forum raised topical problems and proposed specific ways to solve them.

The VIII Nevsky International Ecological Congress begins its work in St. Petersburg. The Forum is organized by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States (IPA CIS), the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation. The event takes place May 25–26 at the Tauride Palace.

As noted by the Chairman of the IPA CIS Council, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko, the issues of environmental education and enlightenment are of particular relevance in the modern world. “It is necessary to form such a consciousness so that each of us feels personally responsible for what kind of land, air, water we leave to future generations. Only the formation of a fundamentally new attitude to nature will be able to prevent the emergence of a global ecological crisis.”

The forum opens with sessions of thematic round tables.

Victor Kress, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for Science, Education and Culture, held a round table discussion on the topic "Modern system of environmental education and enlightenment: problems and directions of development".

As a result of the discussion, the meeting participants recommended that the parliaments and governments of the CIS member states strengthen the legislative framework in the field of environmental education and enlightenment, taking into account the provisions of the model laws adopted by the IPA CIS, including the model law "On Environmental Education and Ecological Culture of the Population", which provides legal the basis of universal environmental literacy.

A lively discussion was held under the leadership of the Chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Agrarian and Food Policy and Nature Management Stepan Zhiryakov at the round table "Development of the system of specially protected natural areas as an effective mechanism for the conservation and development of biological diversity."

According to the parliamentarian, in all the CIS member states there is a developed regulatory legal framework that ensures the stable functioning of such zones. The Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States adopted model laws “On Specially Protected Natural Territories”, “On the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Restoration of Biological Diversity”.

During the meeting, the following issues were considered: the role of specially protected natural areas in the conservation of the natural heritage of the CIS member states, state management of these territories, the development of ecological tourism, the state of scientific research and environmental education.

In order to ensure a systematic approach to solving the problems of developing the system of specially protected areas as an effective mechanism for the conservation and development of biological diversity, the participants of the round table recommended that the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States consider the development of a new version of the model law "On Specially Protected Natural Areas". Ministries and departments of the CIS member states in charge of environmental protection are recommended to expand and strengthen international cooperation in order to preserve biodiversity, restore populations of rare and endangered species of animals and plants.

Member of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on social policy Vladimir Krugly held a meeting "Favorable environmental conditions as a guarantee of maintaining public health."

The participants of the round table emphasized that its goal is a constructive discussion of mechanisms, tools and experience in solving environmental problems; stimulating the activity of young people, involving them in solving urgent problems of science and practice; promotion of the formation of a strategic partnership between the scientific community, government bodies, business structures, universities, aimed at sustainable and environmentally friendly development.

According to the participants of the meeting, the harmonization of legislation, the development of integration processes, the exchange of experience in environmental activities, the improvement of the education system and public interaction in the environmental sphere are the basis for international environmental cooperation in the CIS. When creating international legal mechanisms for protecting the environment, it is necessary to use legislative acts that are harmonized with the norms of international law and are effectively used by the CIS member states.

On the same day, round tables were held on the environmental problems of the Urals and the Aral Sea, as well as discussions on the harmonization of international approaches to the introduction of the best available technologies and on the improvement of the integrated waste management system.

As part of the business part of the program, a plenary session will be held on May 26. The Chairman of the IPA CIS Council, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Matvienko and the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy will make keynote speeches.

The issues of environmental education will be discussed by heads of legislative and executive bodies of state power, representatives of international organizations, business circles, educational and research institutions, mass media, public associations of the CIS countries and other states.

As a result of the congress, proposals will be formed to improve legislation aimed at further developing environmental education, strengthening interregional and border cooperation in the CIS, introducing resource-saving technologies, ensuring a healthy environment and improving the quality of human life.

Thematic exhibitions and presentations will also be held within two days.

Under this motto, on May 25-26, the VII I Nevsky International Ecological Congress. The event was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation.

This year's Ecocongress is dedicated to issues of environmentally responsible behavior, the development of a "green economy", a culture of production and consumption, and a healthy lifestyle.

The main goal of the congress is the exchange of information and experience on the formation of an environmental education system as a guarantee of environmental safety, the preservation of public health, the implementation of successful strategies and programs to improve the waste management system, and the introduction of the best available technologies.

Greetings to participants, guests and organizers of the 8th Nevsky International Ecological Congress sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Over the past time, this traditional forum has earned high prestige and recognition, has become a great event in the public life of our country and other states. It is important that the most significant and acute problems related to environmental protection and nature conservation activities invariably become the subject of your discussion, and the result is specific practical recommendations and proposals, including in the field of international cooperation,” the telegram reads, in particular.

As the President noted, this year, declared in Russia as the Year of Ecology and the Year of Specially Protected Natural Territories, the participants of the event should give priority attention to issues related to the introduction of "green" technologies, the improvement of polluted territories, the reduction of the negative human impact on nature, with the transition to sustainable development models.

As part of the business part of the program, a plenary session and thematic round tables were held, which brought together heads of legislative and executive bodies of state power, representatives of international organizations, business circles, educational and research institutions, the media, public associations of the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States and other countries of Russia.

The Republic of Komi was represented at the event by Roman Polshvedkin, First Deputy Minister of Industry, Natural Resources, Energy and Transport of the Republic of Komi.

On the first day of work VII I Nevsky International Ecological Congress Roman Polshvedkin took part in the round table "Development of the system of specially protected natural areas as an effective mechanism for the conservation and development of biological diversity." The First Deputy Minister made a presentation on "Regulatory and Legal Regulation of Specially Protected Natural Areas of Regional Importance in the Komi Republic". In his speech, he focused on the main problems of legal regulation in the field of functioning of specially protected natural areas that the Republic of Komi is facing.

“Legislation, including federal legislation, does not fully regulate the issues of directions and functioning of specially protected natural areas of regional significance. And the rules that apply to federal specially protected areas often do not apply to regional ones. But the goal of creating regional territories is similar to federal ones. This concerns the procedure for the formation of territories, the functioning of the directorate of these territories and the implementation of environmental supervision. The existing restrictions do not allow to fully effectively manage the territories of regional significance. Another point related to the development of the network of territories. Here, some federal laws contradict others. Thus, for example, the land code conflicts with the adjacent law on the procedure for transferring land from one category to another. We are talking about the transfer of land from the forest fund to the status of specially protected natural areas and, in general, about the procedure for the formation of specially protected natural areas. We are talking about the Law on Specially Protected Natural Territories and the Law on Fisheries and the Conservation of Aquatic Biological Resources, where many processes are regulated by the Law on Fisheries and do not take into account the peculiarities of the legal regime of specially protected natural territories. Accordingly, amendments are required. The amendment proposals were submitted by me today. This is especially relevant, given that the round table was attended by Deputies of the State Duma and Members of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, heads and specialists of federal executive bodies.

First of all, the Nevsky International Ecological Congress is useful because here you can look at the experience of other regions, exchange experience with colleagues. I can note that in our initiatives on the amendments that I announced today, we have already been supported by colleagues from the Republic of Sakha. Because the problems in the regions are similar. It is the support and consolidation of efforts to promote our amendments by several entities that has a synergistic effect. And I think this will be accepted both in the legislative bodies of the Russian Federation and in the executive bodies,” said Roman Polshvedkin.

*****

The Nevsky International Ecological Congress has been held once every two years since 2008. The purpose of the event is to promote the formation of an international system of environmental security through the strengthening of transboundary cooperation, the improvement of international environmental law.

Heads of legislative and executive bodies of state power, representatives of international organizations, business circles, educational and research institutions take part in the congress.