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Education for Sustainable Development: Russian-Swedish Project

RUSSIAN SUSTAINABILITY NewsLETTER
Special Issue. June-July 2012
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This issue includes...
Editorial. Putin: Setting the course towards sustainable development? Catastrophic flooding in the Krasnodar region Russia at Rio +20 Meeting of the State Council St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Meeting of ambassadors and permanent representatives of Russia Thirty-sixth Session of the World Heritage Committee Environmental support of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014 Appointment in the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Expedition "Floating University" "Living nature" report in Russian

Editorial. Putin: Setting a course towards sustainable development?
The inauguration of Vladimir Putin as President of Russia in May 2012 was marked by a noticeable increase in the number of references to the idea of sustainable development and its derivatives in the President's official speeches and his actions on building a new format of presidential power. Here are some typical examples. June 18 the Mexican newspaper El Universal published an article by Vladimir Putin called The Group of Twenty and the global challenges of the economy, dedicated to the global economy and the new challenges facing the Group of Twenty. The author states: "The essence and meaning of our work together is to develop fair rules for the sustainable development of the whole world economy." A range of the Russian President's actions are directly aimed at providing various aspects of sustainable socio-economic development. Among them are the creation of the Economic Council under the President of the Russian Federation, announced July 16; the Presidential Commission on monitoring the targets of socio-economic development of the Russian Federation, defined by the President of the Russian Federation (decree of 11 July); the Presidential Council of the Russian Federation on the modernization of the economy and innovative development of Russia, announced on June 18. Somewhat earlier (7 June) a decree was signed, establishing the Council for interethnic relations, also centered on the stability, in this case in the social sphere. On June 15 the Commission under the President for strategic development of the fuel and energy complex (FEC) and environmental security was established, focusing on strengthening the ecological imperative of sustainable development. This is evidenced by the composition of the Commissionin, in which are represented, in particular, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation S.Donskoy, the head of Rosprirodnadzor V.Kirillov, and the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Ecology V. Kashin. Opening the first meeting of the Commission, Mr. Putin said: "Developing the FEC, it is necessar to also care about the environment. All new projects must take into account modern environmental requirements and standards, and pass the appropriate examination."

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The list of actions showing a deliberate building up of infrastructure for sustainable development in Russia can be extended, which gives some reason for optimism. Curiously, this coincides in time with the UN conference Rio +20, the most important contemporary action in the field of sustainable development. The latter, paradoxically, remained almost unnoticed in Russia, which does not add optimism. What will the result be? Has the potential for sustainable development in Russia increased? Has the idea of sustainable development really become a priority for President Putin? The answers to these and similar questions will be received in the nearest future. And our publication will seek to present them on its pages.
Yuri Mazurov, Moscow State University jmazurov@yandex.ru

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Catastrophic flooding in the Krasnodar region
Catastrophic flooding occurred in the Kuban region on the night between July 6 and 7. Its reason were the heavy rains that came before that day. According to various estimates, from 165 people (statistics of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation) to 172 people (MES of Russia) were killed. Gelendzhik took the first blow of the elements, receiving the amount of rain that usually falls in five months. Then the storm, rated 6, hit Novorossiysk, resulting in the local port closing until the evening of July 7. In the Crimean region, where one-storey buildings are predominant, the flood swept away the largest number of lives - at least 150. The water level in this area rose by 7 meters.
The flooded Krymsk in the morning July 7, 2012. Photo on the Internet: http://pryf.livejournal.com/19 70456.html

According to Rosprirodnadzor, one of the reasons for the severity of the flooding was that buildings have been erected on territories with danger of flooding. The damage from the floods in the Krasnodar region on the 6th and on the night to the 7th July, according to preliminary data, will be at least 20 billion rubles (about $ 650 million), states the website of the region governor Alexander Tkachev. Independent experts name a much larger amount. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation has initiated an investigation of the causes of the disaster that has become one of the most resonant in the Russian society in recent years.

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Unfortunately, the flood in the Krasnodar Territory was not the only significant natural disaster in the summer of 2012. Among these are also severe drought in many agricultural areas of the country and the enormous forest fires in Siberia, the effects of which have yet to be determined.
Source: Own information.

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Russia at Rio +20
The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev has taken part in the UN conference on sustainable development, Rio +20. On June 21 he spoke at the third session of the plenary meeting. In this speech, Dmitry Medvedev outlined Russia's position on the agenda of the conference. Referring to the fundamental aspects of sustainable development, he said: "We need to develop sustainable production and consumption patterns that will ensure stable economic growth and remove all threats - critical threats - to the environment. Society, economy and nature are inseparable. That is why we also need a new development paradigm that is capable of ensuring the welfare of society without pressure on nature. The interests of the economy, on one hand, and the conservation of nature, on the other hand, must be balanced and should focus on the long term. At the same time innovative growth is needed as well as growth of the energy-efficient, the so-called "green" economy, which is definitely beneficial to all countries. Russia is an environmental contributor that has considerable natural resources, extending to one -seventh of the world, our Earth. We are successfully coping with our obligations, including the Kyoto Protocol. I would like to reiterate that by 2020 greenhouse gas emissions in Russia will be 25% below the levels of 1990. We are counting on equally vigorous actions on the part of other states. We are ready to be part of a global agreement on this issue, but it should be a global one, involving all and not only some major economies. As for the model of "green growth", we believe that there is no reason to make this process bureaucratic. Each state is free to pursue its own plans, but it is important that these plan s are publicly declared so that their whole will be sufficient to achieve global sustainable development, that there are mechanisms for continuous exchange of best practices and technologies within the "green development". The United Nations, represented by a high-level forum and international development institutions, are to play a central, leading role."
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev spoke at the third session of the plenary meeting of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio +20. Photo from the Internet portal of the Government of the Russian Federation

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Separately, Dmitry Medvedev touched upon the issues on the role of forest and water resources for sustainable development. In particular he noted: "Our country owns 19% of the world's forests and 22% of the reserves of fresh water. We understand our responsibility and realize that on how we use and store this potential depends not only on the lives of our own citizens, but also the life of the planet, the future of the world." More information is available at the site http://government.ru/docs/19427/ In general, Russia's participation in the Rio +20 was quite unnoticeable, both at the conference itself, and in their own country. It is characteristic that the very fact of the conference in Rio de Janeiro being held was not reflected in the vast majority of printed and electronic media. At the same time, a number of public organizations in Moscow and other Russian cities held various meetings and activities in this regard. Thus, in the days of the conference in Rio de Janeiro a youth forum on sustainable development in Moscow was held at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO). It was attended by students, graduate students and faculty of MGIMO, the Moscow State University and other universities of the capital.
Participants of the Youth Forum on Sustainable Development in Moscow, MGIMO, June 21, 2012. Photo: E. Bodrina

The plenary sessions and roundtable forums discussed general issues on sustainable development. Moscow's specificity was presented in the two main priority forums "The forest and the metropolis. Transport infrastructure development or preservation of forests?", and "A city for people and/or cars". The forum participants expressed their position on the issues discussed in a concrete and constructive resolution directed to the Government of Moscow.
Source: Web site of the Government of the Russian Federation and own information.

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Meeting of the State Council
A meeting of the State Council has been held under the chairmanship of Vladimir Putin, devoted to "The tasks of public authorities of the Russian Federation for ensuring sustainable economic growth and raise living standards of citizens." This is the first meeting of the State Council, which Vladimir Putin has held since taking office as the President of Russia.

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The meeting of the State Council in the Kremlin, July 11, 2012. In accordance with the Decree of the President, State Council members are, along with the heads of all 83 federation subjects, the chairmen of the Federation Council and State Duma, as well as the leaders of the party factions in the Duma. Photo from the web site of the Russian president.

The tasks on ensuring sustainable economic growth and improving living standards were formulated by Vladimir Putin in the presidential election campaign in a series of policy papers. The principles outlined in the publications are reflected in the decrees of the President, in particular in the Decree "On the long-term government economic policy," and many others, signed on the day of the inauguration of Vladimir Putin, May 7, 2012. A number of presentations at the meeting touched on issues of a sustainable country. Among them was the presentation by Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Kozak: "The development and coordination with all organs of executive power, with all regions and municipalities of the most important land use planning schemes, concerning the development of all types of federal transport infrastructure: road, sea, rail and air transport, is currently completed on the federal level. Today, at the stage of inter-agency coordination are projects of territorial planning schemes in the energy sector, higher education and he alth, and work is being done on building schemes for the area of defense and security. As a result of adoption of mutually agreed territorial planning documents, at the federal level will be formed a complex spatial pattern and guidelines for regions an d municipalities on the development of the federal industrial and social infrastructure for the long term, which is often, especially the industrial infrastructure, critical to the economic development of regions and many municipalities. It will also allow to identify the needs as well as identify redundant land in federal ownership, the shortage of which experience, as just noted, both regions, municipalities, and, most importantly, investors. Land use planning documents approved in conjunction on federal, state and municipal level, will provide transparency and predictability of all levels of government on the planned deployment in areas of industrial and social infrastructure for citizens, and especially for the business." The leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Gennady Zyuganov, in his speech emphasized the environmental aspects of sustainable development issues: "... our greatest market, a ton of every five years. me that if we at only a treasure, national treasure are wood, clean fresh water and black soil. Today at the Paris fresh water is more expensive than the finest gasoline, and water will double in value In only Baikal we have 24 percent of the world reserves of clean water. It seems to the State Council would discuss the three main rene wable resources, which are not but can give a huge income, deep processing of timber, without damage to the

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environment, can give the country $ 100 billion - and the technology is there. Unfortunately, this topic falls outside the major field of vision."
Source: Web site of the Russian President

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St. Petersburg International Economic Forum
The 16th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum has been held in the northern capital of Russia. It was attended by more than five thousand people from 87 countries. Guests of the forum were, in particular, the President of Finland Sauli Niiniste, member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China He Guoqiang, and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. More than 30 countries were represented at the ministerial level. The forum was held under the motto "Effective Leadership". To the same subject was devoted Vladimir Putin's presentation, which the president held at the plenary session. Special attention of the audience drew his account of plans to transform Russia. Here are some of the most significant, most tagged fragments of this speech. "... by the end of this decade, Russia must enter the top twenty countries with the most comfortable business environment. This is also a quite difficult and ambitious task, bearing in mind the situation where we are today.
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke at the opening of the 16th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Photo from the web site of the Russian President

... state capitalism - this is not our goal. At the same time, privatization should not lead to the emergence of private monopolies in place of in the public ones. And we know that without healthy competition, market economy is no less prone to decay than the command system. We have formed an ambitious program of reforms for the years ahead. We have everything needed to achieve our goals: talented, educated people, the political will and determination to make a difference and change the country. And most importantly, we recognize our responsibility to the citizens, to future generations. We do not put off for later - we act. It may seem to some that we should operate even more efficiently, while others on the contrary are holding us back, saying: do not hurry. But we will go ahead and move forward. I am sure that we will create a strong, open, prosperous Russia. We welcome all who are ready for partnership work with us."
Source: Web site of the Russian President

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Meeting of ambassadors and permanent representatives of Russia
On July 9 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation was held a meeting of ambassadors and permanent representatives, which are held every two years. Along with the ambassadors and permanent representatives, such meetings attended by staff of the central apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the leadership of the Presidential Administration, Cabinet members, representatives of ministries and agencies involved in international cooperation. The theme of the meeting was "Russia in a changing World: continuity of priorities and new opportunities". At the meeting spoke Vladimir Putin, who outlined the main priorities of state foreign policy and specified the tasks of the foreign policy service for the immediate future given the current international agenda and the internal processes in the country. In his speech, the president, in particular, said:
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (left) during the opening of the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Photo from the web site of the Russian President

"The international community is still far from creating foundations for universal and indivisible security. In words all seem to be "for", but in fact a significant number of our partners strives to provide only their own invulnerability, forgetting that under current conditions, everything is interconnected. Most of the threats and challenges are, of course, of transnational nature. These threats are known: the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, religious extremism, drug trafficking, environmental pollution, lack of food and fresh water. It must be admitted that so far there are also no visible reliable options for overcoming the global economic crisis. Moreover, the prospects are becoming more and more alarming. The d ebt turmoil of the Euro zone and its slide into recession is just the tip of the iceberg of unsolved structural problems of the world economy. Lack of new models of development against the background of the erosion of the leadership of traditional economic engines (such as the US, EU, Japan), leads to inhibition of the global development. The struggle for access to resources increases, causing abnormal f luctuations in commodity and energy markets. The multivectorness of the global development, aggravated by the crisis inside the socio-economic turmoil and problems in the developed economies weaken the dominance of the so-called historical West. This is already a fact. I would like to note, esteemed colleagues, that we are absolutely not happy about this. This should not be a cause of joy to us, not even malicious pleasure. This may only be a cause of concern to us,

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because the consequences of the events are not clear, these tectonic events in the world economy, and as a consequence, the inevitable changes also in the scenario of international forces in world politics. We are especially not happy that we are witnessing attempts by certain members of the international dialogue to maintain its usual influence, and our partners frequently resort to unilateral actions contrary to international law. This is manifested in the so-called humanitarian operations, export of "rocket-bomb democracy" and interventions in internal conflicts. We see how contradictory and unbalanced the process of reform unfolds in North Africa and the Middle East, and the tragic Libya events stand before the eyes of many. Certainly, such scenarios cannot be repeated in other countries, su ch as Syria. I am convinced that, everything possible needs to be done to force the conflicting parties to develop a peaceful political resolution of all disputed issues, to seek to promote such a dialogue. Of course, such work is more complex and subtle than the blatant use of forceful outside interference, but it can provide long term settlement and further stable development of the situation in the region and even, if applied to Syria, in the Syrian state itself."
Source: Web site of Russian President

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Thirty-sixth Session of the World Heritage Committee
The 36th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee was held in the city of St. Petersburg from June 22 to July 6, 2012. This is the first time Russia has hosted this major international forum. It was attended by more than 2,000 people from 119 countries, including 338 delegates from member countries of the Committee, as well as representative delegations of observers from partner states of the convention, international organizations and non-governmental organizations, scientists, artists, experts. The current session was of particular importance, since this year marks the 40th anniversary of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Meeting of the 36th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in the historical Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg. Photo from the web site http://whc36-russia2012.ru/

In the opening session in the Tauride Palace was attended by more than a thousand people - guests and delegates. Welcoming the participants of the session, the President of the World Heritage Committee Eleonora Mitrofanova (Russia) appealed to them to maintain the credibility of the World Heritage Convention. "We must remember the indisputability of the fact that the outstanding

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universal value of World Heritage sites is based on local values, local experience and, most importantly, on efforts to conserve it, made at the site. In other words, the main role in t he preservation of World Heritage sites is played by local and indigenous peoples," emphasized Ms Mitrofanova. UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, for her part, has given great importance to the increasingly complex problems of conservation of world heritage sites in the face of increasing pressure. "The degree of confidence in the selection process of world heritage sites must be absolute at all stages, the participating states carry the primary responsibility for this," said the expert. Irina Bokova also reminded of the "revolutionary idea", which formed the basis of the World Heritage Convention, and through which "in 40 years a new map of the world has been created, filled with networks of cultural exchange, which includes about a thousand objects on every continent." Recalling the high academic standards and the principle of impartiality in the introduction of new objects in the List of world heritage sites, Ms Bokova called on all parties to "act with thoughts about the future, to refresh the World Heritage Convention and to meet the challenges of the 21st century", particularly in regard to sustainable development and peace building. In a similar vein spoke also the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Medinsky. He pointed to the dangers associated with the destruction of traditional values that lie at the heart of the world heritage in the era of globalization, and stressed the need for constructive interaction among nations. The opening ceremony was attended by Alissandra Cummins, Chairman of UNESCO's executive board and the governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko. The ceremony ended with an appeal of students of UNESCO associated schools in Russia calling for the preservation of world heritage. To the World Heritage Committee were submitted 36 nominations in 33 countries. In addition, the Committee was requested to review the state of 140 world heritage sites, including 35 sites from the list of world heritage sites under threat of destruction. As a result of the session 26 new objects were added to the list. For the first time sites in the territory of the Congo, Palau, Palestine, and Chad were included in the list. In addition, changes were made to the list of world heritage sites under threat of destruction. This list was added to with five objects, while two objects were removed from it. Thus, the total number of objects protected by the Convention has reached 962, while the number of countries where they are located, has grown to 157. Among the new world heritage sites is an object under the name of Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea. Interestingly, the inclusion of Rio de Janeiro in UNESCO's prestigious list was made just in the days when this city hosted the historic UN conference on the fate of sustainable development in the world. A total of five natural World Heritage Sites were inscribed during the present session of the World Heritage Committee: Lakes of Ounianga (Chad); Sangha Trinational (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo,); Chengjiang Fossil Site (China); Western Ghats (India); Lena Pillars Nature Park (Russian Federation). Lena Pillars Nature Park became the 25th UNESCO world heritage site in Russia. To the session Russia had also submitted the nomination "Kremlins of Russia" of three clusters (the Pskov, Astrakhan and the Uglich Kremlin). As a result of debates, the nomination was sent back for revision. On the eve of the 36th session of UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in St. Petersburg was he ld the International Forum of NGOs dedicated to World Heritage sites, which was attended by

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Lena Pillars Nature Park located in the Siberian part of Russia in the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). http://commons.wikimedia.org /w/index.php?title=User:Linjye &action=edit&redlink=1

representatives from 21 countries. In this forum, resolutions were adopted about the threat of natural heritage on the territory of Russia, about the threats to world heritage in Russia and Ukraine and a resolution on the situation of the historical center of St. Petersburg. The same days, The Youth Committee of World Heritage held a meeting in Kazan.
Source: Web site of the World Heritage Centre and www.whc36-russia2012.ru

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Environmental support of the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014
As part of implementing the instructions of the Government of the Russian Federation for environmental support of the Olympic project in Sochi and Moscow meetings of experts of international level have been held. In the course of the working group meetings held in late June early July in Sochi, the experts prepared plans for additional activities in the following areas: environmental monitoring, additional compensatory measures and restoring the Mzymta river valley. Responsible for these areas are the Sochi National Park, GC Olimpstroy and JSC RZD, respectively. As the advisor to the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Murad Kerimov noted: "A great job has been done together with internationally recognized environmental experts and leading national experts in the field of environment conservation and ecology. The results of this unique mission, bringing together representatives of environmental organizations, science, government, and also investors of the Olympic project, will be defined as plans for additional measures aimed at achieving the declared principle of the Russian Federation to hold the greenest Olympics." At the conclusion of these meetings, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Minister Sergei Donskoy held a meeting with experts of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The parties discussed the preparation of the environmental support to the XXII Winter Olympic and XI Paralympic Games 2014 in Sochi. During the meeting, the Acting Director of the UNEP Regional Office for Europe, Jan Dusik, praised the results of the work of international experts recommended by UNEP. The participants disc ussed the plans developed by international experts to restore the ecosystems and landscapes of the valley of the river Mzymta, as well as the plans on integrated environmental monitoring and compensation

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measures. Also noted was a need for work to assess the proposed solutions for economic opportunity, environmental feasibility, and to conform to international standards and Russian legislation. The expert Herve Letier stressed the importance of continuous integrated environmental monitoring in the area of construction of Olympic facilities also after they have been taken into use: "Huge gatherings such as the Olympics usually increase the level of anthropogenic impact on the environment. But, thanks to improved environmental support to the Olympic Games, Russia can make progress in addressing this challenge." Deputy Minister Rinat Gizatulin thanked UNEP for its active participation in the work and said that the expert recommendations will be reviewed by specialists in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and soon presented to the Government of the Russian Federation. Also, the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of the correlation of the plans proposed by the international experts and the Ministry's already existing similar plans on nature conservation and minimization of environmental impacts in the area of construction of the Olympic project.
Construction of facilities for the Olympic Village in Sochi, in the lower reaches of the valley of the river Mzymta. July 2012. In the background construction of a new seaport. Photo by Y. Mazurov

Following the meeting, Sergey Donskoy stressed the importance of continuing the joint work of UNEP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, noting that this cooperation is a valuable experience for the Russian side. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, JSC Russian Railways, state corporation Olimpstroy, Sochi National Park, UNEP and international experts.
Source: Press Service of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.

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Appointment at the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
Vladimir Lebedev has been appointed Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation. The corresponding decree of July 19, 2012 was signed by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev. Vladimir Albertovich Lebedev was born in 1962 in Novogrudok, Grodno region, Byelorussian SSR. In 1988 he graduated from the Gorky Polytechnic Institute as a radio technician. In 1996 he graduated

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from the Russian Correspondence Financial and Economic Institute and in 2003 from the Business Development Institute (Nizhny Novgorod). In 1997-98 Lebedev served as Deputy Director General and then Director of Development at ZAO Lukoil - Nizhny Novgorod. From 1998 to 2004 he worked in management positions at JSC Nizhnovenergo and JSC Kirovenergo. In 2004 he was appointed First Deputy Prime Minister of the Kirov region. From 2005 to 2007 he was CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Territorial Generating Company 5. From 2007 to 2008 he was Director General of JSC Southern Generation Company TGC-8. Prior to July 19, 2012 he served as Deputy Governor and Deputy Prime Minister of the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Source: Press Service of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.

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Expedition "Floating University"
On June 1 the unique expedition "Floating University" was launched from Archangelsk on board the Roshydromet research vessel Professor Molchanov. The organizers are the Northern Arctic Federal University (NAFU), Roshydromet and the Russian Geographical Society.
Seeing off the Roshydromet research vessel "Professor Molchanov" leaving for its Arctic expedition June 1, 2012. Photo from the web site of Roshydromet

The expedition's program provides education and training of young professionals for work in the polar regions of Russia together with staff of Roshydromet and the Russian Academy of Sciences. The expedition members conduct research in 4 fields: hydrometeorology, ecology-geography, physics-chemistry and bio resources. The practical classes for students are conducted with the high quality modern equipment, with which the "floating university" is equipped.
Sources: Web site of Roshydromet www.meteorf.ru

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"Living nature" report in Russian
In May 2012 on the eve of the UN conference Rio +20, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released a report entitled Living Nature. The report was formally presented at the International Space Station by astronaut Andre Kuipers.

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The front cover of the WWF report «Living Nature" in Russian. The full report is available for free on the website http://www.wwf.ru/resources/publ/book/584 (in Russian) http://www.wwf.ru/resources/publ/book/eng/584 (in English)

According to the report, the consumption of natural resources has doubled since 1966, and today we use the equivalent of one and a half planet to support our activities. If economic development will follow the same scenario as now, by 2030 we will not have enough resources using even two planets. The report says: "If everyone lived like the average Russian, restoring the natural resources would take 2.5 planet. Now we are in a position between Italy and Lithuania." According to the report, the growth of ecological footprint is caused mainly by population growth and overconsumption. According to forecasts, by 2050 the population will grow to 9-10 billion people. A significant role played by urbanization - by 2050 2 out of 3 people will be living in cities. Russia's ecological footprint is composed mainly of CO2 emissions, followed by, in order of significance, the use of arable land, forests, and then animal husbandry, fisheries and construction. The ecological footprint of countries such as USA, China, Ukraine, also consists mainly of the carbon footprint. However, not all countries are in a similar situation. In Indonesia, for example, the primary role is played by agriculture, and in Brazil of agriculture and animal husbandry. The report proposes to stop the negative trends by, among other things, developing economic instruments based on environmental services and the relevant legislative background, only then can we create a more equitable access of countries with different levels of income to food, water and energy. In the case of Russia, according to WWF, the main tool for reducing the ecological footprint is to increase energy efficiency in the broadest sense of the word - in the energy sector, the industry, offices and apartments.
More information: http://www.wwf.ru/resources/news/article/9608

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RUSSIAN SUSTAINABILITY NewsLETTER, August 2012

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