Alexander Kozlov: environmental education should be developed at the state level

The International Arctic Forum "Days of the Arctic and Antarctic in Moscow" has kick-started today. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation Alexander Kozlov took part in the event.

The plenary session "The Arctic and Antarctica - the territory of sustainable development, harmony of nature and man" was also attended by: Minister of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Alexei Chekunkov, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, UN Goodwill Ambassador Vyacheslav Fetisov, Nobel Prize winner, British scientist, experimenter, member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, professor of Arctic ecology at the University of Sheffield (Great Britain) Terry Callaghan, vice-president of Norilsk Nickel Andrey Grachev.

The meeting participants discussed a new global strategy and urgent tasks of Russian in the Arctic in the context of the national project "Ecology"; the implementation of state and federal targeted programs for the development of the Arctic regions in the light of the new strategy for the development of the northern territories until 2035. During the discussions, issues of new environmental standards, nature-saving technologies, advanced international experience in this area, in particular, research activities in the Arctic and Antarctic were touched upon.

Alexander Kozlov voiced the welcoming speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin: “Russia invariably pays priority attention to the harmonious development of the Arctic territories, to building up our presence on the White Continent. We are focused on strengthening comprehensive international cooperation - both in the Arctic and in the Antarctic, on the implementation of joint promising projects in the scientific, environmental, infrastructural and humanitarian spheres. And here civic and public initiatives, a direct dialogue of specialists from different countries are in great demand”.

The head of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources emphasized that the ministry’s role the Arctic region: ‘‘The Arctic is, of course, a precious box of Russia. It produces a tenth of the world's total oil and a fourth of natural gas. It is worthy of respect. In the Arctic, nearly 400 companies extract apatite ores, rare earth metals, titanium, zirconium, gold, silver, diamonds and platinoids. According to forecasts, by 2027, gold and copper production will especially increase due to the launch of projects in the Baim ore zone. We consider this direction to be promising”.

According to Alexander Kozlov, special attention should be paid to environmental education of children and adolescents. He also noted that special attention should be paid to environmental education in the national project "Ecology".

The International Arctic Forum "Days of the Arctic and Antarctic in Moscow" will be held from 25 to 27 November.