Presentation of the UNEP/GEF Project took place in Moscow in the President Hotel on 14th of November 2005. The presentation was organised by Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation and was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation Mr. Andrey Sharonov and Executive Director of UNEP Dr. Klaus Toepfer.
Mr. Arthur Chilingarov, Deputy Chairman of State Duma of the Russian Federation, Mr. Gennadiy Oleynik, Head of Committee on Northern Territories and Indigenous People of the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, representatives of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Ministry for Regional Development of the Russian Federation, Federal Service on Hydrometeorology and Monitoring of Environment of the Russian Federation (Roshydromet), the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Regions, Nenetsky, Yamalo-Nenetsky, Khanty-Mansiysky and Chukotsky autonomous districts, OAO “Norilsky Nikel”, oil companies“Rosneft” and “Lukoil”, representatives from USA, Canada, Iceland, Norway, UNEP, GPA Coordination Unit, UNESCO, European Commission, RAIPON, WWF, ACOPS and NEFCO participated in the Presentation.
Mr. Andrey Sharonov, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation opened the Presentation. Mr A.Sharonov emphasized in his speech an importance of Arctic and protection of Arctic environment for Russia and entire international community commitment of Russia on environmental activity with the purpose of protection of Arctic marine environment (Mr A.Sharonov speech).
Dr. Klaus Toepfer, UN Under Secretary and UNEP Executive Director greeted the meeting on behalf of United Nations. (Dr. Klaus Toepfer outlines of the speech).
Mr. Arthur Chilingarov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma, Mr. William Freeman, Director of Environment Protection Agency NIS (USA), Mr. Chris Cuddy, Chief – Headquarters of Lands & Waters Indian and Northern Affairs (Canada), Mr. Magnus Johannesson, Secretary General of Ministry for the Environment (Iceland) and others also welcomed the Project.
Mr. Boris Morgunov, assistant to Minister, informed about Russian activities aimed at protection of Arctic marine environment, Arctic Council activities and the history of UNEP/GEF Project. (Mr. Boris Morgunov speech). Mr. Ivan Senchenya, Project Manager made presentation on main activities planned during the UNEP/GEF Project implementation.
A press-conference with participation of Messrs. Andrey Sharonov, Klaus Toepfer, Arthur Chillingarov and Boris Morgunov took place after presentation of the Project.
The National Action Plan for protection of the arctic marine environment from anthropogenic land-based activities in the Russian Federation – NPA-Arctic - has been developed by Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation and approved on September 8, 2001. An international recognition of the Russian NPA-Arctic and its role in prevention and elimination of pollution in circumpolar region and on a global scale served as the basis for an application of the Russian Federation to Global Environmental Facility for NPA-Arctic support.
The total UNEP/GEF Project funding for NPA-Arctic support is about $US 30 millions for 5 years.
The Project framework envisages works in 4 main activities: 1. Preparation and adoption of a Strategic Action Programme (SAP); 2. Completion of a set of Pre-Investment Studies (PINS); 3. Development and implementation of Environmental Protection System (EPS); 4. Three demonstrations projects aimed at demonstration of possibilities of widening of available experience in settling out environmental problem for other Russian regions, Arctic and non-Arctic countries.
The UNEP/GEF Project implementation would help to improve environmental situation in Russian sector of Arctic region, to bring together interests of federal and regional authorities and resources exploration companies and indigenous arctic people and to create the necessary prerequisites for large-scale investments focused on improvement of environmental situation in Russian Arctic.
Photo report of the Presentation is posted here.
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