The Federation Council Speaker sums up the results of the ninth Nevsky International Ecological Congress.
Russia has demonstrated a consistent policy in the implementation of the environmental agenda, focusing on broad international cooperation in the field of environmental protection, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko said at a news conference following the ninth Nevsky International Ecological Congress held in St Petersburg.
“The congress has once again reaffirmed that the environmental agenda is a priority for Russia. It was very important that the congress was held in the format of an open international dialogue, with representatives from 30 countries, most of them offline.”
According to the Federation Council Speaker, 10 thematic roundtable discussions were substantively held on the first day of the forum: “We received a lot of new ideas and suggestions. The congress’ atmosphere helped to develop and expand international cooperation.”
According to Ms Matvienko, today there is a clear understanding that no country in the world can solve environmental problems alone: “We need to work together. We felt our foreign partners had the same attitude.”
Today it is necessary to sum up the results of the discussion, develop high-quality recommendations and start implementing them, the Speaker stressed: “The Federation Council and the Government have serious plans to further improve the Russian environmental legislation by taking the necessary measures.”
Russia must become a leader of the global environmental agenda and initiate joint work on environmental protection, the Speaker believes.
When answering questions from journalists on her initiative to adopt an Environmental Code, Valentina Matvienko noted that a serious discussion must take place, involving scientists, experts, legislators, and representatives of specialised ministries and agencies.
“We will promote this idea because the struggle for the environment is comprehensive today: it includes all spheres. Today they are regulated by different documents and it is clear that a single package of laws is needed, which would also consider new challenges and problems discussed at the forum.”
At the same time, it is necessary to work on harmonising the Russian environmental legislation with the corresponding regulatory base of the CIS member states, the European Union and other countries, the Federation Council Speaker believes.
The ninth Nevsky International Ecological Congress was held on 27–28 May 2021 in St Petersburg. It was organised by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment under the auspices of the Federation Council with the participation of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations and operated by the Roscongress Foundation.
Taking part in the forum were Federation Council First Deputy Speaker Andrei Yatskin, Federation Council deputy speakers Galina Karelova and Konstantin Kosachev, heads of the upper chamber committees, senators of the Russian Federation, Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, heads and representatives of federal and regional authorities, large companies, and foreign guests.
A draft final resolution was adopted following the forum. It will be developed considering the proposals and recommendations given there.
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On the same day, co-chairs of the ninth Nevsky International Ecological Congress Organising Committee, Chair of the IPA CIS Council and Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko and Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko, took part in an environmental event: 12 decorative trees were planted in the park near the central entrance to the Tavrichesky Palace.
Taking part in the event were Federation Council First Deputy Speaker Andrei Yatskin, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee for Fitness, Sports, Tourism and Youth Affairs Vyacheslav Fetisov, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov, Deputy Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Parliament) Adil Aliyev, Minister of Environment of Armenia Romanos Petrosyan, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Andrei Khudyk, Kazakhstani Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources Magzum Myrzagaliyev, Chair of the Moldovan Parliamentary Permanent Commission on Agriculture and Food Industry and Chair of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Agricultural Policy, Natural Resources and Environment Radu Mudreac, Secretary General – Head of the IPA CIS Council Dmitry Kobitsky, St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, Leningrad Region Governor Alexander Drozdenko, Rostov Region Governor Vasily Golubev, Chelyabinsk Region Governor Alexei Teksler, Chair of the St Petersburg Legislative Assembly Vyacheslav Makarov, Chair of the Crimean State Council Vladimir Konstantinov, Director General of Rosatom Alexei Likhachev, Russian Railways Chief Executive Officer – Chairman of the Executive Board Oleg Belozerov, General Director of Russian Environmental Operator Denis Butsayev, and Director of the Roscongress Foundation Alexander Stuglev.