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 also for all the inhabitants of our planet, first of all, 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 Federation Council 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 ecological 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 the 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 preserving national reserves.

Mikhail Shchetinin, Chairman of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Agrarian and Food Policy and Nature Management, 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, which 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 congress participants about the implementation of the Madagascar Ecological School program, 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 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 Affairs 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.

Over the past two years alone, about a dozen models of such legislative acts have been adopted in the Tauride Palace, and in total, over 50 documents of this kind have been prepared during the work of the IPA, which have been “picked up” by national parliaments. According to the Speaker of the Federation Council and Chairman of the IPA CIS Council Valentina Matvienko, the northern capital not only stores the standards of basic physical quantities, but also creates legislative standards for many countries.

However, it was in 2017 that serious turning points began. They are associated with the adoption of the RF Environmental Security Strategy for the period up to 2025 and a phased transition to a sustainable development model, which is supposed to be implemented on the basis of "green" technologies and the concept of a closed cycle. Many such programs were adopted in our country, but over time, good impulses faded away. This time this will not happen, the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy is sure, since both the authorities and the business community are aware that there is no other way.

After all, we are talking not only about the health of the nation, but also about such tangible, pragmatic things as the efficiency and competitiveness of the entire economy. The environmental component becomes a priority in any significant economic model, which is confirmed by foreign experience. In the EU countries, the "green industry" produces products worth 300 billion euros per year and creates 3.5 million jobs, while up to a quarter of all investments go to clean technologies.

In order to reach these parameters, it is necessary, first of all, to make a huge breakthrough in the work with municipal waste and modernize large enterprises. These main directions of Russia's environmental strategy are in line with those laid down in the program documents of the IPA. Plus, the development of domestic ecotourism (its potential is estimated at 20 million people a year) and the protected system of Russia, the generation of renewable energy, the elimination of garbage dumps scattered throughout cities and villages.

The northern capital also made attempts to get closer to solving the "garbage" problem. “When we launched a separate waste collection project in St. Petersburg, the townspeople immediately responded: they began to put glass, plastic, and paper in containers near their houses,” recalled Valentina Matvienko. “And in the morning a garbage collector came and dumped everything in one tank, which discouraged people from doing so further ...”

There is only one reason: neither then nor today did the corresponding infrastructure appear. The recently adopted amendments to the law on the waste management system will allow creating it, the participants of the Nevsky Congress believe. Such an integrated system in Russia is now being formed on the basis of updated territorial schemes and integrated management - a single operator will appear in several pilot regions before the end of this year.

Useful components in the waste will have to be collected and processed, turning into valuable recyclable materials, and everything else will be subjected to heat treatment. Four such high-tech enterprises within the framework of the Zero Waste Landfill project are planned to be built with federal funds in the Moscow region and one more plant will appear in Kazan. "Absorbing" garbage without harm to nature, they will generate heat and energy, which was noted by the President's special envoy for environmental protection Sergei Ivanov.

By the end of the year, it is planned to complete the construction of alternative facilities (solar batteries and the first large wind farm in Russia) with a total capacity of 125 MW. It seems to be crumbs, but it is one and a half times more than was introduced a year ago (70 MW).

Sergei Ivanov, head of the organizing committee for the Year of Ecology, outlined the total amount of investments that will be directed to the implementation of the relevant federal program: 347 billion rubles. Including 200 billion from non-budgetary sources, this is mainly the money of large companies that are going to switch to "green" technologies in metallurgy and other "smoky" industries. Such technologies are more efficient, besides, the state is going to encourage environmental "tendency" with tax incentives. The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation proposes to introduce, in addition, “green” bonds and a preferential loan for special projects (the loan rate will not exceed 6%), create trust funds, build a system of “green” public procurement, etc.

The increase in motivation will also affect the housing and communal services sector: ministerial officials announced plans in St. Petersburg to reduce utility rates for people who sort waste for recycling.

In matters of environmental management, the government seems to be beginning to show firmness, intending to restore order, in particular, in the timber industry. The principle “how much you cut down, so much you restore” can become dominant here. The same rule will apply in the construction of roads and power lines. Such bills are being developed, and the law on the "green belt", according to which all large cities will be surrounded by a wall of trees, has already been passed.

Russia is the largest country in the world, 20% of the forests of the entire earth grow here, and Baikal contains 25% of all fresh water on the planet, but this does not justify wastefulness, said Valentina Matvienko. In order to develop a caring attitude towards nature, everyone needs, in her words, an ecological "vaccination" - similar to that provided by the Soviet education system with its stations for young naturalists, circles and forest hikes.

Something similar is being revived in St. Petersburg: the ecological and biological center "Krestovsky Ostrov", where 1.7 thousand children study, school actions, an ecological change in the "Zerkalny" camp, etc.

When new education standards are introduced in Russia (33 mock-ups of “green” school programs have already been created), the young generation of eco-children, as young naturalists are called in some regions, will get stronger, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Valentina Pereverzeva believes. And these are future officials, businessmen, scientists.

One of the bricks in the "building" of Russian environmental education now being built was introduced by the Nevsky Congress.

The Fourth Neva International Ecological Congress will be held in St. Petersburg on May 16-17, 2011. It is held by the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States together with the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The official partner of the congress is the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Round table "From MEGApolis to ECOpolis"

On May 16, 2011, within the framework of the IV Nevsky International Ecological Congress, a round table “From MEGApolis to ECOpolis” will be held (St. Petersburg, Parliamentary Center, Exhibition Hall, Shpalernaya st., 53).

Environmental threats have become one of the most serious problems of our time. This is especially acute in large metropolitan areas around the world. Residents of large cities are increasingly thinking about "escape" to nature.

Is it possible that life in ecologically clean conditions will not be associated with the loss of achievements of civilization? Are there urban planning solutions that will not harm the environment?

We invite you to visit Round Table No. 8 (“From MEGApolis to ECOpolis”), which will discuss the development and practical application of the latest green building technologies, innovative green projects and much more.

Round table "Black List of the Red Book"

On May 17, 2011, within the framework of the IV Nevsky International Ecological Congress, a round table “The Black List of the Red Book and the Preservation of Rare Animal Species” will be held (St. Petersburg, Tauride Palace, Shpalernaya st., 47).

The earth is approaching an ecological catastrophe. Mankind's demands for natural resources have already exceeded by a third what our planet can provide. The "black list" of the Red Book increases annually.

What needs to be done to preserve the flora and fauna that nature has been creating for millions of years? Is it possible for a future in which unique species of animals and plants coexist safely with civilization? Quite. But for this you need to make every effort now. Including, in the international legal regulation of environmental issues.

We invite you to visit round table No. 7 (“The Black List of the Red Book and the conservation of rare species of animals”), which will discuss the protection of rare species of animals and human responsibility for nature and its conservation.

The moderator of the round tables is a member of the Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on constitutional legislation, chairman of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Culture of Information, Tourism and Sports Evgeny Georgievich Tarlo.

The congress is also expected to consider topical problems of the formation of innovative mechanisms for the development of the social and environmental sphere, including the innovative concept of UNIDO "Green Industry".

Additional information about the congress can be obtained on the website of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly www.iacis.ru and the website of the Nevsky International Ecological Congress www.ecocongress.info

22.05.2013

On May 22, the Tauride Palace hospitably accommodated the participants Nevsky International Ecological Congress. This is the 6th event that has been held in St. Petersburg every year since 2008.

2013 is the Year of the Environment, so this congress is an extremely timely event. It was attended by: Governor of the city Georgy Poltavchenko, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Sergey Donskoy, Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko, as well as representatives of the UN, politicians from other countries and everyone who is connected with the environment and who is not indifferent to this area.

“Ecological culture is the basis for solving environmental problems” is the topic of discussion this year. Based on it, ecology is culture, and St. Petersburg is a cultural capital, everything is interconnected, and our city is undoubtedly the best suited for holding such an event. Moreover, the residents of St. Petersburg actively support this topic. Although, of course, our city is not always as clean as we would like, but we have something to strive for.

St. Petersburg is an active participant in environmental projects related to the development of ecology on a global scale. For example, a program was created to improve the water in the city and introduce new technologies for water treatment plants. So, we have exceeded the requirements of the Helsinki Convention for the Protection of the Baltic Sea. By the way, 98% of wastewater is being cleaned now in our city.

Moreover, it is planned to switch public transport to ecological fuel, as well as the construction of ecological parking lots. This will make the air cleaner.

There are points in St. Petersburg where hazardous waste is collected and sent for disposal, and an eco-mobile makes flights around the city. The landscaping of the city yards is also in full swing. So, there is something to brag about, and there are still many plans.

The end of the Nevsky Ecological Congress will take place in the Summer Garden, where an exhibition of photographs dedicated to the International Day for Biological Diversity will open.

01.01.2018

On May 28-29, 2015, the VII Nevsky International Ecological Congress was held in St. Petersburg. The organizers were the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member States, the Federation Council of the Russian Federation and the CIS Executive Committee. The main topic of discussion was the mechanisms for implementing the environmental safety strategy.

Within the framework of the congress, six round tables worked.

The congress ended with a plenary session, the participants of which represented both the regions of Russia and its foreign partners.

Valentina Matvienko, Chairman of the Council of the IPA CIS, Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, made a report at the plenary session.

She recalled that the Nevsky Congress has become an authoritative, internationally recognized platform, which this year brought together more than 1,600 participants from 32 countries of the world and 62 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Valentina Matvienko stressed that the Russian Federation is always open for cooperation in the field of maintaining the global ecological balance, as evidenced by the recent first official meeting of the BRICS environment ministers in Moscow, as well as Russia's participation in UN programs and international environmental conventions. “Ensuring environmental safety is a matter of paramount vital importance. No matter how big Russia is, it’s impossible to put up with the fact that about 15 percent of its territory is in an unsatisfactory ecological state,” Valentina Matvienko noted, pointing out the relationship between complex environmental pollution and general mortality, an increase in morbidity and, accordingly, tangible economic losses.

The Congress was attended by Associate Professor of the Department of Environmental and Land Law of the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov Sergei Nikolaevich Rusin. He spoke at the round table “Ecological Security Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025. Modern Mechanisms for Ensuring Environmental Safety on the Territory of the Russian Federation” with the report “Problems of understanding environmental safety and the legal mechanism for its implementation”.