Sanctions against Russia could become a serious obstacle to the Russian “green” agenda. But that did not happen. Under the new conditions, the environmental program had to be restarted, but the implementation of environmental projects did not stop, and Russia did not withdraw from any international agreement. This was discussed at the round table “Combining the efforts of the state and business as a guarantee of environmental well-being”, which was held by the State Corporation “Rosatom” within the framework of the X Nevsky Environmental Congress.
– The national project “Ecology” was launched in 2019, and when developing environmental programs, we focused on import-oriented technologies and equipment by 60-70%. It was planned to involve the best world practices, the best world companies in solving environmental problems. But then what happened happened: first, three years of the pandemic, then the collapse of global logistics, the rupture of all supply chains, restrictions and the events of the last year – sanctions, – told General Director of Rosatom State Corporation Alexei Likhachev.
Alexei Likhachev, General Director of Rosatom State Corporation.
Photo: Julia PYKHALOVA
According to him, in the new economic conditions, together with the government and Rosprirodnadzor, the company began to look for opportunities for import substitution of technologies, and worked out new supply options, changing the configuration of projects without compromising their quality.
– Over the past year, there have been no sequestrations of environmental areas in the budget, no postponements in the direction of certain problems. On the contrary, ecotechnoparks are starting to be launched this year to comprehensively solve problems with accumulated waste, a difficult historical heritage. Progressive work is underway and without the support of the state this would not have been possible, – added Alexey Likhachev.
Business in difficult times for the economy also did not stay idle. In 2021 and 2022, Rosatom launched work to monitor the environmental situation in the Arctic jointly with the Marine Research Center of Moscow State University. There are results, and good ones, but there are also a lot of pain points.
– This monitoring should become state, and not just a pilot project of caring people. Based on our experience, there should be a state function that will allow a more systematic approach to this work, – sure Alexey Likhachev.
In its turn Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vladimir Lebedev said that despite the geopolitical situation, Russia has not withdrawn from any international agreement on ecology.
Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vladimir Lebedev
Photo: Julia PYKHALOVA
– Moreover, today we are revising our approaches, and following the economy, the development of relations, all our views, among other things, go to relations with the East and the South-East, – emphasized Vladimir Lebedev. – At the same time, one of the priorities for Russia is the development of relations within the framework of the Union State with Belarus and agreements within the CIS.
In order for the efforts of the state and business in solving environmental problems to be as effective as possible, it is necessary to bring the environmental legislation of Russia into one binding or framework document. This was stated Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Management Svetlana Radionova.
Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Management Svetlana Radionova
Photo: Julia PYKHALOVA
– We are only talking about it so far, and the Federation Council has repeatedly advocated the adoption of the Environmental Code. Of course, the time has come when the environmental legislation of Russia should be reduced to one “strong hand” and one binding or framework document. For example, in Kazakhstan, the Environmental Code was adopted back in 2021, – reminded Svetlana Radionova.
Leading representatives of Russian business – Rostec, Russian Railways, TMK, Norilsk Nickel, Gazpromneft, Uralchem, Severstal and others – expressed interest in dialogue with the state on environmental issues. They spoke about the synergistic effect of cooperation with Rosatom.
